#117 Graph & missing data

[Anonymous]

Version 0.03.06
I have a record in 2004 that I only know the dollar
amount. I do not have the Odometer, price/L or liter
data.
Statistic data and graph are fine if I estimate the
numbers.
I tried to leave Odometer, Price/L and liters blank,
and check the "Missing Data" box then save. When I
switch to the graph mode, I will see an message box
saying "Reducing Odometer Reading" and then no graph
will be displayed after I tap OK.
I tried to put in an estimated Odometer data and keep
the price & liter blank. Then the graph will work fine
in this case.

JS from Canada

[Remi Ricard]

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user_id=145206

Hi,

I will take a look at that.

Remi

[Tylla]

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user_id=1276592
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I recently ran into the same problem while mass importing a lot of data.

After a few tries I figured out, that the import/export functions don't like empty strings, so I put a 0 in there. And after that it came the "Reducing Odometer Reading" error message. And then came the estimation... :)

I think that there are two things that could/should be done
1. The "Reduc... ...ding" error message should be clarified a little bit. (It took a lot of try_and_error to find out what's the problem - the "Missing Data" checkbox misleads the simple user, and the error message doesn't help at all :)
2. The program could make some estimates where it encounters missing data.
For example:
- if it finds that odometer data is missing, than it could generate some intermediate reading based on the previous and following odometer reading, and the fuel amount. This could be done even if more consecutive readings are missing. In the worst case it can make a linear estimation.
Naturally this is only possible if a following reading is available.
- this can be done likewise if other data is missing. the price/amount data is really almost irrelevant but can be estimated based on the previous and following entries as well
- the litres data is the most problematic, but this could be solved too, by using the average fuel consume before and after the missing data, and the difference between the two odometers.
This is exactly that kind of calculation, that one wouldn't want to make it in a spreadsheet :D

Thanks,
Tylla.

[Remi Ricard]

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user_id=145206
Originator: NO

Hi,

The code to deal with the "Missing data" is not as robust as I was thinking.

I will try to look at it.

For Tylla:
Sure I can approximate the number but some users won't like that. I prefer to skip the entry
and give a better error message or warning.

Remi from Quebec !!