[AccessD] Find First in an Array? - The Solution Revisited - Now Tag is the Answer

jwcolby jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com
Tue Feb 24 17:03:26 CST 2009


LOL.  No I think the argument is that the tag is NOT designed for this purpose, it is a general 
purpose property left over from the dark ages.  It is used by nubee programmers, business owners etc 
who build their own systems, which most of us have had to come in and work on at one point or 
another in our illustrious careers.  Given that it is used by nubees and business owners, who 
haven't a clue about proper programming techniques (though WE ARE SUPPOSED TO!!!), you cannot depend 
on it not to contain leftover junk that just may be critical.  So to get in the habit of using the 
tag to store denormalized data is:

A) Silly
B) Possibly dangerous, depending on where the system had it's origins.
C) Silly
D) Silly

and finally

E) Silly.

Stuart, we are supposed to be professionals.  Excuse me for putting it quite so bluntly, but the tag 
is squarely in the domain of the amateur.  Personally I do not care if you use it, nor if anyone 
else uses it, but to ridicule those who have much more powerful tools at their disposal and the 
knowledge to use them, is unprofessional in and of itself.

As I said, if you love them, by all means use them.  You will not find me using them for a LOT of 
very good reasons.

I choose not to comment on Shamil's opinions.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com


Stuart McLachlan wrote:
> So let me get this clear. Your argument is:
> 
> 1.  I need to store a string value for each control. 
> 
> 2.  Controls has been designed with a property specifically for this purpose. 
> 
> 3.  I won't use the property in case I need to use it for something else later on,  instead I will 
> build a complete new system which will allow me to do all sorts of neat things with controls 
> in case I need to in the future.  
> 
> May I refer you to Shamil's posting last Friday in this thread?
> 
> <quote>
> May I warn you about what is known as:
> "Premature Optimization"
> http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?PrematureOptimization 
> and 
> "Premature Generalization" 
> http://c2.com/cgi/wiki?PrematureGeneralizationIsEvil 
> Have a look:
> "Death by premature generalization" 
> http://ryanfarley.com/blog/archive/2004/04/30/570.aspx
> </quote>
> 



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