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

From: Michael Milligan <Michael.Milligan_at_ingenix.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 12:49:33 -0800
Message-ID: <F001.005D974D.20031210124933@fatcity.com>

Yes, they keep saying that varchar may change in future releases, so use varchar2. Maybe they'll finally use it. But for what I don't know.

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

Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 1:39 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

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

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Received on Wed Dec 10 2003 - 14:49:33 CST