Re: NULLs are now always NULLs ?

"BJ" <bj_at_a.com> wrote in message
news:7p6322tq1m0s47m77346eqhs8qdbsi33ha_at_4ax.com...
> On Wed, 22 Mar 2006 10:27:44 -0500, "Syltrem"
> <syltremzulu_at_videotron.ca> wrote:
>
>>
>>This is what I expect, both syntax NULL and '' represent a null value;
>>
>>Then why does it make a difference here ?
>>SQL> exec dbms_system.set_ev(100,200,10046,4,'') --> works just fine
>>SQL> exec dbms_system.set_ev(100,200,10046,4,null) --> does not work (does
>>not generate a trace file)
>>
>
> http://download-uk.oracle.com/docs/cd/B19306_01/server.102/b14200/sql_elements005.htm#i59110
>
> "Note:
> Oracle Database currently treats a character value with a length of
> zero as null. However, this may not continue to be true in future
> releases, and Oracle recommends that you do not treat empty strings
> the same as nulls."

Thanks for the link. Good to know.
But it says it STILL treats them the same and obviously does not... And I think nobody knows what this last parameter is about... so that's not to help either.

Will that remain a mystery?

Syltrem Received on Wed Mar 22 2006 - 13:48:21 CST