Re: Null value is string

"donald.holloway" wrote:
>
> All,
>
> I need to know if there is a way to insert a character value of 'null' as a
> default for a column:
>
> example: student_name varchar2(10) default 'null'
>
> I have tried this and it works if I update the column values to the string
> 'null' later:
>
> example: update student set student_name = 'null' where student_name is
> null
>
> I know that null is a reserved word but I though that I saw it used
> somewhere like this before and just thought I would check with the group on
> this. thanks.
>
> Joseph Hway
> hway_at_uswest.net
>

Joseph,

  NULL means, in plain English, 'undefined'. Setting a default value of 'undefined' makes no sense, since it is precisely what the value is when unspecified and there is no default.
You must have seen it used with "R"DBMS which do not support null values ...

-- 
Regards,

Stephane Faroult
Oriole Software
-- 
Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com
-- 
Author: Stephane Faroult
  INET: sfaroult_at_oriole.com

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