Irrational subfile behavior
Hamilton, Allison
Allison.Hamilton@Cognos.COM
Thu, 2 Sep 1999 09:00:46 -0400
It's hard to believe that I've been using QUIZ for almost 22 years (I
understand the since ... jeez! comment well), but 'tis so... It was one of
my first programming tools back in the dawn of time, round about 1.03 or
so... My how time flies when you're having fun! Quasar wasn't even a
software company back then - it was a consulting group - things have
certainly changed.
Allison Hamilton
My thoughts and words are my own - my employer doesn't always agree - but
they let me work here anyway.
> ----------
> From: Al Karman[SMTP:alkarman@hotmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 6:16 PM
> To: Matt.Ohmes@Cognos.COM; alkarman@hotmail.com; powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
> Subject: RE: Irrational subfile behavior
>
> Matt,
>
> Thanks for the insight...I've been a user since (jeez...!) your CO. went
> by
> the name of Quasar, and v. 1.04 was all the rage!!!
>
>
>
>
> >From: "Ohmes, Matt" <Matt.Ohmes@COGNOS.com>
> >To: 'Al Karman' <alkarman@hotmail.com>, "Ohmes, Matt"
> ><Matt.Ohmes@COGNOS.com>, powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
> >Subject: RE: Irrational subfile behavior
> >Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 17:58:51 -0400
> >
> >Hi Al,
> >
> >It all goes back to history. Quiz was written first, and for "end
> users".
> >If you say "X subtotal" in the Report statement, a Footing At, and the
> >Final
> >Footing, then Quiz must create 3 new items on the fly in order to keep
> the
> >subtotaling and resetting of initial values all separate from one
> another.
> >If you want to do that in QTP (assumed to be a "programmers" tool), you'd
> >have to create different temporary items for each sort break level.
> >
> >That is why Quiz creates summary items instead of just using yours. As
> for
> >why it "changes" the characteristics of your element, it only does that
> if
> >you perform a calculation on the item (like a subtotal). It could be
> >argued
> >that subtotaling and counting don't require (or even benefit from being
> >stored in) a floating point storage, but that was the choice they made,
> >back
> >in the olden times.
> >
> >With QTP (which was written later than Quiz), they figured out they
> really
> >needed a storage area that could be defined and used at the programmer's
> >discretion. Thus, the Temporary Item was created. And it was decreed
> from
> >on high, that summary operation results (in QTP) should be stored
> therein.
> >Thus:
> >
> >Temporary T-X Zoned*2
> >Item T-X SUBTOTAL X
> >
> >Will add X into T-X on each processing cycle. And, BTW, it will be
> written
> >out to a subfile as a Zoned size 2 item.
> >
> >One of the many reasons I'm a big fan of QTP. ;-)
> >
> >Hope that answered your questions.. because I'm outta here! (For today,
> at
> >least.)
> >(And thanks for the kind comment on my tag line.) ;-)
> >Matt
> >
> >Matt.Ohmes@Cognos.Com
> >Cognos Corporation
> >909 E. Las Colinas Blvd.
> >Suite 1900
> >Irving, TX 75039
> >214-259-6200
> >"Matt doesn't really know anything. He just likes to pontificate a lot.
> >We refuse to acknowledge that he works for Cognos or that we have ever
> >met him or anyone with whom he's ever been associated. Don't lend him
> >money and don't let him talk to your sister!" ;-)
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Al Karman [mailto:alkarman@hotmail.com]
> >Sent: Wednesday, September 01, 1999 4:41 PM
> >To: Matt.Ohmes@COGNOS.com; alkarman@hotmail.com; powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
> >Subject: RE: Irrational subfile behavior
> >
> >
> >Matt,
> >
> >2nd ?, 1st...
> >Auto-redefine - bad syntax, but the thought was that QTP doesn't do
> >this...would QTP change an elements characteristics solely due to it's
> >being
> >
> >processed more than 1nce, hmmmmmm????
> >
> >1st ?,...
> >If we want to split hairs (quick, gimme an axe...), QUIZ is in fact
> >re-defining my element...
> >Some would think sub-totalling a numeric field shouldn't change it's
> >physical characteristics. Your point is well taken, but I'm curious on
> >your
> >
> >thoughts of the above...
> >
> >PS - love the tag on your signature....
> >
> >Yours in MPE/iX,
> >
> >
> >
> > >From: "Ohmes, Matt" <Matt.Ohmes@COGNOS.com>
> > >To: 'Al Karman' <alkarman@hotmail.com>, powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
> > >Subject: RE: Irrational subfile behavior
> > >Date: Wed, 1 Sep 1999 17:25:13 -0400
> > >
> > >Al, a reporter from the back of the room asks...
> > >
> > >"Funny you mention subtotalling - I do invoke that arcane function....
> > >Why does Quiz insist on redefining, on its own, my fine work??
> > >And a follow-up, Mr. President....why DOESN'T QTP do auto-redefine??"
> > >
> > >Hmmm.... First question first. Well, actually Quiz didn't redefine your
> > >work. ;-) You created a defined item of Zoned size 2, but you REPORTED
> a
> > >summary result, not the defined item. To illustrate:
> > >
> > >Define X Zone*2 size 2 = 1 ; I hope I got that syntax right
> > >Report &
> > > X pic "^^^" Heading "Defined^Item X" &
> > > X SUBTOTAL pic "^^^^^^" Heading "Summary^Item X"
> > >
> > >I just reported 2 items, the first was a defined item, zoned size 2.
> The
> > >second was a floating point calculation result that happens to also
> have
> > >the
> > >name X. You'll notice the Picture and heading clauses follow the word
> > >SUBTOTAL because the report item is X SUBTOTAL, not just X.
> > >
> > >Now, as to the second question...
> > >Huh? What do you mean "auto-redefine"?
> > >
> > >Matt
> > >
> > >Matt.Ohmes@Cognos.Com
> > >Cognos Corporation
> > >909 E. Las Colinas Blvd.
> > >Suite 1900
> > >Irving, TX 75039
> > >214-259-6200
> > >"Matt doesn't really know anything. He just likes to pontificate a
> lot.
> > >We refuse to acknowledge that he works for Cognos or that we have ever
> > >met him or anyone with whom he's ever been associated. Don't lend him
> > >money and don't let him talk to your sister!" ;-)
> >
> >
> > '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
> > ' Al Karman '
> > ' Information Technology Consulting '
> > ' Internet: alkarman@hotmail.com '
> > ' FAX: 248.671.5035 '
> > '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
> >
> >______________________________________________________
> >Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
>
>
> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
> ' Al Karman '
> ' Information Technology Consulting '
> ' Internet: alkarman@hotmail.com '
> ' FAX: 248.671.5035 '
> '''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com
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