[GNC-dev] Normalizing live data, a suggestion for discussion

[David Cousens]

Wm,

>> It doesn't end there, payments can be split over multiple invoices, so
>> again 
>> when one randomizes invoice amounts care must be taken to adjust the
>> payments 
>> in proportion to the invoice amount change or fully paid invoices
>> suddenly can 
>> become partially paid or overpaid. 
>
>Not true. 
>
>Geert, I don't want to say this but I believe you are actually wrong, 
>for once. 
>On 02/02/2019 15:24, Geert Janssens wrote:

In what way is what Geert says here not true? 

Payments can be split over multiple invoices. 
A single invoice could also have several payments associated with it.

These sort of situations arise frequently in small businesses where you may
need to micro manage your cash flow.

If, in the randomisation process, you do not apply the same random factor to
all the invoices covered by that payment, then what he says is exactly what
will happen. This means your script will have to detect all of the invoices
related to a payment.  OK it can be dealt with,  but again the script
complexity is increased considerably to do so.

>Most people don't use the business functions

I don't since I retired a few years ago, but I did for 8 years prior to
retiring (and I used MYOB for the 10 years prior to that before escaping). I
am certainly not alone. You could have a proviso that the script won't work
for files using the business functions but that then detracts considerably
from its usefulness as a general diagnostic tool.


Sqlite itself and its availability on Linux is not really an issue. Most
distros have it in their software repositories. What may be more of an issue
is that a lot of people who don't use the database backends because they
don't want the additional hassles of learning to use and maintain databases
may be reluctant to install it. It's not that it is all that difficult if
you're familiar with it, but if you are not, it is an an additional hurdle
and learning curve. I'm retired. Taking an extra half day to learn something
new doesn't worry me as long as it happens before my time is up. But if I am
running a busy lfe and/or a business as I used to, I would be more
reluctant. Again not a show stopper, only a limitation on general
applicability.

David Cousens




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David Cousens
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