RE: ad-hoc update check

Dennis - I agree with Jared and Rachel. One suggestion I haven't seen yet is to export the tables that will be affected just before you make the changes. This also helps emphasize the seriousness of the situation to the developers.
Dennis Williams
DBA
Lifetouch, Inc.
dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 11:53 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

Dennis,

If management is Ok with this ( have you asked? ) you need to take some steps to protect your database, your job and your reputation.

'cuz the duhvelopers will do their best to destroy all three.

1. You need a test database with a reasonable amount of test data
2. Your duhvelopers need to develop their data massage routines against the test database.
3. When they think they have it right, run the query on the QA database. If resource/time constraints demand it, this might be your test database.
4. They need to check their results. This means that an actual user that is very familiar with the application will use the application against the QA database, and sign off on the results.
5. Don't give them an account on the production database. They must supply you the DBA with script that you will run. They must supply documentation with the script. If the docs are imcomplete, don't run the script until the docs are complete.

Anyway, this is what makes me happy. :)

Jared

On Tuesday 28 May 2002 15:25, dmeng_at_focal.com wrote:
> Hi folks -
> I have received a stream of requests from developers/production support (
> yep, same group, dont ask ) to do ad-hoc data massaging in the production
> databases. Since I don't know the applications that well, it's hard for me
> to push back these requests when told that if the script don't get run
> today, marketing department won't be able to use the system etc. I wonder
> if other people on the list have the same problem and I am thinking about
> coming up with a document for the developers to fill out making sure the
> request won't hose up the database. I wonder how other shops deal with
> issues like these and can you let me know what you can do to check for
> potential issues with a sql script.
>
> TIA
>
> Dennis Meng
> Database Administrator
> Focal Communications Corp.

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Jared Still
  INET: jkstill_at_cybcon.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
  INET: DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).