On Apr 27, 8:49 am, son.matt...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
wrote:
> I've got a customer who wants reproducible/historical re****ting. The
> problem is that the underlying data changes.
>
> I tried to explain that this can't be done (can it?), but he doesn't
> understand.
>
> To illustrate the situation - Let's say a teacher wants to track
> spelling test scores for her students.
> The below are scores for students A, B, and C (for January, February,
> March)
>
> A: {70,80,85}
> B: {70,65, 80}
> C: {100,90,100}
>
> So, I can generate a historical re****t that charts the class average
> and student trend - that's pretty easy.
>
> Now, in April, we find that the school board has mandated that the
> British spelling of words is ok, so now the ***ulative scores (for
> January, February, March)
>
> A: {90,80,85,100}
> B: {80,65, 80,80}
> C: {100,90,100,75}
>
> He wants a re****t showing the January average as (70+70+100)/3 = 80,
> when really it is (90+80+100)/3 = 90.
>
> Now imagine that there are actually thousands of data points changing
> like this...
> Now also imagine that we add and remove students on a regular basis...
>
> He and his office manager get frustrated when I explain that the
> re****ts are not simple - in their mind it is. They have determined
> the solution is to get a re****t writer and buy Crystal Re****ts...
> I've tried to explain that the problem is that the re****t
> specification is unclear (basically - they don't understand what they
> want). The situation is ok for now, I'm just trying to plan for when
> they figure out that buying Crystal Re****ts won't change their
> situation (except they are done several thousand dollars)...
>
> Any tips?
Who is the database designer? Time for a design change.
Actually if you really are talking about historical data, you might
consider a data warehouse. This would go much farther toward
providing the historical information they need than just Crystal
re****ts.
The situation is not OK. See if you can get the manager to understand
using simple examples like the one you mentioned here. Prepare a
presentation for them, don't just do it off the cuff.
HTH,
ed
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