Re: Oracle access trough Excel

Q10641_at_paccvm.corp.mot.com (Troy Tinnes) writes:

> I'm not saying these tools are bad. I'm just suggesting probably the
>most cost effective method. Even with these tools:
> 1. The user must understand the structure of
> the database

     
      So now you have to educate ALL of your users on the database
      structure ?  I don't know about your organization, but the shops
      I've been in would rather not tell everyone in the company where 
      to find the payroll table.

      Have you looked at products like Business Objects ? User sees
      no database structure at all.



>           2. The user must know how to write queries in

>              SQL anyway


     Same comments.  Users don't want to learn SQL.  Some have no time,
     MIS might not have any time.  Some simply can't learn this enough
     to be effective and may cause harm while learning.  One must take
     these costs into account as well.  

     Again, look at some of the newer products with "canned" queries
     and reports.  MIS makes 'em and controls 'em.   The users use
     then with simple point and click.  The Business Objects
     product can be set up so the user sees no SQL at all.
     (I have no affiliation with the company)

     I agree that with Excel, starting from scratch one needs to know these
     things.  Users can't be expected to learn and MIS can never hope to
     teach on such a large scale.

     Nothing changes the fact the SQL*Plus and SQL*Reportwriter are
     NOT end user tools.  If they are, then please come to my job and
     teach 2,000 people how to use them (at low cost) - from secretaries 
     to vice-presidents.

Rich Holowczak
Rutgers University
holowcza_at_andromeda.rutgers.edu       Received on Sun Apr 03 1994 - 04:34:33 CEST