How to store GPS Coordinates in database, Which Data Type?

I am working on a program in VB 2005 in which i want to store and retrieve GPS coordinates. I am not sure which data type is the best to use to enter Latitude & Longitude numbers and maintain their proper integrity.

Like LAT ( N38 28.025' ) and LONG (W105 52.098' )

The numbers will be entered by the user and that format can be maintained, but how to re-enter & or insert them into the database using the same format is my real question.

I hope I have explained this right. The numbers in BOLD are what I need to maintain.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Steve

Hi Steve,

are you using SQL Server 2005 ? YOu could create your own data type for that ! I am not quite sure if since now anybody did already one for that reason but it would be worth a try searching in google for CLR +data type +sql server 2005 (and then the appropiate buzz words you probably know for your problem, like special names for the coordinates etc.

HTH, Jens K. Suessmeyer.

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

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You could look at a SQL CLR User defined data type.The other option is to store as integers (or numerics) and then have a function that converts from the raw numeric value to the format above.

With a UDT you implement a parse method that allows you to interpret text into a value that you can store.

Be careful with UDTs though as changing them once in place is very difficult, as it is in use and so you can't just upgrade the base assembly.