The 'Gaps' analysis examines a numeric series for its completeness and highlights those records where there is a gap in the series.

The form has three parameters

• the column for analysis
  
• the start value of the series
  
• the step value of the series - the default value is 1
  

For this form of Lists Analysis there are two audit trail headers

• Col 'X' Gaps (SV = [10]) - the first header indicates the gaps and the 'Step Value' (SV) on which the analysis was based
  
• Col 'X' Dup Anal - the second header indcates records that are either duplicates of those in the series or fall between the expected steps in the series
  

The Start Value of a list is not necessarily 1 and it may not be easy to find the smallest value in a long list. The Gaps Analysis entry form will find the smallest number for you. You may also enter your own Start Value.

The analysis identifies those records where there is a gap between it and the previous record in the series and the number of records that are missing.

Remarks

The software is designed to examine whole number series only. To ensure that this is the case the package provides a validation routine which checks the list. If it finds any records that do not match the validation criteria it stops the routine and points to the first record that it found with an error.

The analysis requires that the numeric series is in ascending order and will reorder your database/list accordingly. The user will always be given the opportunity to record the original order of the database.

See also

List Analysis