RE: Re[2]: char is going away?

From: DENNIS WILLIAMS <DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM>
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 12:39:26 -0800
Message-ID: <F001.005D974B.20031210123926@fatcity.com>

Raj, Jonathan

I have heard rumors that in other databases the VARCHAR performance isn't good. In fact, some people that are converting from other databases to Oracle are pleasantly surprised that Oracle handles VARCHAR well.
I have been curious about Oracle's statement that you should use VARCHAR2. If I was a suspicious person I would say that sounded like a vendor's attempt to encourage proprietary coding, but I'm not suspicious, no way. My point isn't that VARCHAR isn't there, of course it is, but if you were developing an application to sell and support on several different databases, you might consider CHAR as a safer bet.

Dennis Williams
DBA
Lifetouch, Inc.
dwilliams_at_lifetouch.com

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 1:10 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

Oracle has varchar and varchar2 both ...

<tfm>
The VARCHAR2 subtypes below have the same range of values as their base type. For example, VARCHAR is just another name for VARCHAR2.

STRING
VARCHAR You can use these subtypes for compatibility with ANSI/ISO and IBM types.

Note: Currently, VARCHAR is synonymous with VARCHAR2. However, in future releases of PL/SQL, to accommodate emerging SQL standards, VARCHAR might become a separate datatype with different comparison semantics. So, it is a good idea to use VARCHAR2 rather than VARCHAR. </tfm>

http://download-west.oracle.com/docs/cd/B10501_01/appdev.920/a96624/03_types .htm#10824

HTH
Raj

Rajendra dot Jamadagni at nospamespn dot com All Views expressed in this email are strictly personal. QOTD: Any clod can have facts, having an opinion is an art !

-----Original Message-----

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 1:55 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

DW> If your application is COBOL-based, using CHAR DW> simplifies things quite a bit.

True enough. I'd forgotten about COBOL. The semantics of COBOL's PIC X fields match up pretty closely (exactly?) to SQL CHAR fields.

DW> My understanding is that VARCHAR2 is not even a SQL standard

The keyword VARCHAR2 is not in the standard, but a variable-length type is. I think the standard uses CHARACTER VARYING, or something like that. I don't have time to look it up right now.

DB2 uses VARCHAR, without the "2". I'm not sure why Oracle is so outspoken against that same keyword. I'd be interested in finding out.

Best regards,

Jonathan Gennick --- Brighten the corner where you are

This e-mail message is confidential, intended only for the named recipient(s) above and may contain information that is privileged, attorney work product or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you have received this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please immediately notify corporate MIS at (860) 766-2000 and delete this e-mail message from your computer, Thank you.

**********5

-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.net
-- 
Author: Jamadagni, Rajendra
  INET: Rajendra.Jamadagni_at_espn.com

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: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (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.net
-- 
Author: DENNIS WILLIAMS
  INET: DWILLIAMS_at_LIFETOUCH.COM

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: ListGuru_at_fatcity.com (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).

Received on Wed Dec 10 2003 - 14:39:26 CST