Minimize Data Loss When Revising a Criterion

GoalTrak™ Knowledge Base

KB 036

Category: Tips Title: Minimize Data Loss When Revising a Criterion Summary: You can minimize data loss by using these tips when revising a criterion.
Product: GoalTrak^® EV	Version: All

Description: If you decide to revise a criterion by changing any of its properties that effect when actual results are to be recorded, then data loss will occur in those periods that will be eliminated. This data loss is not a bug in the program, but a consequence of changing the way you want to record results. Changes in the criterion's target date, start date, end date or frequency could cause this to occur.

Tips: When revising a criterion, keep in mind these tips to minimize any date loss:

If you extend the target date into the future, all existing targets and actuals will be preserved. You will have to enter new targets for the additional measurement periods that are created.
If you move the target date up, it works best if you first remove any targets from the measurement periods that are being eliminated. Otherwise, an old target and its actual results will remain.
Changing the end date of a criterion has the same effect as described in #1 and #2 above, but only applies to that criterion. Changing the target date could affect other criteria depending on their end dates.
If you increase the frequency, say from bi-weekly to weekly, then all the targets and actual results are saved. You will have to enter new targets into the newly created measurement periods and then when you publish the goal, you will have to record new actuals for the new measurement periods as well.
If you decrease the frequency, say from weekly to monthly, then the targets and actual results from the remaining measurement periods are saved.
With any change in frequency, old actual results could be wrong since it was determined from a different frequency.
If you change the start date of a criterion, this is where it gets tricky. If you extend the start date and it coincides with the same day of the week as the old start date, then the remaining targets and actual results are saved. If you move the start date up and it coincides with the same day of the week as the old start date, then the targets and actual results are saved, but you will have to enter new targets (and eventually new actuals) for the new measurement periods that are created. Caution!! If you move a start date to a day that does not align with existing measurement dates, targets and actual results will be lost.

It is a good idea to keep these points in mind when first creating the criterion. This is an area where a little planning ahead with these tracking measures will really help. There will always be unforeseen issues that come up so the best thing to do is make a copy of the targets and actual results prior to revising the criterion, so that the data can easily be re-summarized and re-entered in case you need to make a change that will cause data loss.

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Author: Stephen Dodd

Published: March 4, 2010

Revised:

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  2571 Whiteway Court
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  Phone: 630-236-5332 Steve
  Phone: 215-997-5954 Rich