Apparently in the Marine Corps a spreadsheet is a database. Sometimes even a database is really just a fancy spreadsheet. You really don't correct officers when they tell you they have this wonderful database that someone made for them that tracks all this information and then when you look at the icons on their screen its just a link to an .xls file (for all you in non-geek land that is an excel file). You smile and go "wow sir, I can see where that would help you". All the while you are looking for a quick exit because the project that normally would take 4 days has been promised in 2.
Another common misconception is that just because you task a Private to type the data in your "database". Doesn't mean he/she really cared about what went in it. I kid you not, Alex had a database, errr umm a spreadsheet, where the PFC "guessed" what the social security number that was written on the paper was. We won't go into the correct course of action for the Marine to follow (it includes looking up on the computer what the correct soc # is, in one of the other 300 spreadsheets). At least he highlighted in orange the cell to let us know he "guessed" at the value. OnePurdue would be proud of his color choices!
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3 comments:
Is that spreadsheet (i.e. database) a relational database? Or is the SSN in all sorts of files?
Sounds like you know more about the workings of database than they do. Are these pvt's technology orientated?
Gary
Hey Will -- sounds like the same kinds of things you would have to deal with here! ;-) Sounds like they have the right man for the job!
Lisa H.
Heh, Darling! Us old farts call databases "spreadsheets!" I learned to type on a manual and trying to keep up with all the constant changes in "tech" terms, well, the brain can only hold so much knowledge!! Be kind and patient to your elders! Marta
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