Redundant formula

[Toni]

Hello everyone.

I'm wondering from sometime if there is any way to find redundant calculated fields in a database, also dublicated fileds. This could be really helpful when you got a lot of fileds on the database, especially when this database was created by someone who left the project and now I'm called for assisting and evolving it. I'm really not sure at all if i'm creating and adding fields that already exists.

Is there any way to find this out?

Thanks Toni

[MoonShadow]

If you have Developer, Toni, you can create a DDR (Database Design Report). This report will list every field, every calculation it appears in; every layout it's on and every script which refers to it. It can be quite useful. However, with a large number of fields it, in itself, can be time consuming to review.

It might help to sort your field definitions by type (popup top-right in Define Fields). In this way, you can more easily compare date fields, etc. If you don't have Developer, you might want to print your scripts and field definitions (using 'print to file' and selecting a generic text/only printer). You can then use a word processor to scan (using Find) similar text strings throughout).

I don't envy your task ... reverse-engineering is extremely difficult, especially if the prior Developer was sloppy or inefficient. Look especially for calculations that contain other calculations within them as they are usually inefficient. I think, most times, it is simpler to start over.

[ĸupiэȶƺ]

If you have Developer, Toni, you can create a DDR (Database Design Report). This report will list every field, every calculation it appears in;

Not true, unfortunately, at least not in 7. It does NOT give you the calculations a given field appears in - this particular omission is causing a giant headache for me right now. What an incredibly lame oversight from an otherwise great upgrade.

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. Have I missed something?

Mike

[MoonShadow]

Hi Mike. You are correct; and I go on to say it can still be time-consuming to review. If you scroll to your Fields section where your calculations are listed, it is quick to scan through them looking for your field name. I've even printed DDRs and highlighted the found locations in yellow. I admit DDR could be more user-friendly, ie, produce text-delimited which can be searched with text editor, etc.

Actually ... I've heard of a few programs which do just that! In fact, I believe Bob Weaver may have a demo right here in downloads section. I'll see if I can find these programs for you, but it'll be tomorrow. Maybe others can provide links yet tonight. I wish you well ...