RE: IN() question

Hi Regina, thanks for your reply.
Lisa

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Regina Harter [SMTP:rharter_at_emc-inc.com]
> Sent: Friday, May 03, 2002 8:58 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L
> Subject: Re: IN() question
>
> Yes, your why is correct, NULL is neither equal nor not equal to any
> value. I usually nvl to return a space for null values when I have to
> consider them, then a not equal will work.
>
> At 03:43 PM 5/3/02 -0800, you wrote:
> >Slap me if this is a dumb question.
> >
> >Here's my pay methods
> >
> >SQL> SELECT ASCII(PAY_METHOD), PAY_METHOD, COUNT(*)
> > 2 FROM LEISURE_PLAN_MASTER_TEMP
> > 3 WHERE MEMBERSHIP_CLASS = 'D'
> > 4 GROUP BY PAY_METHOD;
> >
> >ASCII(PAY_METHOD) P COUNT(*)
> >----------------- - ----------
> > 67 C 42955
> > 80 P 34373
> > 11786
> >
> >I expected this statement to return the 11,786 records that have null
> >values. However, it doesn't:
> >
> >SQL> SELECT COUNT(*)
> > 2 from leisure_plan_master_temp
> > 3 where membership_class = 'D'
> > 4 AND pay_METHOD NOT IN ('C','P');
> >
> > COUNT(*)
> >----------
> > 0
> >
> >But when I do this, I get the answer I expect.
> >
> >SQL> SELECT COUNT(*)
> > 2 from leisure_plan_master_temp
> > 3 where membership_class = 'D'
> > 4 AND PAY_METHOD IS NULL;
> >
> > COUNT(*)
> >----------
> > 11786
> >
> >This isn't exactly correct. There may be other values in this field, and
> if
> >they show up I need to include them, not just records where this field is
> >null. What am I missing? Is it because the value is NULL that Oracle
> >excludes it from the IN() statement, because of the classic definition of
> >NULL (can't be defined, therefore can't be sure it's not a C or a P)?
> >
> >This is easy enough to fix, I'll change my data load to populate the null
> >values with my own code. But still? Have I got the WHY correct?
> >
> >Thanks for any light someone can shed on this stupid question.
> >
> >Lisa Koivu
> >Oracle Database Monkey Mama
> >Fairfield Resorts, Inc.
> >5259 Coconut Creek Parkway
> >Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA 33063
> >
> >
> >--
> >Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> >--
> >Author: Koivu, Lisa
> > INET: lisa.koivu_at_efairfield.com
> >
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> --
> Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
> --
> Author: Regina Harter
> INET: rharter_at_emc-inc.com
>
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> San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
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-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Koivu, Lisa
  INET: lisa.koivu_at_efairfield.com

Fat City Network Services    -- (858) 538-5051  FAX: (858) 538-5051
San Diego, California        -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists
--------------------------------------------------------------------
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(or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from).  You may
also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).