How To Build A Simple Distance Checker Between Two Uk Postcodes Into Your Access Database In Vba

The ability to calculate the distance between two postcodes is of an enormous benefit in many software applications. There are online companies who can offer automated access to their distance check software but not only will this cost, but will rely on internet access as well. Here we will show you the code used to give you this facility.

This method will only calculate the distance in Kilometres (divide the result by 1.609344 for miles) as the crow files but it is extremely useful when, for instance, you are marketing everyone within a fixed radius.

So how do we do it? The method uses the Haversine formula which assumes that the Earth is a sphere. OK we know that the Earth is not a perfect sphere, but when you are checking between two map co-ordinates it is more than accurate enough for these purposes.

OK so without going into the technicalities of how the formula works, we shall get straight on with the coding requirements for VBA.

You will need a table in your application containing all the UK postcodes and their X & Y axis co-ordinates. We would be happy to provide this.

The following VBA Code attached to the Calculate Distance click event is used in a simple form where the user enters the start and end postcodes and the distance is calculated.

txtPostCodeStart and txtPostCodeEnd are blank text boxes for entering your criteria. txtStartLat, txtEndLat, txtStartLong and txtEndLong are text boxes that are automatically populated through the after update event on the text boxes txtPostCodeStart and txtPostCodeEnd using simple RecordSet vba programming.

Private Sub caldistance_Click() On Error GoTo Err_caldistance_Click

If Me.TxtPostCodeStart = "" Then MsgBox ("Please enter a Start Post Code") Exit Sub End If

If Me.TxtPostCodeEnd = "" Then MsgBox ("Please enter an End Post Code") Exit Sub End If

Distance = (Sin((Me.TxtEndLat * 3.14159265358979) / 180)) * (Sin((Me.TxtStartLat * _ 3.14159265358979) / 180)) + (Cos((Me.TxtEndLat * 3.14159265358979) / 180)) * _ ((Cos((Me.TxtStartLat * 3.14159265358979) / 180))) * _ (Cos((Me.TxtStartLong - Me.TxtEndLong) * (3.14159265358979 / 180)))

Distance = 6371 * (Atn(-Distance / Sqr(-Distance * Distance + 1)) + 2 * Atn(1))

Me.TxTDistance = Distance

Exit_caldistance_Click: Exit Sub

Err_caldistance_Click: MsgBox Err.Description Resume Exit_caldistance_Click End Sub

Whilst we have demonstrated a simple form, the basic formula is there to be used in a host of different ways. We hope you will find this as useful as we have and if you need any assistance please don't hesitate contact us!