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#1
 
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Historical Reporting with Volatile data -
04-27-2008
, 08:49 AM
#2
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I've got a customer who wants reproducible/historical reporting. 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 report 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 cumulative scores (for January, February, March) A: {90,80,85,100} B: {80,65, 80,80} C: {100,90,100,75} He wants a report 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 reports are not simple - in their mind it is. They have determined the solution is to get a report writer and buy Crystal Reports... I've tried to explain that the problem is that the report 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 Reports won't change their situation (except they are done several thousand dollars)... Any tips? |
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
reports.
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
#3
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I've got a customer who wants reproducible/historical reporting. 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 report 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 cumulative scores (for January, February, March) A: {90,80,85,100} B: {80,65, 80,80} C: {100,90,100,75} He wants a report 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 reports are not simple - in their mind it is. They have determined the solution is to get a report writer and buy Crystal Reports... I've tried to explain that the problem is that the report 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 Reports won't change their situation (except they are done several thousand dollars)... Any tips? |
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
reports.
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
#4
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I've got a customer who wants reproducible/historical reporting. 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 report 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 cumulative scores (for January, February, March) A: {90,80,85,100} B: {80,65, 80,80} C: {100,90,100,75} He wants a report 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 reports are not simple - in their mind it is. They have determined the solution is to get a report writer and buy Crystal Reports... I've tried to explain that the problem is that the report 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 Reports won't change their situation (except they are done several thousand dollars)... Any tips? |
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
reports.
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
#5
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I've got a customer who wants reproducible/historical reporting. 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 report 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 cumulative scores (for January, February, March) A: {90,80,85,100} B: {80,65, 80,80} C: {100,90,100,75} He wants a report 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 reports are not simple - in their mind it is. They have determined the solution is to get a report writer and buy Crystal Reports... I've tried to explain that the problem is that the report 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 Reports won't change their situation (except they are done several thousand dollars)... Any tips? |
why can't you add a date coloum on the table in order to keep track of the
day of each insertion ???
Best Regards..
Stefano.
#6
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I've got a customer who wants reproducible/historical reporting. 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 report 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 cumulative scores (for January, February, March) A: {90,80,85,100} B: {80,65, 80,80} C: {100,90,100,75} He wants a report 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 reports are not simple - in their mind it is. They have determined the solution is to get a report writer and buy Crystal Reports... I've tried to explain that the problem is that the report 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 Reports won't change their situation (except they are done several thousand dollars)... Any tips? |
why can't you add a date coloum on the table in order to keep track of the
day of each insertion ???
Best Regards..
Stefano.
#7
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I've got a customer who wants reproducible/historical reporting. 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 report 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 cumulative scores (for January, February, March) A: {90,80,85,100} B: {80,65, 80,80} C: {100,90,100,75} He wants a report 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 reports are not simple - in their mind it is. They have determined the solution is to get a report writer and buy Crystal Reports... I've tried to explain that the problem is that the report 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 Reports won't change their situation (except they are done several thousand dollars)... Any tips? |
why can't you add a date coloum on the table in order to keep track of the
day of each insertion ???
Best Regards..
Stefano.
#8
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#9
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#10
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