Thanks to all who answered. Aagh - now I have 2 opposing answers. But I enjoy a debate. 8o)
I don't quite see this point around special checks being required if I make "no date" equal NULL. If I choose the NULL route, then I will likely need to say if (!defined($date)) in my code. But if I choose the NOT NULL route, then surely I will still need a special check i.e. if ($date ne '0000-00-00') To me the latter sounds like a slighly more contrived check, no? > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Ron > Savage > Sent: 13 March 2007 23:14 > To: Rose::DB::Object list > Subject: Re: [RDBO] Beginner q. on date > > > Hi James > > > I've searched the documentation without finding anything > and although > > there > > are a couple of threads on this subject it's still not > clear to me. In my > > date fields in MySQL schema, is it best for me to allow > NULL and then make > > empty dates map to NULL? Or is it best to disallow NULL > and then make > > empty > > dates map to 0000-00-00? > > In Joe Celko's SQL for Smarties he clearly recommends not (repeat not) > using NULL, despite that fact that purists insist on using > it. IMHO there > are 2 reasons for eschewing it: > o Conceptual difficulties which arise for many people > o No need to have special code checks for the value => simpler code > > -- > Ron Savage > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://savage.net.au/index.html > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ----------- > Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT > Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the > chance to share your > opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys-and earn cash > http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge &CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Rose-db-object mailing list Rose-db-object@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/rose-db-object ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. Influence the Future of IT Join SourceForge.net's Techsay panel and you'll get the chance to share your opinions on IT & business topics through brief surveys-and earn cash http://www.techsay.com/default.php?page=join.php&p=sourceforge&CID=DEVDEV _______________________________________________ Rose-db-object mailing list Rose-db-object@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/rose-db-object
