Closest to coordinates script

PaPPy

Ok I am looking for a form type script. That I put X and Y and Z coordinates into and click submit. (the Y doesnt matter as it is elevation) And when you click submit it searches through the list of coordinates I have and finds the closest based on the X and Z and echos The closest spot is: Boston X Y Z
Once again the Y really doesnt matter for when comparing the user input to the list.

The list/database Id prefer not to do it in MySql as I dont know anything with yet. And idea? Anyone know of a command they can point me to?

Thanks in advance!

MikeSnead

You'd need a way to store the list of coords (a text file since you don't wanna mess with a SQL database) and you can just use the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the distance between all the listed coords and your given point... then pick the closest one.

PaPPy

tries rememeber 10th grade but all i remember is the girl in the front left side of the room

i know its a² x b² = c²

but what commands do i use?

similar_text or levenshtein
am i right to be looking into these?

Weedpacket

Originally posted by MikeSnead
You'd need a way to store the list of coords (a text file since you don't wanna mess with a SQL database) and you can just use the Pythagorean Theorem to calculate the distance between all the listed coords and your given point... then pick the closest one.

Errr... you sure about that? If "Boston" is enough to specify the closest point then I'm guessing that PaPPy won't be able to get away with assuming the world is flat, but would have to at least assume it's spherical and take the latitude and longitude of the points into account (this has been covered in these forums before; searching for "longitude" and "latitude" should come up with a typical formula for great-circle distance).

PaPPy

ok well its for a game
and its not exact like boston

this is what i want to do but without sql
and ive asked the person who made it doesnt like practicing open source

http://www.matrixdojo.com/index.php?page=locator

MikeSnead

Originally posted by Weedpacket
Errr... you sure about that? If "Boston" is enough to specify the closest point then I'm guessing that PaPPy won't be able to get away with assuming the world is flat, but would have to at least assume it's spherical and take the latitude and longitude of the points into account (this has been covered in these forums before; searching for "longitude" and "latitude" should come up with a typical formula for great-circle distance).

Valid points... I was just assuming a flat 2D plane would be enough for his project due to the nature of his post (basic x,y coords). I just read right over the 'boston being enough' 🙂

Weedpacket

Well, rather than bore you with the maths of it (even though you can't be a good programmer without having a bit of mathematical skill), the Euclidean distance between (x1,y1) and (x2,y2) is sqrt((x1-x2)(x1-y1)+(y1-y2)(y1-y2)).

TheDefender

Originally posted by PaPPy
i know its a² x b² = c²

Also, if you do feel at some point in time with future scripts, that you can or want to incorporate pythagoreans' theorm, the formula is actually:

a² + b² = c²

Sqrt(a² + b²⁾ = c
(Just a little aside: FYI)

PaPPy

Originally posted by TheDefender
Also, if you do feel at some point in time with future scripts, that you can or want to incorporate pythagoreans' theorm, the formula is actually:

a² + b² = c²

or

Sqrt(a² + b²⁾ = c
(Just a little aside: FYI)

feels stupid
crawls to my hole in the wall

thx for the help ill work on this at work
and post my outcomes