    Help for SoundX/X

Properties

Registration Information

Order Form

Getting Custom Controls Written

Licensing Information

Description

The SoundX/X ActiveX control provides Soundex, Extended Soundex, and Metaphone algorithms which convert words or names to codes that represent how the words "sound".  This is useful in a database application where users need to find names they may not know how to spell.

Soundex is a letter plus digits, Extended Soundex is purely numeric and can result in faster database scans, and Metaphone is letters, which can result in a better match rate, but also takes up more computer storage space.  The length of the codes (Soundex, Extended Soundex and Metaphone) is selectable through a property.

To generate the code, simply set the Word property with the word or name  for which you want a coded entry.  When you do this, SoundX generates the codes for all three of the algorithms.  All you have to do is read the appropriate property:  Soundex, ExtSoundex, or Metaphone.

ActiveX / OCX Object Name

Mabry.SoundXX

ActiveX Compatility

VB 4.0 (32-bit) and 5.0

ActiveX Built With

Microsoft Visual C++ v5

ActiveX - Required DLLs

None.  This is a light ActiveX control that requires no extra DLLs to operate. This means that your installation packages will be smaller.  And, your web pages will load faster, since there are no extra DLLs to download.

About The Soundex Algorithm

Soundex is an algorithm developed and patented by Margaret Odell and Robert Russell in the early part of this century (U.S. Patent 1,261,167 (1918) and 1,435,663 (1922)).  Don't worry about the patents, they've long since expired.

Many articles have been written about it, but one of the best descriptions is by Donald Knuth in The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 3.

Soundex converts a word or name to a code comprised of a letter followed by three digits.  Some redundancy is taken out of the word (such as stripping vowels, consonant doubles, etc.).  The first letter is preserved and the code is generated from what remains.

About the Extended Soundex Algorithm

This is a minor change to the basic Soundex algorithm.  In this algorithm, the first letter is treated like all the rest of the letters (i.e., if it's a vowel, it's stripped, if it's part of a consonant double, the second is stripped (as in LLAMA), etc.).

This code is purely numeric.  This can result in faster database scans to pick out like-sounding words or names.

About the Metaphone Algorithm

Metaphone originated from Lawrence Philips, an artificial intelligence specialist at NAC Reinsurance.  There is a write-up on Metaphone in the December 1990 issue of Computer Language.

Metaphone does a better job than Soundex and Extended Soundex when it comes to representing like-sounding names.  Its drawback is that Metaphone is comprised purely of letters.  In other words, it takes up more storage and, in a large database, this can be costly.

Distribution Note    When you develop and distribute an application that uses this control, you should install the control file into the user's Windows SYSTEM directory.  The control file has version information built into it.  So, during installation, you should ensure that you are not overwriting a newer version.


SoundX/X Properties

Properties that have special meaning for this control or that only apply to this control are marked with an asterisk (*).

Align Property

Enabled Property

*ExtSoundex Property

Left Property

*Length Property

*Metaphone Property

Name Property

*Soundex Property

Tag Property

Top Property

*Version Property

*Word Property


Registration Information

CREDITS

SoundX/X was written by James Shields.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Orders, inquiries, technical support, questions, comments, etc. can be sent to mabry@mabry.com on the Internet.  Our mailing address/contact information is:

Mabry Software, Inc.

Post Office Box 31926

Seattle, WA  98103-1926

Sales: 1-800-99-MABRY (U.S. Only)

Voice: 206-634-1443

Fax: 206-632-0272 or 206-364-3196

Web: http://www.mabry.com

COST

The price of SoundX/X (control only) is US$20 (US$25 for International orders).  The cost of SoundX/X and the C/C++ source code (of the control itself) is US$50 (US$55 for International orders).

Prices are subject to change without notice.

DELIVERY METHODS

We can ship this software to you via air mail and/or e-mail.

Air Mail - you will receive disks, a printed manual, and printed receipt if you choose this delivery method.  The costs are:

US$5.00 	US Priority Mail

US$10.00 	AirBorne Express 2nd Day (US deliveries only)

US$15.00 	AirBorne Express Overnight (US deliveries only)

US$45.00 	International AirBorne Express.

E-Mail - We can ship this package to you via e-mail.  You need to have an e-mail account that can accept large file attachments (which includes CompuServe, AOL, and most Internet providers).  If you choose this option, please note: a printed manual is not included.  We will, however, e-mail a receipt to you.

Be sure to include your full mailing address with your order.  Sometimes (on the Internet) the package cannot be e-mailed, so we are forced to send it through the normal mails.

CompuServe E-Mail - CompuServe members can use the software registration forum (GO SWREG) to register this package.  SoundX/X's SWREG ID number is 16010.  The source code version's ID number is 16011.  PLEASE NOTE: When you order through SWREG, we send the registered package to your CompuServe account (not your Internet or AOL account) within a few hours.

ORDER / PAYMENT METHODS

You can order this software by phone, fax, e-mail, mail.  For your convenience, an order form has been provided that you can print out directly from this help file.

Please note that orders must include all information that is requested on our order form.   Your shipment WILL BE DELAYED if we have to contact you for additional information (such as phone number, street address, etc.).

