Database reports on paper

[Guest]

I am currently in school and am having a problem to a question and I was
hoping you could help. My question is this, "What are the benefits of
viewing database reports on paper? The only benefit I can see is that it
might be easier for the mind to visualize on paper; however I am not sure
which is why I decided to ask the database community and get your opinion.
Thank you for you help.
Sheila

 

[Guest]

I can think of a few good reasons:

1. They can be shared in meetings. Without paper copies, one must have a
projector or large screen to view reports with groups such as management
meetings.
2. They can be marked up with highlights or comments for action by those who
use the data.
3. They can be distributed to persons not having access to the database,
such as persons outside the organization. This can also be accomplished by
exporting reports to Acrobat PDF files or some other standard format, but
paper copies are sometimes appropriate.
4. The user can compare various items side-by-side in ways that would be
difficult to do on the computer. For example, a manager might juxtapose two
reports to compare totals without having the programmer customize a report to
combine the data for the two reports.

 

[missinglinq via AccessMonster.com]

Also, in some heavily regulated industries, such as health care, paperwork
has to be just that, on paper, so that it can be placed in a patient's chart.
Critical information also needs to be available if, or should I say when, the
system crashes! A patient having a crisis often doesn't have time for IT to
get the system back up!

 

['69 Camaro]

Hi.

My question is this, "What are the benefits of
viewing database reports on paper? The only benefit I can see is that it
might be easier for the mind to visualize on paper;

That's a good one. Another reason to print reports on paper is to have hard
copy "proof" of the data to compare at a later date, because data often changes
over time. A "snapshot" of the December 2006 productivity report printed in
December 2006 will show the data as it was on that date, whereas looking at the
same report on the computer in June 2007 may show different numbers for December
2006, indicating that there's a problem maintaining historical data in the
database. (Not all databases need to store historical data, so this issue may
never come up.)

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact info.

 

[missinglinq via AccessMonster.com]

In continuing '69 Camaro's thought, the bottom line is most people in
business still don't trust computers! The buzzword "paperless office"
notwithstanding, most companies want a hard copy of documents! They only
truly trust that which they can hold in their hands!

 

[Guest]

Thank you all so much for the help.
Sheila

 

['69 Camaro]

You're welcome. Have a very merry Xmas!

Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/expert_contributors2.html for contact info.

 

[Guest]

I think you are correct after thinking about the corporate world I work in.
This probably is not the discussion group to bring this up but when I first
read what you wrote I thought to myself, my goodness if people in business or
anyone for that matter do not trust computers, and we know all businesses use
computer and have to adapt, how in the world could they possibly benefit from
all the data online if they have to have it in there hands? Gosh the
internet is a wealth of information.

Hope your Christmas is a good one and thanks again.
Sheila