A quick note on Narratives

Narratives are very useful to give user information in a readable format. Some data is not easy to name so a more descriptive comment can be used instead of jus the column name
Consider:
Run Date
24/08/06

What does this mean?

You could use:

‘The date when the latest ETL was run is: 24 Aug 2006’


Obviously the more descriptive version in unusable as a column heading, therefore use a Narrative.

The narrative is a type of view that you add to a request. The formatting options are restricted to bold, italics and underline but you can play with the colours.

To produce the result above you would fill the main section (not the header and footer section) with the following

The date when the latest ETL was run is: [b]@1[/b]

Where [b] to make bold and @1 relates to field number one.

Placed on the top or bottom of a dashboard these narratives provide some unobtrusive feedback to the users. I normally build a dashboard which has repository variables displayed, and often put the Version Number variable onto a general tab.

told you it was a quick note!

A slow day at the Coal Face

August 31st

Today is a slow day. The database is down due to constant ORA-03113 errors, and sometimes 12152 errors. I don’t know what they are but it means we get to work late nights and weekends til the end of the project. If any of you know what these errors are I’m sure the DBA’s would love to know!


As it is so slow I thought I’d list my favourite words of wisdom and other such irrelevant things



It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.

Projects

Rome did not create a great empire by having meetings; they did it by killing all those who opposed them.

If you can stay calm, while all around you is chaos...then you probably haven't completely understood the seriousness of the situation.

A person who smiles in the face of adversity...probably has a scapegoat.

TEAMWORK...means never having to take all the blame yourself.

Never underestimate the power of very stupid people in large groups.

Succeed in spite of management.

Advice

1. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
2. It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
3. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.
4. If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again; it was probably worth it.
5. If you haven't much education you must use your brain.
6. Who gossips to you will gossip of you.
7. When someone says, "Do you want my opinion?" - it's always a negative one.
8. When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
9. Doing a job RIGHT the first time gets the job done. Doing the job WRONG fourteen times gives you job security.

Wisdom

He Who Laughs Last Thinks Slowest

Wherever you go; there you are

Cynics

• This isn't an office. It's Hell with fluorescent lighting.
• I pretend to work. They pretend to pay me.
• Sarcasm is just one more service we offer.
• Errors have been made. Others will be blamed.
• A cubicle is just a padded cell without a door.
• Can I trade this job for what's behind door 1?
• I thought I wanted a career, turns out I just wanted paychecks.
• Chaos, panic, & disorder - my work here is done.
• No one is listening until you make a mistake.
• I Haven't Lost My Mind - It's Backed Up On Disk Somewhere
• Aim Low; Reach Your Goals; Avoid Disappointment.

My First Blog

Please be gentle with me!

I am a complete blogging numptie, but I just had to give it a try.

I will mainly be talking about my experience with Analytics ( ex of Siebel now with Oracle), plus a little about my passion for sailing.

Let me know you're here reading my stuff and what you do.

I expect to write one article per week and will always be available to take your email mesages.


Adrian
adrian.ward@majendi.com