Hi Regina, thanks for your reply.
Lisa

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Regina Harter [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 8:58 PM
> To:   Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Subject:      Re: IN() question
> 
> Yes, your why is correct, NULL is neither equal nor not equal to any 
> value.  I usually nvl to return a space for null values when I have to 
> consider them, then a not equal will work.
> 
> At 03:43 PM 5/3/02 -0800, you wrote:
> >Slap me if this is a dumb question.
> >
> >Here's my pay methods
> >
> >SQL> SELECT ASCII(PAY_METHOD), PAY_METHOD, COUNT(*)
> >   2  FROM LEISURE_PLAN_MASTER_TEMP
> >   3  WHERE MEMBERSHIP_CLASS = 'D'
> >   4  GROUP BY PAY_METHOD;
> >
> >ASCII(PAY_METHOD) P   COUNT(*)
> >----------------- - ----------
> >                67 C      42955
> >                80 P      34373
> >                          11786
> >
> >I expected this statement to return the 11,786 records that have null
> >values.   However, it doesn't:
> >
> >SQL> SELECT COUNT(*)
> >   2  from leisure_plan_master_temp
> >   3  where membership_class = 'D'
> >   4  AND pay_METHOD NOT IN ('C','P');
> >
> >   COUNT(*)
> >----------
> >          0
> >
> >But when I do this, I get the answer I expect.
> >
> >SQL> SELECT COUNT(*)
> >   2  from leisure_plan_master_temp
> >   3  where membership_class = 'D'
> >   4  AND PAY_METHOD IS NULL;
> >
> >   COUNT(*)
> >----------
> >      11786
> >
> >This isn't exactly correct.  There may be other values in this field, and
> if
> >they show up I need to include them, not just records where this field is
> >null.  What am I missing?  Is it because the value is NULL that Oracle
> >excludes it from the IN() statement, because of the classic definition of
> >NULL (can't be defined, therefore can't be sure it's not a C or a P)?
> >
> >This is easy enough to fix, I'll change my data load to populate the null
> >values with my own code.   But still?  Have I got the WHY correct?
> >
> >Thanks for any light someone can shed on this stupid question.
> >
> >Lisa Koivu
> >Oracle Database Monkey Mama
> >Fairfield Resorts, Inc.
> >5259 Coconut Creek Parkway
> >Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA  33063
> >
> >
> >--
> >Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> >--
> >Author: Koivu, Lisa
> >   INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
> >Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
> >San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
> >--------------------------------------------------------------------
> >To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
> >to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
> >the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
> >(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
> >also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
> 
> -- 
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> -- 
> Author: Regina Harter
>   INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 
> Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
> San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
> to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
> the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
> (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
> also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Koivu, Lisa
  INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------
To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message
to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in
the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L
(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).

Reply via email to