Clear out data

[Gasman]

Some of my lookup tables have logically "Deleted" and "UserAdded" boolean columns. If a value has a Deleted checkmark, the value will still appear on the list, but an X will appear in the 2nd column of the dropdown list and users won't be able to select it. In certain comboboxes I allow users to dynamically add new values on the fly when users enter values not in list. However, a msgbox popup warns users to verify if any values already on the list should be used instead of adding the new value.

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TBH, I would be asking why you are supplying something that whilst can be selected, should not even be shown?

I remember seeing a program where one had to select a town in England, yet the combo showed towns in Scotland and Wales.
If you selected one of those, then you got a similar message, yet a simple filter for the country would have prevented that.

When I mentioned it, I was told 'Well yes, in a perfect world, that would be nice'
One simple filter, 5 seconds to implement, 20 secs to test.

 

[cheekybuddha]

The OP clearly stated he is not a developer so I feel it's inappropriate to humiliate him, or any other AWF member who is not an experienced developer.

Welcome to AWF

 

[The_Doc_Man]

The OP clearly stated he is not a developer so I feel it's inappropriate to humiliate him, or any other AWF member who is not an experienced developer.

Can't speak for others, but this is how I see it.

When you are in a classroom and you ask a question or make a comment that is based on an erroneous assumption, don't you want the teacher to correct you? And in that public situation, should the teacher allow the others who heard the bad question be left unclear about the error?

Are we going to worry so much about the erroneous student's feelings as to be unable to correct him/her AND correct the impressions taken by others who witnessed the exchange? If we cannot offer correction in a public forum, what is the point of the forum existing, much less being public?

 

[GPGeorge]

There is a difference between correction and public humiliation, though, is there not?

 

[BlueSpruce]

TBH, I would be asking why you are supplying something that whilst can be selected, should not even be shown?

Because there's historical data that has those deprecated values and users need to know they can no longer select them.

I remember seeing a program where one had to select a town in England, yet the combo showed towns in Scotland and Wales.
If you selected one of those, then you got a similar message, yet a simple filter for the country would have prevented that.

As much as many Scots would love for Scotland to be an independent sovereign nation, it's part of the United Kingdom. If you were to setup cascading ComboBoxes and add Scotland as a separate Country, then you can filter Counties that belong to Scotland, and towns that belong to those Scotish Counties. You could also create a Possession lookup table and put Scotland, Northern Ireland, and other British Possessions in it.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

There is a difference between correction and public humiliation, though, is there not?

Since I became a moderator, I have tried to tone down my impatience with recalcitrant members who fall into the "lead them to water but can't make them drink" category. If I have any problem along those lines, it is sometimes that my directness is taken as a bit abrasive.

I try to call things as I see them and yet NOT call the "difficult" person "the flower of his family - a blooming idiot." We all need to be careful because directness is often the most verbally economical type of response, but also the most susceptible to misinterpretation of intent. It's like walking a verbal tightrope. There WILL be moments of misunderstanding. But that risk still doesn't mean we shouldn't answer the question or correct the erroneous comment. If we don't do that much, we fail in the overall mission of the forum.

 

[BlueSpruce]

There is a difference between correction and public humiliation, though, is there not?

That's the point I am making. There's ways to provide constructive criticism without personally offending someone. Everyone is not an expert. Some ppl learn by watching others make mistakes, by taking advice, or making the mistakes themselves and realize they have to change. Tolerance and Patience are virtues.

You all have a great day! I gotta run some errands, to be continued later...

 

[Pat Hartman]

The OP clearly stated he is not a developer so I feel it's inappropriate to humiliate him, or any other AWF member who is not an experienced developer.

However, he is developing an app he intends to be used by others so he is assuming the responsibility of a developer.
Welcome to AWF. We love it when new members are judgmental and give us lectures. You'll fit right in.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Some of my lookup tables have logically "Deleted" and "UserAdded" boolean columns.

I guess you missed the part about MVF which is what David is using.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Are we going to worry so much about the erroneous student's feelings as to be unable to correct him/her AND correct the impressions taken by others who witnessed the exchange?

Absolutely. That is the world the snowflakes live in. You cannot correct them without hurting their feelings so no one learns anything. Everyone wins the first place trophy. You and I went to school in a different era. Correcting one student publicly meant that the rest of the class also learned the lesson. We didn't take it personally because it wasn't personal.

There is a difference between correction and public humiliation, though, is there not?

Perhaps, but the remark being criticized was a reaction to the OP doubling down on his bad design.

 

[BlueSpruce]

However, he is developing an app he intends to be used by others so he is assuming the responsibility of a developer.
Welcome to AWF. We love it when new members are judgmental and give us lectures. You'll fit right in.

There's ways to provide constructive criticism without personally offending someone. Everyone is not an expert. Some ppl learn by watching others make mistakes, by taking advice, or making the mistakes themselves and sooner or later realize they have to change, and some will simply not change no matter what. Tolerance and Patience are virtues.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Thank you very much for the lecture. Somehow I knew it was coming and you didn't disappoint me.

Some ppl learn by watching others make mistakes, by taking advice, or making the mistakes themselves and realize they have to change. Tolerance and Patience are virtues.

And some people simply cannot be helped.

 

[The_Doc_Man]

Tolerance and Patience are virtues.

True. So are "Willingness to learn" and "Willingness to correct errors."

Do you know why many of our forum members are considered as "experienced"? It has to do with Ambrose Bierce's definition of "Experienced" - which means "able to recognize your mistakes when you make them again." We offer lessons tinged with experience!

 

[LarryE]

Some ppl learn by watching others make mistakes, by taking advice, or making the mistakes themselves and realize they have to change.

Absolutely correct, but this particular OP was not one of those people. I don't care what you are building. If you knowingly design it and build it without a proper foundation, you know what happens. C'mon man...thousands of tables and forms is just stupid. Even if the OP was not going to distribute the project file to others. Anyway, he got the answer to his question in the 2nd post. You have to do it yourself.

 

[Pat Hartman]

Anyway, he got the answer to his question in the 2nd post. You have to do it yourself.

And the rest is just nonsense so why are we here?

 

[LarryE]

And the rest is just nonsense so why are we here?

Inherent sense of responsibility I suppose.

 

[Pat Hartman]

I have this need to fix broken things. But not everything can be fixed so I'm going away now.

 

[BlueSpruce]

I have this need to fix broken things. But not everything can be fixed so I'm going away now.

We live in an imperfect world. If everyone did things the right way, we would've lost out on a lot of work putting out fires.

 

[DHookom]

This is the 79th post in this thread which should have moved to the Watercooler 70 posts ago.

 

[Pat Hartman]

We live in an imperfect world. If everyone did things right, we would've lost out a lot of work putting out fires.

Most of us are willing to learn from our mistakes. I would never argue with my Chemistry teacher when she told me to uncork my generator with the opening facing away from me. Although I did forget one time and almost got knocked off my feet. I learned that lesson the hard way. I know the teacher warned me but I was sloppy and paid the price. We try very hard to keep people from even making the mistakes we know will hurt them. Most listen and learn. Some double down.