JodyInk — Report comparison sample

Publisher: JodyInk
Sample revision: 3 (15 October 2026)
Documentation updated: 20 October 2026
Purpose: illustrate how using previous status instead of current status can
return the same total while counting different service requests.
These four service requests are illustrative sample data, not client records.

Files
service_requests_comparison.csv — UTF-8 CSV with a header and four rows.
sample-fixture.sql — SQLite setup; creates and populates a temporary table.
current-report.sql — existing report; current-status filter, lines 1–3.
replacement-report.sql — new report with the wrong field, lines 1–3.
The filename is retained so existing links and source references still work.
report-check-complete.pdf — completed example and blank worksheet for printing.
report-check-blank.pdf — six blank review fields for printing.

Fields
request_id: unique identifier; one row per service request.
request: short description of the service request.
current_status: currently recorded status; an empty CSV value means no current
status is recorded. The SQL setup loads that value as SQL NULL.
previous_status: an earlier recorded value, not evidence of the current status.

Use a fresh scratch SQLite session. Run sample-fixture.sql once, then run the
two report queries. Expected results:
Current status = Open: REQ-1042 and REQ-1043, each once; total 2.
Previous status = Open: REQ-1042 and REQ-1045, each once; total 2.
REQ-1044 is Closed under both fields and is excluded by both filters.
REQ-1045's true current status and why it is missing remain unknown.
For an ID comparison, select request_id instead of COUNT(*) AS open_requests.
Row order is irrelevant. This sample checks one mapping error, not a full report.

Article (originally published 22 May 2026):
https://jodyink.com/writing/before-replacing-a-legacy-report-reconstruct-what-it-knows/
Worksheet: Check how a number in your report is calculated
Use the worked example and six fields to document the data, rules, results,
and unresolved questions.
Originally published: 6 October 2026
https://jodyink.com/resources/check-a-report-number/