Fuming

thecolourbox

I'd like a coffee without cream please.

We don't have any cream. Would you like it without milk instead?

If data is that vague then in fairness they aren't going to know whether it is within five miles or not. Just make sure you've complained about it enough that people notice and then when there's a problem you can say... I told you so

webrthomson

Foster said:

webrthomson said:

joneve said:

randella said:

Software developers' paradox:

1) force user to enter data correctly before submitting form - relentless complaints about 'unusable' system
2) allow user to populate as they see fit - database full of absolute shit

Unfortunately you look to be the victim of system type 2.  From someone who's been there, good luck.

This is my life. Every Day. 

Agree - you can't code round stupidity / laziness / general incompetence / fuckwitery

TBH I’d simply ignore anything without a postcode and if challenged on it I’d send them a report with those missing a post code and ask them to fix the data, outlining that it will auto add to the map once there is enough data to infer positioning information.

So send a blank database to head office. Head office want postcodes to populate a map of where we've tested, not a single one has a postcode attached.

I'm basically on the verge of smashing up the office

At that point either you admit defeat or make shit up

I appreciate thats not a helpful answer but this seems like a classic GIGO situation.

JezWynd

Rocker said:

Simply do what you can and advise your immediate superior that the missing data is as a result of sloppy work by others.  

This. Or else make up some addresses/locations (will anyone know or care that they're bogus?).

ewal

I have worked for years as a GIS specialist. Your task is not possible.

axisus

Find someone else to blame. This is the basis of all work.

hassleham

Make it up!

Jalapeno

I think you're on a rock between two hard places ...

LuttiS

How'd you get on?

Phil_aka_Pip

amarok1971 said:

you cant make chicken soup outta chicken shit

You can, it's just not made from the best parts of the chicken

Phil_aka_Pip

p90fool said:

The only times I've ever been given "tasks" like that is when my position was being made redundant and they were just trying to fill my day.
Be honest, that's not really anyone's actual job, is it? 

The other possibility is the management want rid of him, so they give him a task they know he can't complete, then they either fire him for not completing it or hold him back off a pay rise until he gets pissed off enough to leave.

Foster

I don't think there's anything malicious with this task. I know why we need the postcodes (to populate a map) and it's fallen to me to do because it's data stuff - who better than the data manager to sort it.

Just wish there was a more effective way of doing it. 

As for holding back a pay rise, I don't think there is a pay rise to hold back. One of my targets is to get the whole new tablet system rolled out across the business (so we can go paperless) but there's lots of issues holding us back - would be nice to get it done so I can get up to £20k a year but hey ho.