slightly OT: preventing user stupidity

[Jay R. Ashworth]

On Mon, Feb 07, 2005 at 12:40:40PM -0500, Tim Fischer wrote:
> I think, instead of making the posting process more in-depth, this may
> require an un-posting process.  Either that or better training.  

I have to rant here, for a minute.

YOU CAN'T UN-POST.

EVER.

Posting is, by definition, creating authoritative pieces of paper that
can be relied upon by accounts, and likewise releasing bits of
aggregated information to other systems that will be depended upon by
*them*. 

Now, in some small limited cases, it might be possible to get around
those two items by procedural means -- but you can't guarantee it, and
you can't assume it.

I get such a kick out of people who brag that "with our accounting
system, you never have to close a period!".  I'm sure your tax
accountant would be very happy to hear that; they're going to spend a
lot of time defending *you* in court. :-)

Cheers,
-- jra
-- 
Jay R. Ashworth                                                jra at baylink.com
Designer                          Baylink                             RFC 2100
Ashworth & Associates        The Things I Think                        '87 e24
St Petersburg FL USA      http://baylink.pitas.com             +1 727 647 1274

      If you can read this... thank a system adminstrator.  Or two.  --me