Alastair, I will agree, but only for FOREIGN KEYed columns. Addresses, for example, occasionally need two lines, and Address2 is most often NULL. Likewise for telephone extensions, etc.
"Alastair Burr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >At the risk of either repeating myself or making myself unpopular I would >also say that _most of the time_ a column that allows nulls is poor design. > >Yes, I know it can't always be helped but _usually_ some unlikely number can >be used for "unknown" and text can easily be set for "unknown". Thus forcing >the user to make a choice even if it's "I don't know". I'm sure that this is >better than "I can't be bothered to decide" - at least you know it's a >positive unknown rather than an unfilled field. > >I can't say that I do not have any column in any database that can be null >but I always try to make it part of the design. When I do find that I >_think_ I need a null column it usually means that the table needs to be >split into two tables. > >Just my two-pennyworth, >Regards, >Alastair. > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "James (Jim) Bentley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2002 2:13 PM >Subject: Re: EQNULL > > >> Bill, >> >> Well said!! This discussion seems to popup now and then on this >> forum. �I seem to recall that Microrim put this feature in to >> accommodate one of its biggest customers. �Perhaps it is time >> to move this feature into the "undocumented" category and eventually >> remove it from RBase. �I for one have this set to OFF and try >> as much as possible to adhere to coding to SQL standards. >> >> -- >> Jim Bentley >> American Celiac Society >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] - email >> (973) 325-8837 voice >> (973) 669-8808 Fax >> >> >> ---- "Bill Downall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> > Thom, >> > >> > If you want to use a "standard", it should be OFF. Then you >> > conform to >> > the 3-value logic of the SQL Standard: a null (or unknown) value >> > cannot >> > be considered "equal" or "not equal" to any other value, not >> > even >> > another null (or unknown) value. It is tested with the operators >> > "IS >> > NULL" and "IS NOT NULL." Setting EQNULL ON is for your own >> > convenience, if you have a hard time figuring out how to design >> > your >> > database and code you applications within that standard. >> > >> > Bill >> > >> > On Mon, 22 Jul 2002 22:27:11 -0400, Thomas J Cimicato wrote: >> > >> > >What is the prevailing thought on the use of the EQNULL setting?? >> > >Should you code for it ON or OFF as a standard? (Off seems >> > to be >> > the >> > >default in the rbase.cfg file. ) >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > ================================================ >> > TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: >> > Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l >> > ================================================ >> > TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> > In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l >> > ================================================ >> > TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ >> > >> ================================================ >> TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: >> Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l >> ================================================ >> TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >> In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l >> ================================================ >> TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ > >================================================ >TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: >Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l >================================================ >TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] >In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l >================================================ >TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: >http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ > __________________________________________________________________ Your favorite stores, helpful shopping tools and great gift ideas. Experience the convenience of buying online with Shop@Netscape! http://shopnow.netscape.com/ Get your own FREE, personal Netscape Mail account today at http://webmail.netscape.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/
