Ho Ho Ho - never heard of companies with dead persons on the payroll? peter
> -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: 14 October 2002 21:49 > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > Subject: Re[2]: No Nulls? (was: Warehouse design: snowflake vs star s > > > I'll agree with Igor. Actually my 'preferred' option would > be to use their > birth date + 80 years which is the generally accepted life > expectancy of a human > being. Lets face it, you aren't going to employ the guy/girl > after their dead! > And if their not dead by then, then sure as heck they'll be retired. > > Dick Goulet > > ____________________Reply Separator____________________ > Author: "Igor Neyman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 10/14/2002 12:14 PM > > RE: No Nulls? (was: Warehouse design: snowflake vs star > schemEND_EMPLOYEMENT > date for still employed employees equals to "01/01/4000" (or any other > pre-defined date in distant future). > > Igor Neyman, OCP DBA > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Adams, Matthew (GECP, MABG, 088130) > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 3:39 PM > Subject: RE: No Nulls? (was: Warehouse design: snowflake vs > star schem > > > "No application that I can reasonably think of should > use NULLS, except those pre-81 > where there are obsolete columns." > > Everytime somebody says this to me, I ask them: > > How do you handle still employed employees in an EMPLOYEE table > that contains a END_EMPLOYEMENT date column? > > What's your take? > ---- > Matt Adams - GE Appliances - [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Write a poem about a haircut! But lofty, noble, tragic, > full of love, > treachery, retribution, quiet heroism in the face of certain doom! > Six lines, cleverly rhymed, and every word beginning with > the letter s! > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 2:29 PM > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > Subject: Re:No Nulls? (was: Warehouse design: snowflake vs > star schem > > > > Jesse, > > I'll refrain from personal comments, but on CJ's quote, > he's correct. > Nulls > are an oddity. They cannot be true or false (<column_name> > = NULL or > <column_name> != NULL), nor can they equal anything. They > are in effect a > third > logical state of nothingness. You also have to code most > applications with > indicator variables to check for their existence. All in > all a real pain in > the > backside. BUT, if you give me the possibility that nulls > exist in the data I > much prefer using them vs. many a third party solution of a > single space. No > application that I can reasonably think of should use > NULLS, except those > pre-81 > where there are obsolete columns. > > Dick Goulet > > ____________________Reply Separator____________________ > Author: "Jesse; Rich" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 10/14/2002 9:33 AM > > On the link below is this quote from C.J.Date: > > "I don't want you to think that my SQL solution to your > problem means I > advocate the use of nulls. Nulls are a disaster." > > Of course, he doesn't expound upon it (probably not a need > except for > dummies like me). Anyone care to comment? (On the quote, > not on my > dumminess...) > > > > Rich > > > > Rich Jesse System/Database Administrator > [EMAIL PROTECTED] Quad/Tech > International, Sussex, WI USA > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Robson, Peter [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 4:59 AM > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > > Subject: RE: Warehouse design: snowflake vs star schemas > > > > > > Just for the record (and perhaps to confirm that there are > > always two sides > > to a story). Readers may like to see the article Chris Date > > wrote to Ralph > > Kemball on the subject of business rules and integrity > constraints: > > > > http://www.dbdebunk.com/kimball1.htm > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > -- > Author: Jesse, Rich > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web > hosting services > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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: > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web > hosting services > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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). > > > <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> > <HTML><HEAD><TITLE>RE: No Nulls? (was: Warehouse design: > snowflake vs star > schem</TITLE> > <META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> > <META content="MSHTML 5.50.4731.2200" name=GENERATOR> > <STYLE></STYLE> > </HEAD> > <BODY bgColor=#ffffff> > <DIV><FONT size=2>END_EMPLOYEMENT date for still employed > employees equals to > "01/01/4000" (or any other pre-defined date in distant > future).</FONT></DIV> > <DIV><FONT size=2></FONT> </DIV> > <DIV>Igor Neyman, OCP DBA<BR><A > href="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A > ><BR> </DIV> > <DIV> </DIV> > <DIV> </DIV> > <BLOCKQUOTE dir=ltr > style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: > 5px; BORDER-LEFT: > #000000 2px solid; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px"> > <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV> > <DIV > style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: > black"><B>From:</B> > <A [EMAIL PROTECTED] > href="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>Adams, > Matthew (GECP, MABG, 088130)</A> </DIV> > <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > href="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>Multiple recipients of > list ORACLE-L</A> > </DIV> > <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Monday, October > 14, 2002 3:39 > PM</DIV> > <DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> RE: No Nulls? > (was: Warehouse > design: snowflake vs star schem</DIV> > <DIV><BR></DIV> > <P><FONT size=2>"No application that I can reasonably think > of should > </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>use NULLS, except those > pre-81</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>where there are obsolete columns."</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>Everytime somebody says this to me, I ask > them:</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>How do you handle still employed employees > in an EMPLOYEE > table </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>that contains a END_EMPLOYEMENT date > column?</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>What's your take?</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>----</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>Matt Adams - GE Appliances - > [EMAIL PROTECTED]</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>Write a poem about a haircut! But lofty, > noble, tragic, full > of love, </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>treachery, retribution, > quiet heroism in the > face of certain doom! </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>Six lines, > cleverly rhymed, and > every word beginning with the letter s!