Dictionary pet hates (was: Programmer Certification)

[Miller, Daniel]

File open names and/or .dat files that dont relate to powerhouse file names:

	
	Inherited these due to pc powerhouse system with old dos filenames
that where not changed when converted to VMS.  A nightmare to find the
corresponding powerhouse file in dictionary.


Multiple elements added to dictionary for same use:

	e.g. "Ref Number" added as "Ref-num" and "Ref-no" and "Ref_no" etc,
because somebody didnt check first.


Files without a filler.


-----Original Message-----
From: Guy Werry [mailto:guy.werry@hbms.ca]
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2002 7:15 PM
To: PH Mailing List (E-mail)
Subject: RE: Programmer Certification


One last contribution to the debate about coding standards, etc.  This
messed up dictionary issue is one of my favorites.

We had a contractor build, without any real I.T. involvement, a Powerhouse
system.  It was horrible!  There were NO picture clauses, headings, labels
or anything like that in the dictionary - if a field was reported in 30 Quiz
reports, then in all 30 Quiz reports he had the headings and picture clauses
hard coded.  What a waste of effort!

The way we work things, and I firmly belive that it saves enormous amounts
of work, is that everything possible be coded in the dictionary and as much
as possible all files (data bases) be in one central dictionary.  The only
exception to this are values statements: too restrictive, really need to use
lookup tables as much as possible.  Makes for more work in the coding, but
the flexibility once the application is up and running is very liberating.

I'll now climb back down off of my soap-box, it's time to grab a coffee.

G.L. (Guy) Werry 
Senior Systems Analyst
Hudson Bay Mining & Smelting
Ph:  204-687-2374
Fax: 204-687-2771
guy.werry@hbms.ca

-----Original Message-----
From: 	Miller, Daniel [mailto:Daniel.Miller@nightfreight.co.uk] 
Sent:	February 15, 2002 10:39 AM
To:	Powerhouse List 3 (E-mail)
Subject:	RE: Programmer Certification (was NOCORRECT Clause in FIELD)

'best practice' development methods would be interesting.  Another problem
area where things can get out of hand has to be dictionaries.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
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