You can pay by credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express), check (U.S. dollars drawn on a U.S. bank), cash, International Money Order, International Postal Order, Purchase Order (established business entities only - terms net 30), or wire transfer.

WIRE TRANSFER INFORMATION

Here is the information you need regarding our account for a wire funds transfer:

Bank Name: 	SeaFirst - Stone Way Branch

Bank Address: 	3601 Stone Way North

Seattle, WA  98103

Bank Phone: 	206-585-4951

Account Name: 	Mabry Software, Inc.

Routing Number: 	12000024

Account Number: 	16311706

If you are paying with a wire transfer of funds, please add US$12.50 to your order.  This is the fee that SeaFirst Bank charges Mabry Software.  Also, please ADD ANY ADDITIONAL FEES THAT YOUR BANK MAY CHARGE for wire transfer service. If you are paying with a  wire transfer, we must have full payment deposited to our account before we can ship your order.

Copyright © 1997 by Mabry Software, Inc.


Order Form
 SoundX/X Order Form

Use the Print Topic... command from the File menu to print this order form.

Mail this 	Mabry Software, Inc.

form to: 	Post Office Box 31926

Seattle, WA  98103-1926

Phone: 206-634-1443

Fax: 206-632-0272 or 206-364-3196

Internet: mabry@mabry.com

Web: www.mabry.com

Where did you get this copy of SoundX/X?

____________________________________________________________________

Name: 	____________________________________________________________________

Ship to: 	____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________

Phone: 	_________________________________________________________________

Fax: 	_________________________________________________________________

E-Mail: 	_________________________________________________________________

MC/VISA/AMEX: _________________________________________ exp. __________________

P.O. # (if any): 	____________________ Signature ____________________________________

qty ordered 	____ 	REGISTRATION
$20.00 ($25.00 international).  Check or money order in U.S. currency drawn on a U.S. bank.  Add $5.00 per order for shipping and handling.

qty ordered 	____ 	SOURCE CODE AND REGISTRATION
$50.00 ($55.00 international).  Check or money order in U.S. currency drawn on a U.S. bank.  Add $5.00 per order for shipping and handling.


ExtSoundex Property Example

In this example, the program will take a word entered by the user and display the extended Soundex equivalent. To try this example, paste the code into the Declarations section of a form that contains a text box, a label, and a SoundX control.  Press F5.  Then, try various words in the text box.

Sub Edit1_Change ()
    SoundX1.Word = Edit1.Text
    Label1.Caption = SoundX1.ExtSoundex
End Sub


Metaphone Property Example

In this example, the program will take a word entered by the user and display the Metaphone equivalent. To try this example, paste the code into the Declarations section of a form that contains a text box, a label, and a SoundX control.  Press F5.  Then, try various words in the text box.

Sub Edit1_Change ()
    SoundX1.Word = Edit1.Text
    Label1.Caption = SoundX1.Metaphone
End Sub


Soundex Property Example

In this example, the program will take a word entered by the user and display the Soundex equivalent. To try this example, paste the code into the Declarations section of a form that contains a text box, a label, and a SoundX control.  Press F5.  Then, try various words in the text box.

Sub Edit1_Change ()
    SoundX1.Word = Edit1.Text
    Label1.Caption = SoundX1.Soundex
End Sub


Word Property Example

In this example, the program will take a word entered by the user and display the Soundex, Extended Soundex, and Metaphone equivalents. To try this example, paste the code into the Declarations section of a form that contains a text box, a wide label, and a SoundX control.  Press F5.  Then, try various words in the text box.

Sub Edit1_Change ()
    Dim S As String

    SoundX1.Word = Edit1.Text
    S = "Soundex:" & SoundX1.Soundex
    S = S & "    ExtSoundex:" & SoundX1.ExtSoundex
    S = S & "    Metaphone:" & SoundX1.Metaphone
    Label1.Caption = S
End Sub


ExtSoundex Property See Also
See Also

Length Property

Metaphone Property

Soundex Property

Word Property


Length Property See Also
See Also

ExtSoundex Property

Metaphone Property

Soundex Property

Word Property


Metaphone Property See Also
See Also

ExtSoundex Property

Length Property

Soundex Property

Word Property


Soundex Property See Also
See Also

ExtSoundex Property

Length Property

Metaphone Property

Word Property


Word Property See Also
See Also

ExtSoundex Property

Length Property

Metaphone Property

Soundex Property


ExtSoundex Property

See Also            ExtSoundex Property Example

Description

Extended Soundex representation of the Word property.

Syntax

object.ExtSoundex

The syntax of the ExtSoundex property has these parts:

Part	   	Description

object	A SoundX/X control.

Remarks

When the Word property is set, this property is generated.  This property is the Extended Soundex equivalent of the Word property.  The length of the string returned by this property is determined by the Length.

This property is read-only.

Data Type

String


Length Property

See Also

Description

Determines the length of the Soundex, ExtSoundex, and Metaphone properties.

Syntax

object.Length [= Length ]

The syntax of the Length property has these parts:

Part	   	Description

object	A SoundX/X control.

