I need a small-scale problem to solve

[Lemon[H]ead]

I've got an assignment where i had to choose from a bunch of questions to do a report on. I chose "Solve a small-scale problem by exploring a new programming environment"

So basically, i'm gonna be learning perl, writing a pretty small (800 word) report, and all i need is a problem to solve.

Basically, all i'm asking for is a task to do, not for any advice on the choice of assignment

[vass0922]

two small companies just merged, and you need to bring their home server directories onto your your home server directory
very common task.

Remember you can't necessariliy just copy them, you have to make sure the username exists on the new system, and if its not create it. Also have to make sure permissions are set correctly on the new server.

Or is that too much?

[the jester]

a smaller company keeps its HR data on an ms access97 database

smaller company is acquired by larger company

larger company uses oracle for all its databases and all interfaces are browser-based (IE)

larger company has no support for access

task = integrate the HR data of the 2 companies

twist - smaller company is based in a country that uses a language that can only be represented in double-byte characters, e.g. china (ms had no real support for this prior to 2000)

this type of problem is ongoing

[Whir]

1 + 1 = 3?? I dunno, you could prove it somehow with code...

<Whir prods his insomnia>