</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>-----Original Message-----</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>From: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] [<A > > href="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>]</F > ONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 2:29 PM</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>To: > Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>Subject: Re:No > Nulls? (was: Warehouse design: snowflake vs star > schem</FONT> </P><BR> > <P><FONT size=2>Jesse,</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2> I'll refrain from > personal comments, but on > > CJ's quote, he's correct. Nulls</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>are an > oddity. They cannot be true or false > (<column_name> = NULL > or</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2><column_name> != NULL), > nor can they equal > anything. They are in effect a third</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>logical > state of nothingness. You also have to code most applications > with</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>indicator variables to check for their > existence. All in all a real pain in the</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>backside. BUT, if you give me the possibility > that nulls exist in > > the data I</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>much prefer using them > vs. many a third > party solution of a single space. No</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>application > > that I can reasonably think of should use NULLS, except > those pre-81</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>where there are obsolete columns.</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>Dick Goulet</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>____________________Reply > Separator____________________</FONT> > > <BR><FONT size=2>Author: "Jesse; Rich" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]></FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>Date: > 10/14/2002 9:33 > AM</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>On the link below is this quote from > C.J.Date:</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>"I don't want you to think that my SQL > solution to your > problem means I</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>advocate the use of > nulls. Nulls > > are a disaster."</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>Of course, he doesn't expound upon it > (probably not a need > except for</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>dummies like me). > Anyone care to > comment? (On the quote, not on my</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>dumminess...)</FONT> </P><BR> > <P><FONT size=2>Rich</FONT> </P><BR> > <P><FONT size=2>Rich > > Jesse &nb > sp; & > nbsp; &nb > sp; &nb > sp; > System/Database Administrator</FONT> <BR><FONT > > size=2>[EMAIL PROTECTED] &n > bsp; > > Quad/Tech International, Sussex, WI USA</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>> -----Original Message-----</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>> > From: Robson, Peter [<A > > href="mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]";>mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>]</FONT> > <BR><FONT > size=2>> Sent: Monday, October 14, 2002 4:59 AM</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2>> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L</FONT> > <BR><FONT > size=2>> Subject: RE: Warehouse design: snowflake vs > star schemas</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>> </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>> </FONT><BR><FONT > size=2>> Just for the record (and perhaps to confirm > that there are > </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>> always two sides</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>> to > a story). Readers may like to see the article Chris Date > </FONT><BR><FONT > size=2>> wrote to Ralph</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>> > Kemball on the subject > > of business rules and integrity constraints:</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>> > </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>> <A target=_blank > > href="http://www.dbdebunk.com/kimball1.htm";>http://www.dbdebun > k.com/kimball1.h > tm</A></FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>-- </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>Please see the > official ORACLE-L > FAQ: <A target=_blank > > href="http://www.orafaq.com";>http://www.orafaq.com</A></FONT> > <BR><FONT > size=2>-- </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>Author: Jesse, > Rich</FONT> <BR><FONT > size=2> INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED]</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>Fat City Network Services > -- 858-538-5051 <A > > target=_blank > href="http://www.fatcity.com";>http://www.fatcity.com</A></FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>San Diego, > California -- > Mailing list and web > hosting services</FONT> <BR><FONT > > size=2>------------------------------------------------------- > --------------</ > FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, > send an E-Mail > message</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > (note EXACT spelling > of 'ListGuru') and in</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>the message > BODY, include a line > > containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>(or the > name of mailing > list you want to be removed from). You may</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>also > send the HELP command for other information (like > subscribing).</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>-- </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>Please see the > official ORACLE-L > FAQ: <A target=_blank > > href="http://www.orafaq.com";>http://www.orafaq.com</A></FONT> > <BR><FONT > size=2>-- </FONT><BR><FONT size=2>Author: </FONT><BR><FONT > size=2> INET: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]</FONT> </P> > <P><FONT size=2>Fat City Network Services > -- 858-538-5051 <A > > target=_blank > href="http://www.fatcity.com";>http://www.fatcity.com</A></FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>San Diego, > California -- > Mailing list and web > hosting services</FONT> <BR><FONT > > size=2>------------------------------------------------------- > --------------</ > FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, > send an E-Mail > message</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > (note EXACT spelling > of 'ListGuru') and in</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>the message > BODY, include a line > > containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L</FONT> <BR><FONT size=2>(or the > name of mailing > list you want to be removed from). You may</FONT> > <BR><FONT size=2>also > send the HELP command for other information (like > subscribing).</FONT> > </P></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML> > > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > -- > Author: > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com > San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > 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). > ********************************************************************* This e-mail message, and any files transmitted with it, are confidential and intended solely for the use of the addressee. If this message was not addressed to you, you have received it in error and any copying, distribution or other use of any part of it is strictly prohibited. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the British Geological Survey. The security of e-mail communication cannot be guaranteed and the BGS accepts no liability for claims arising as a result of the use of this medium to transmit messages from or to the BGS. The BGS cannot accept any responsibility for viruses, so please scan all attachments. http://www.bgs.ac.uk ********************************************************************* -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Robson, Peter INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- 858-538-5051 http://www.fatcity.com San Diego, California -- Mailing list and web hosting services --------------------------------------------------------------------- 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).
