RE: Classification Based on Values in a String

From: Dunbar, Norman (Capgemini) <"Dunbar,>
Date: Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:51:28 +0100
Message-ID: <919FC80F27E0C6428106496EDF92A752135253F1_at_EXCCLUS05.PRODDS.NTNL>



Morning all,

>> Claims coming into our system can be rejected for a variety
>> of reasons which appear as comma separated values in the
>> 'rejection_list' column of the claim table.
Ouch. Multiple data items in one column - think normalisation. The problem is a classic case of a non-normalised database design causing problems further down the line. (But you already know that!)

>> Basically,
>> there are two broad classes of rejects that need to be
>> separated. The classes can be broken out as those rejected
>> solely because the provider is not set up in the system and
>> everything else.
>>
>> Here's how it works:

The solution Jeremy has indicated - replacing all the '09','07' and '22' codes with commas is the one I would have used in your situation as well. It's going to be pretty efficient I think - not that I have tested it - and will work. Of course, if "they" decide to add more rejection code in the future, you'll need to revisit this code.

Good luck. I too have problems with vendors using a single column to hold multiple values. You should see some of the queries we have to run. :-(

Why not ask them to fix it? "That's an enhancement request and will cost you extra". Yeah right! :-(

Cheers,
Norm.

Norman Dunbar
Contract Senior Oracle DBA
Capgemini Database Team (EA)
Internal : 7 28 2051
External : 0113 231 2051

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Received on Fri Aug 19 2011 - 01:51:28 CDT

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