Life with EMAIL

I might get 30 to 50 emails per day, requiring some simple (or complex) response. But I've found that Alexander Graham Bell's newfangled invention can short-circuit a dozen rounds of email.

We went back and forth on setting up a SQL Server linked server to an old Oracle database to support an old reporting system from our new, under development, work flow process system. Linked servers work, but coding for production operation, including robust error recovery, can be a trick. We were able to select, update, and insert OK, but merging that code with the CLICK system and designing error recovery led to a three week stream of email, all focused on one item rather then the problem.

One phone call led to a meeting of only 30 minutes which completely redesigned the approach, and will save considerable development time. We will use Integration Services and the batch processes that have been working reliably for 2+ years.