I seconded that. when issuing the following...
set null ''
GATEWAY EXPORT CSV test.CSV +
SELECT * FROM ContactAddress OPTION COL_NAMES ON +
|QUALIFIER '|SEPARATOR ,|REC_SEP CRLF +
|SHOW_PROGRESS ON |ACTION OPENVIEW
then open the file in note pad, all my null fields = ' ' not ,,
Dennis? or Steve? what is missing?
----- Original Message -----
From: Matthew Burke
To: RBASE-L Mailing List
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 3:04 PM
Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: How do I make NULL truly NULL?
Now I'm wondering if perhaps I need to export in another way. I did >set
null ' 'ß(there's a space between the single quotes)
And after doing that, using my previous example.
a
b
c
1
text
-0-
text
.is now exporting to a csv as.
"text"," "ß(four spaces between the quotes),"text"
Matthew Burke
Pioneer Bank - IT Department
Computer Systems Technician
505-627-4415
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From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dennis McGrath
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 12:10 PM
To: RBASE-L Mailing List
Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: How do I make NULL truly NULL?
Matt,
Have you tried exporting as ASCII when NULL = ' ' (a space)
Try it and look at the generated file.
There will be no spaces between the commas for a NULL value.
This is exactly what you need.
Here are my rules for the use of the NULL setting:
ALWAYS have NULL='-0-' EXCEPT:
When exporting data as ASCII, CSV, etc.
When editing with a form
When printing a report
If you do not have NULL='-0-' and you edit tables manually, you will never
get a null entered in text fields.
Try as you might, the value will always be a space.
The exact opposite is true in forms. If null='-0-' not only will your forms
look ugly, but you won't know the difference between NULL and '-0-'
When Unloading data and structure from RBASE, ALWAYS set NULL='-0-'
RBASE has worked like this as long as I can remember.
Dennis McGrath
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Matthew Burke
Sent: Monday, March 31, 2008 12:46 PM
To: RBASE-L Mailing List
Subject: [RBASE-L] - Re: How do I make NULL truly NULL?
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
This email contains PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL information intended only for
the use of the addressee(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient
of this email, or the employee or agent responsible for delivering it to the
intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination or copying
of this email is strictly prohibited. If you have received this email in error,
please notify us by replying to this email and delete this email from your
records. Thank you for your cooperation.
