The Grumpy Admin

Today I get saddled with cleaning up after two users who have been using two different versions of an obscure program to create different databases. They want to bring the two databases into one.

Well, as in most businesses the Admin is supposed to know how to fix PCs, teach any application, build servers, know everything Cisco and Microsoft, design webpages, fix phones, install security cameras, and work with databases. Did I miss anything?

One user is a consultant, who I had to start a remote session with to get access to a trashed home PC. To digress, this consultant had "Yahoo for an ISP". I had to explain the address bar in Internet Explorer. The consultant has been using the Yahoo search page for years, that's right f'ing YEARS, instead of the Explorer address bar. Anyway, after about 30 minutes I was able to pull the database back off of this person's spyware infested PC. (Wait until you hear about the ink in the printer......)

Well, I needed to make it clear that I want to help, but don't know what I am doing here with the databases and sure could use some guidance.

To make along story short, here is my email to the full-time user in charge of this mess:

*************************

[User],

I now have both databases.

However, I don’t know how you want them combined. Basically, since I don’t use this program, I don’t know what I don’t know.

Would you like to work directly with [the vendor] to combine the databases in a manner you see fit, or would you prefer to tell me your goals and have me work with them?

*************************

The users response:

OK

That's right. One word. Two letters. WTF does "OK" mean? I don't know what to do anymore with these people.