Well here's my problem with how it seems to work. I understand the need to
visually separate null from a blank space within R:Base. So sure, when I open
a table within R:Base show me some kind of value, -0- will do just fine.
However when I export data from my table to say... and basic csv text file.
That data should not be represented by a -0-, but nothing at all, in my
opinion. That way if I want to use the data in another database, or as in this
case a third party wants to use it in another database, they can do so without
the other database having to understand that -0- = null. I thought about
setting NULL = ' ' but even that wouldn't work, because even then the third
party database would still have to know that null = ' '. I'm certainly no
database guru and I really appreciate all the help I receive from you guys and
gals. My only other database experience lies with MySQL and it's always been
my understanding that null = nothing at all.
So I guess ultimately I don't really need to know why R:Base uses text
representation for null, but I need to know if there is a solution I can use to
make null = nothing at all or empty. Basically if 'empty' was or possibly is a
valid command, the logic I want to accomplish is R> set null empty. Is this
possible?
To further explain what I want, here’s an example.
Let's say we have a table with one row containing three fields of data; a, b,
and c.
Field b is null in this case. Something like this.
a
b
c
1
text
-0-
text
As my R:Base is setup now, if I were to export this data to a text file (csv) I
get:
"text","-0- ","text"
The end result text file (csv) I want to achieve is:
"text","","text"
Thanks again for all your help with my novice problems/questions.
Matthew Burke
Pioneer Bank - IT Department
Computer Systems Technician
505-627-4415
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