Length	An integer that determines the length of the codes returned in the Soundex, Metaphone and ExtSoundex properties.

Remarks

This property determines the length of the Soundex, ExtSoundex, and Metaphone properties.  This property defaults to 4.

Data Type

String


Metaphone Property

See Also            Word Property Example

Description

Metaphone representation of the Word property.

Syntax

object.Metaphone

The syntax of the Metaphone property has these parts:

Part	   	Description

object	A SoundX/X control.

Remarks

When the Word property is set, this property is generated.  This property is the Metaphone equivalent of the Word property.  The length of the string returned by this property is determined by the Length.

This property is read-only.

Data Type

String


Soundex Property

See Also            Soundex Property Example

Description

Soundex representation of the Word property.

Syntax

object.Soundex

The syntax of the Soundex property has these parts:

Part	   	Description

object	A SoundX/X control.

Remarks

When the Word property is set, this property is generated.  This property is the Soundex equivalent of the Word property.  The length of the string returned by this property is determined by the Length.

This property is read-only.

Data Type

String


Version Property

Description

Shows the version of the control.

Syntax

object.Version

The syntax of the Version property has these parts:

Part	   	Description

object	A SoundX/X control.

Remarks

This property holds the current version of the control.  It is read-only and available at both design-time and run-time.

Data Type

String


Word Property

See Also            Metaphone Property Example

Description

Seed word for Soundex, ExtSoundex, and Metaphone properties.

Syntax

object.Word [= Word ]

The syntax of the Word property has these parts:

Part	   	Description

object	A SoundX/X control.

Word	A string that holds the word to convert to Soundex, Metaphone and Extended Soundex formats.

Remarks

When this property is set, SoundX uses the appropriate algorithms to generate the Soundex, ExtSoundex, and Metaphone properties.

Data Type

String


Getting Custom Controls Written

If you or your organization would like to have custom controls written, you can contact us at the following:

Mabry Software, Inc.

Post Office Box 31926

Seattle, WA  98103-1926

Phone: 206-634-1443

Fax: 206-632-0272 or 206-364-3196

Internet: mabry@mabry.com

You can also contact Zane Thomas.  He can be reached at:

Zane Thomas

Post Office Box 121

Indianola, WA  98342

Internet: zane@mabry.com


Licensing Information

Legalese Version

Mabry Software grants a license to use the enclosed software to the original purchaser.  Copies may be made for back-up purposes only.  Copies made for any other purpose are expressly prohibited, and adherence to this requirement is the sole responsibility of the purchaser.

Customer written executable applications containing embedded Mabry products may be freely distributed, without royalty payments to Mabry Software, provided that such distributed Mabry product is bound into these applications in such a way so as to prohibit separate use in design mode, and that such Mabry product is distributed only in conjunction with the customers own software product.  The Mabry Software product may not be distributed by itself in any form.

Neither source code for Mabry Software products nor modified source code for Mabry Software products may be distributed under any circumstances, nor may you distribute .OBJ, .LIB, etc. files that contain our routines. This control may be used as a constituent control only if the compound control thus created is distributed with and as an integral part of an application.  Permission to use this control as a constituent control does not grant a right to distribute the license (LIC) file or any other file other than the control executable itself. This license may be transferred to a third party only if all existing copies of the software and its documentation are also transferred.

This product is licensed for use by only one developer at a time.  Mabry Software expressly prohibits installing this product on more than one computer if there is any chance that both copies will be used simultaneously.  This restriction also extends to installation on a network server, if more than one workstation will be accessing the product.  All developers working on a project which includes a Mabry Software product, even though not working directly with the Mabry product, are required to purchase a license for that Mabry product.

This software is provided as is.  Mabry Software makes no warranty, expressed or implied, with regard to the software.  All implied warranties, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular use, are hereby excluded.

MABRY SOFTWARE'S LIABILITY IS LIMITED TO THE PURCHASE PRICE.  Under no circumstances shall Mabry Software or the authors of this product be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, nor for any damages in excess of the original purchase price.

To be eligible for free technical support by telephone, the Internet, CompuServe, etc. and to ensure that you are notified of any future updates, please complete the enclosed registration card and return it to Mabry Software.

English Version

We require that you purchase one copy of a control per developer on a project.  If this is met, you may distribute the control with your application royalty free.  You may never distribute the LIC file.  You may not change the product in any way that removes or changes the requirement of a license file.

We encourage the use of our controls as constituent controls when the compound controls you create are an integral part of your application.  But we don't allow distribution of our controls as constituents of other controls when the compound control is not part of an application.  The reason we need to have this restriction is that without it someone might decide to use our control as a constituent, add some trivial (or even non-trivial) enhancements and then sell the compound control.  Obviously there would be little difference between that and just plain reselling our control.

If you have purchased the source code, you may not re-distribute the source code either (nor may you copy it into your own project).  Mabry Software retains the copyright to the source code.

Your license is transferable.  The original purchaser of the product must make the transfer request.  Contact us for further information.

The sample versions of our products are intended for evaluation purposes only.  You may not use the sample version to develop completed applications.