Very Computer

by **Paul Wats** » Sun, 31 Dec 1899 09:00:00

I still can't believe this, the more I think about it the less I believe
it but it happened today. I'm currently working for a client that is
having their entire manufacturing and accounting system replaced with a
new Informix based system written by a third party software house. Lots
of data conversion and table loads and file transfers - nothing difficult.
Obviously to make sure to two systems are the same the software house are
running comparison reports. Again nothing special.

But where the software house surpass themselves is in the generation of
the difference reports. To report and correct the data they do the
following.

1 Flat file both tables in their entirety.
2 Use awk to extract the columns they are interested into two more
files
3 Sort these files into a new set of files
4 grep to the two files together to produce a difference report
5 Use the difference report as the input to another grep to find the
full lines
6 Combine the difference lines with the original load file
7 Drop and reload the table
8 Repeat all the above to ensure no rows where missed.

When asked why they did all this I was told it was the only way. But why
not just compare the two tables in Informix I was told by one of the
installation guys that he didn't know you could do that.

Paul Watson # I don't suffer from
WF Software Ltd. # stress, I'm just
Tel. (+44) 1436 674729 # a carrier
Fax. (+44) 1436 678693 #
www.wfsoftware.com

by **Angel Gome** » Sun, 31 Dec 1899 09:00:00

!!!!
Just make sure he is not one of the programmers!!
;-)

>Subject: Beyond belief???
>Date: Tue, 5 Oct 1999 23:31 +0100 (BST)

>I still can't believe this, the more I think about it the less I believe
>it but it happened today. I'm currently working for a client that is
>having their entire manufacturing and accounting system replaced with a
>new Informix based system written by a third party software house. Lots
>of data conversion and table loads and file transfers - nothing difficult.
> Obviously to make sure to two systems are the same the software house are
>running comparison reports. Again nothing special.

>But where the software house surpass themselves is in the generation of
>the difference reports. To report and correct the data they do the
>following.

>1 Flat file both tables in their entirety.
>2 Use awk to extract the columns they are interested into two more
>files
>3 Sort these files into a new set of files
>4 grep to the two files together to produce a difference report
>5 Use the difference report as the input to another grep to find the
>full lines
>6 Combine the difference lines with the original load file
>7 Drop and reload the table
>8 Repeat all the above to ensure no rows where missed.

>When asked why they did all this I was told it was the only way. But why
>not just compare the two tables in Informix I was told by one of the
>installation guys that he didn't know you could do that.

>Paul Watson # I don't suffer from
>WF Software Ltd. # stress, I'm just
>Tel. (+44) 1436 674729 # a carrier
>Fax. (+44) 1436 678693 #
>www.wfsoftware.com

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by **Glynni** » Sun, 31 Dec 1899 09:00:00

> I still can't believe this, the more I think about it the less I
believe
> it but it happened today. I'm currently working for a client that
is
> having their entire manufacturing and accounting system replaced with
a
> new Informix based system written by a third party software house.
Lots
> of data conversion and table loads and file transfers - nothing
difficult.
> Obviously to make sure to two systems are the same the software
house are
> running comparison reports. Again nothing special.

> But where the software house surpass themselves is in the generation
of
> the difference reports. To report and correct the data they do the
> following.

> 1 Flat file both tables in their entirety.
> 2 Use awk to extract the columns they are interested into two
more
> files
> 3 Sort these files into a new set of files
> 4 grep to the two files together to produce a difference report
> 5 Use the difference report as the input to another grep to find
the
> full lines
> 6 Combine the difference lines with the original load file
> 7 Drop and reload the table
> 8 Repeat all the above to ensure no rows where missed.

> When asked why they did all this I was told it was the only way. But
why
> not just compare the two tables in Informix I was told by one of the
> installation guys that he didn't know you could do that.

> Paul Watson # I don't suffer from
> WF Software Ltd. # stress, I'm just
> Tel. (+44) 1436 674729 # a carrier
> Fax. (+44) 1436 678693 #
> www.wfsoftware.com

Have you asked them to ensure the new system is year 1900-compliant ? I
guess it confirms the old adage about a little knowledge being a
dangerous thing. No chance of naming names, I guess, to ward other UK-
based potential clients off from this software house ?? Go on, Paul -
you can always take the fifth amendment.

Regards

Glyn Balmer
--
If it always works, why don't parachutists
pull the emergency 'chute first?

Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

by **Obnoxio The Clow** » Sun, 31 Dec 1899 09:00:00

Quote:
>I still can't believe this, the more I think about it the less I believe
>it but it happened today. I'm currently working for a client that is
>having their entire manufacturing and accounting system replaced with a
>new Informix based system written by a third party software house. Lots
>of data conversion and table loads and file transfers - nothing difficult.
> Obviously to make sure to two systems are the same the software house are
>running comparison reports. Again nothing special.

>But where the software house surpass themselves is in the generation of
>the difference reports. To report and correct the data they do the
>following.

>1 Flat file both tables in their entirety.
>2 Use awk to extract the columns they are interested into two more
>files
>3 Sort these files into a new set of files
>4 grep to the two files together to produce a difference report
>5 Use the difference report as the input to another grep to find the
>full lines
>6 Combine the difference lines with the original load file
>7 Drop and reload the table
>8 Repeat all the above to ensure no rows where missed.

>When asked why they did all this I was told it was the only way. But why
>not just compare the two tables in Informix I was told by one of the
>installation guys that he didn't know you could do that.

You trained them well. :->

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by **Paul watso** » Sun, 31 Dec 1899 09:00:00

[cutting]

Quote:>>When asked why they did all this I was told it was the only way. But why
>>not just compare the two tables in Informix I was told by one of the
>>installation guys that he didn't know you could do that.

>You trained them well. :->

Yep, taught them everything you know :-)

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