Re: NUMBER vs NUMBER (n)

From: Sybrand Bakker <postbus_at_sybrandb.demon.nl>
Date: Sat, 30 Sep 2006 07:57:43 +0200
Message-ID: <an1sh2p5dqf6anh3utjk6ofu85ljkf0kg4@4ax.com>

On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:41:06 -0700, Mark Townsend <markbtownsend_at_comcast.net> wrote:

>
>>
>> 2) For surrogate key, is it better to use INTEGER, or NUMBER or NUMBER
>> (n) ? why ?
>>
>> Thank you,
>> xtanto
>
>Neither - store surrogate keys in VARCHAR2 columns - typically you are
>unlikely to need to perform arithmetic on a surrogate key.

Do not agree with you, especially if someone 'smart' decided to left pad them with '0's.
Have been in such a situation, all surrogate keys varchar2(10), left padded.
Did a trial conversion to number(10).
What do you think?
FIFTY PERCENT LESS I/O!!!!!

--
Sybrand Bakker, Senior Oracle DBA

Received on Sat Sep 30 2006 - 00:57:43 CDT