Time Saver #1
Use Criteria to refine equations and see the results
first to avoid creating unnecessary extraction databases. Suppose
you're ready to select some items to test. If you want to know how
many significantly large items you have, you could
index the file on the amount field in descending order. Or you
could pick an arbitrary cut-off amount and do a Direct Extraction
that creates a new database. But when the database is large, the
dollar amount of those items is important.
Here's a more efficient
approach:
-
Set the control total so you can see the amount total in the status
bar.
- Click on the green calculator pad at far left of status bar.
- Enter the formula: amount >= 50,000 (using appropriate field
names and amounts, of course).
- Note the new control total amount and number
of records/total records for the view. If the number of
items or dollar amount does not meet your needs,
edit the 50,000 in the criteria status window and click on the
green check-mark again.
- When you are satisfied with the coverage and number of items,
go to the File menu and select Save As. Then give the new file
a name and press OK.
Time Saver #2
Use
the approach mentioned in Time Saver #1 to test a complicated or
compound extraction equation. By using criteria
to see the results first,
you avoid creating files that you might have to delete later. You
save time by editing rather than recreating your extraction equation.
Time Saver #3
Shared IDEA Equations
- Dates parsed by slashes (uses the position of the
slashes in a character date field to determine the correct date
mask in a compound if equation)
- NTOD conversion (uses the length of a numeric date field
which has been converted to character to determine the correct date
mask to utilize in a compound if equation)
-
Remove alpha (removes all alpha characters from an alpha-numeric text field)
To download these
equations click here.
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