RE: BI/Report Writer

Is it a bad sign if this sounds oh so familiar (with me in the Programmer C role)?


Peter Colpaert
Software Engineer, Consumer Luminaires

Industrieterrein Satenrozen 11, 2550 Kontich, Belgium
Tel. +32/ 3 450 74 09, Fax +32/ 3 450 74 33, Internal 1317
peter.colpaert@xxxxxxxxxxx, www.philips.com
Simply Switch to printing double-sided and printing less

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:midrange-l-
bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of rob@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: maandag 1 december 2008 15:09
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
Subject: Re: BI/Report Writer

I often wonder how many complaints about the database would be resolved
with a few simple good views.

User: Why do I have to join this to that? Why do I have to convert
this
stupid number to a date? Why do I have to calculate on hand as opening
balance + receipts + adjustments - issues?
Programmer A: Query tools are evil. Use the existing reports. If you
insist on using your query tool you'll just make bad business decisions
because you're an idiot and sliced and diced the data wrong.
Programmer B: Take this here existing query, copy it and change what
you
need.
Programmer C: Let me create a view that joins those files for you,
converts that to a date automatically, and calculates the on hand for
you.
As a side benefit I'll even change some of the field names to
something
that makes sense.
Programmer A: You can't do that! I remember on the original S/38 that
if
I added a view it added 1/2 second processing time to a million record
update! Never mind that we are now running a 570 with an average
response
time of well under a second and our month end close runs in 5 minutes.
Programmer B: I agree - you can't do that! What if we upgrade our
vendor
software? How will we remember to fix the view? Never mind that we
already have customized half of the vendor supplied programs and will
have
to fix those already. Somehow we'll just "know" to fix the programs -
but
views also??? And, never mind that the vendor is running 8.3.3 and
we're
still running version 2.1 from 1985 (converted over from the S/34) so
what
are the odds that we'll ever upgrade.
User: Quit your bellyaching. I'll just replace the system with this
neat
PC based system. I'm sick of your (expletive deleted).

Rob Berendt

The information contained in this message may be confidential and legally protected under applicable law. The message is intended solely for the addressee(s). If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, forwarding, dissemination, or reproduction of this message is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by return e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.