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I'm a basket case
juju
Member Posts: 6,321 ✭
Ok, For the last few days I have been a basket case. I work as a consultant for the State and I have been given a project on Friday (actually, its was given to me more than a year ago, started, cancelled, started and cancelled again)and have less than 2 weeks to complete. This go around for the program it has changed almost completely from what was proposed/started before and I have insuffcient information to go on and no source to obtain the info I need. I have no leeway on the timeframe and if I dont finish it my job is probably finished as well. I have had a lot of different projects in my career and have never had the trepidation (fear) I have with this one. I havent slept very well and I am so eat up with worry that I can hardly think straight. My boss is a good person but he has no leeway on this either as he is being pressured as well. If I cant get my act together and figure this out its onto the street corner holding up a sign "Will Work For Food". I pride myself on being logical and being able to solve complex problems but I think with this one I may have finally hit "the Peter Principal" barrier.
Dont know why I posted this, just needed to share a bit I guess. Havent told the wife of my concerns because I dont want to worry her (she has health problems and doesnt need the added stress).
I could use some positive thoughts if you can spare some and if you dont see me on the boards much for a while you will know why.
Crips, I hope I dont have a heart attack over this but I am stressed to the max right now. Gonna start? on it tomorrow morning and give it my best shot but as it stands I dont have a lot of faith in my ability to accomplish it.
JuJu (thanks for listening and please wish me luck, I am gonna need it)
Dont know why I posted this, just needed to share a bit I guess. Havent told the wife of my concerns because I dont want to worry her (she has health problems and doesnt need the added stress).
I could use some positive thoughts if you can spare some and if you dont see me on the boards much for a while you will know why.
Crips, I hope I dont have a heart attack over this but I am stressed to the max right now. Gonna start? on it tomorrow morning and give it my best shot but as it stands I dont have a lot of faith in my ability to accomplish it.
JuJu (thanks for listening and please wish me luck, I am gonna need it)
Comments
This go around for the program it has changed almost completely from what was proposed/started before and I have insuffcient information to go on and no source to obtain the info I need. I have no leeway on the timeframe...
It is your user's responsibility to provide you with the requirements for the job. It is your manager's responsibility to ensure you have adequate time and resources to do it. Under the circumstances you describe, nobody could perform; it is like being told to build a house in a certain amount of time, without being told exactly what the interior and exterior designs should be, how many bedrooms, how many baths, whether a two- or three-car garage, etc. I went through this same thing for years, and after two heart attacks finally learned to extend the middle digit on both hands. It isn't worth it--and both your users and your manager know what the score is.
If yuo could be more specific on what info I'm sure someone will have an idea
Secondly...what is the assignment ??
I've only been here a short while..but some of boardmembers may have some knowledge/experience...
Twodogs
We Live in a World of Give And Take, But A Lot Of People Won't Give What it Takes.
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I am with DWS. The boss owes you a clear definition of what you are suppossed to do, and when while completing this project. Once those items are defined, you should be able to timeline the task you have to complete. Holler at us if you need any "FREE" advice... at a discount price to you of course[;)].
NSDQ!
"Nobody dislikes war more than warriors, but we value the causes of peace so highly that we will not duck a war in an effort to get a lasting peace." -General Daniel "Chappie" James
I know some very esoteric things, a few mundane things, and several "where the hell did you think that up" things; so let us in on it!
If you know it all; you must have been listening.WEAR EAR PROTECTION!
LOL. I wish I could learn to do that.
The project is to modify an existing legacy program to allow lets call it "billing" automatically via a file which will be uploaded to a federal agency (health related). The problems lie in 3 areas.
1. No file format - we have "close" but no cigar, am trying to get one or at least info as to what they expect to recieve. Ever tried to get info from the FEDS - good luck!
2. The file historical data has to be compiled and stored differently according to the type of office that is creating it.
Problem here is some offices have both types of "providers" and the databases are shared, no way (currently) to tell which office or provider the data comes from.
3. Existing Code, the previous programmer (who developed the program) left no documentation or comments in the code. He hardly ever did anything the same way twice. Any change or variable could have an un-intended consequence elsewhere in the program. The time needed just to validate things work the way you think they work before you begin to make changes would take longer than 2 weeks.
I have worked on this program before and made changes (some very complex) but had more time to do it. The driving factor here is that the State will not be re-imbursed for moneys spent while the changes are not in place. This was a Federal change which caught everyone offguard. I cant blame my managemant or the State, its just the way it is.
I am going to give it my best shot, I WILL go down fighting. I got 2 weeks and at least 14 hours a day to work on it. If I can get the info I need form the FEDS I have a fighting chance.
JuJu (trying very, very hard to chill)
1. No file format - we have "close" but no cigar, am trying to get one or at least info as to what they expect to recieve. Ever tried to get info from the FEDS - good luck!
2. The file historical data has to be compiled and stored differently according to the type of office that is creating it.
Problem here is some offices have both types of "providers" and the databases are shared, no way (currently) to tell which office or provider the data comes from.
3. Existing Code, the previous programmer (who developed the program) left no documentation or comments in the code. He hardly ever did anything the same way twice. Any change or variable could have an un-intended consequence elsewhere in the program. The time needed just to validate things work the way you think they work before you begin to make changes would take longer than 2 weeks.
Yet another remake of Beau Geste. Just remember that neither you nor even an old coding slut like me nor anyone else can intuit new requirements and design from a poorly documented existing program. I would not own the problem that other people and events have caused. Ask the right questions of the people who should have had the answers a year ago.
I agree with what you say but the guy who wrote this dinasouar is long gone.
Oh, and can you believe it is written in DBASEIV.
Sometimes he stores data to vaiables and sometimes just gets it off the screen and inputs straight into the database. Sometimes he uses arrays for data and other times 50 different variable names, TO DO THE SAME THING in different parts of the code. Sometimes he uses a screen format (built into DBASE) and other times he draws the screen using individual "@SAY...GET" commands, Its a friggin nightmare.
Anyway, glad to know somebody else feels my pain[B)]
Believe it or not it makes me feel a lot more relaxed knowing that I am not alone in thinking that this is pratically impossible.
Oh well, the difficult I do immediately the impossible takes a little longer (hopefully no more than 2 weeks[:(])
JuJu (WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT? , just practicing for my next career)
The format of the send file and the source of all the data that will be required in it is still up in the air. But at least I got a starting point for tomorrow morning.
DWS - do I owe you a consulting fee[:)]
JuJu (Wishing I drank right about now[;)])
I've been drinking as much as possible for you; do you feel better yet? I don't know how keep it up long I can...[:p]
G36
Gun Control Disarms Victims, NOT Criminals
Pseudo-code the whole thing, then write the software for those parts that you can. It will give you a good solid feel of where you are all the time. It will also show you this is not an impossible task (2000 lines can be done.) You are missing only one vairable, and vital as it is, you can generically code it using subroutine stubs and blank variables to get around it where you need to.
Grind away, man, a bit bucket never gets full.
Clouder..