Hi everybody I want to join as well.
>
> But hypothetically speaking, what value would you use if you didn't have a
> "I don't what this is" value like null?
>
> I ask this because I started programming when NULL was really zero, and
> part of the ASCII collating sequence.
NULL was zero
>
>
> I'd use -99999.9999, I'd never allow a "i don't know what it is" value
> like Null in my database.
>
NULL is NO INFORMATION ON THIS VALUE, and having no information happens in
real life.
The message I do not have information on this value it is an important
information itself.
The question is: "Will I allow a record to contain a 'non-informative' field
?"
[a] Ok, go ahead.
[b] No, set the field as NOT NULL
If you choose [b] please assume your responsibilities.
Everytime you insert a record, either you have all the information at once
or use your fake,
fantasy value {0,-99999.9999,-1,PIPPO}.
If I read your record about the weather in Amsterdam and I read a
temperature of -99999.9999
I will definitely think your database is unreliable.
Cheers
Claudio
