Re: [AM] Database "refactoring" effort question

At 06:49 AM 2/2/2004 -0500, you wrote:
>(responding to Graham)
>
> > Please replace the column Taxpayer Name (40 characters)
> > by two columns Taxpayer ForeName (25 characters) and
> > Taxpayer Surname (25 characters).
> >
> > THE QUESTION
> > How long will it take make this small change
> > - to the test database?
> > - to the production database?
>
>"How are you intending to supply me with the data I need,
>  that I don't have?  I need to know where to split the
>  Taxpayer Name.  That data seems to be absent."
>
>This isn't a refactoring problem if you are intending to
>create new data - or capture new data.  The refactoring
>takes little effort.  The data capture of the required new
>data is what will take the effort.

Depends on what Graham's point was.  Does he mean that he doesn't have the 
rule for splitting the existing names.  For example, how do you split 
"Ambler Scott" and "Scott Ambler" and get it right each time?  The Agile 
DBA might do a little bit of analysis, e.g. look at some of the source 
data, and determine that the data is a mess, increasing the cost of fixing 
it.  The decision in turn might be to abandon the idea of refactoring this 
column.

Or, if he meant he doesn't have the new data to put into the schema then 
you're right, that's beyond the scope of the refactoring.  Still an 
important issue though.

><snip>

====================================================
Scott W. Ambler
Senior Consultant, Ronin International, Inc.
www.ronin-intl.com/company/scottAmbler.html

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