Linking problem in 7.10G

[Deskin, Bob]

I don't know about it being bad programming technique. I suppose one could
argue that if the original item wouldn't hold that large a value, then it
shouldn't be that size. On the other hand, the values here are that large,
so the question is why is the target item that small. In any case, the
PowerHouse message comes from deep inside. Also, these are considered
expressions, so we don't necessarily know easily that the items mismatched.
As for a parse time warning, in our experience, these are usually ignored.
Especially if people run batch compiles, which is common in upgrades.
Regarding the suggestion that an out of range error be treated like a no
match situation, we could consider that, although I suspect that we wouldn't
want to chance destabilizing the product to handle what is an admittedly
questionable practice. I suspect, however, that since these are expressions,
there would be no way of determining whether the expression itself had a
problem versus the item value being too large. I do see the point, but I
don't see it being changed. Just trying to set realistic expectations.

Bob Deskin              
Senior Product Advisor  bob.deskin@cognos.com
Cognos Inc.             (613) 738-1338 ext 4205 FAX: (613) 228-3149
3755 Riverside Drive P.O. Box 9707 Stn. T, Ottawa ON K1G 4K9 CANADA


> ----------
> From: 	arthur kogan[SMTP:akogan@westpac.com.au]
> Sent: 	Thursday, September 03, 1998 8:01 PM
> To: 	Deskin, Bob
> Cc: 	'powerh-l@lists.swau.edu'
> Subject: 	Re: Linking problem in 7.10G
> 
> Hi Bob,
> 
> I had a conversation with Alex Ling exactly about this issue couple of
> days ago
> and we came up with exactly the same explanation. I have seen this problem
> before (while I was working for Cognos support in Sydney), but in my case
> it was
> linking a char*10 field to a char*8 field. If the value in the char*10
> field was
> 9 or 10 characters long, you got a data conversion error.
> 
> I agree that this is a BAD programing technique, however in Alex's case
> (and
> probably a lot of other people's) he is working on an old system and it
> would
> take a big effort to make appropriate changes. The change requires not
> just the
> database changes and recompilation. Think of all the temps and defines
> that need
> to be changed. Also you may have a problem of space in screen and report
> layouts
> if you have used the default pictures, as the short takes less space than
> long.
> It could require a great deal of work to fix.
> 
> I therefore suggest that Cognos (rather than rejecting this "bug"), handle
> it in
> a more user friendly way as follows. At compile time flag an appropriate
> warning. At run time, do a pre-check on the value before trying to link,
> and in
> case the value is to big, again flag a warning, not an error!!! That is,
> this
> should be handled as "no match found" (which is the actual situation,
> since it
> is impossible for a match to exist), but not an error stopping the program
> running.
> 
> This way you are truly putting the user in control.
> 
> How about it?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Arthur Kogan
> Westpac Financial Services
> Sydney, Australia
> 
> Deskin, Bob wrote:
> 
> > I just heard from Allison about the linking problem in 7.10G and I
> thought
> > everyone would be interested. The bug # is 245681 and has to do with
> getting
> > a data conversion error linking an InterBase long binary to an InterBase
> > short binary. Turns out that the error existed at least as far back as
> > 7.10E4 (and probably further back) but it was ignored rather than being
> > reported. During the development of the QTP Tracer (which is Allison's
> baby
> > and accomplishment - everyone say thank you to Allison), the code was
> > changed to report the error so it could be traced. Now the clincher. The
> > error only occurs when a value that is too large for the short binary is
> > used. In other words, this is a valid error message. This bug is being
> > rejected.
> >
> > Bob Deskin
> > Senior Product Advisor  bob.deskin@cognos.com
> > Cognos Inc.             (613) 738-1338 ext 4205 FAX: (613) 228-3149
> > 3755 Riverside Drive P.O. Box 9707 Stn. T, Ottawa ON K1G 4K9 CANADA
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