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Re: Weird Query

From: Marian Aldenhövel <marian_at_mba-software.de>
Date: Tue, 02 Aug 2005 10:14:33 +0200
Message-ID: <dcna1b$ksb$1@online.de>


Hi,

> A properly constructed where clause would return both of them, if desired.

That is not the point. The point is that there is no way to NOT return both of them if so desired. There is no way to separate those rows that have middle name not specified from those that have them specified as "none".

You could always use a special value in the field to denote the "none"-case or add a column MIDDLE_NAME_NOT_GIVEN. But both feels kludgy at best.

I can see a real problem arising if I ever try to port a database that does rely on the ternary logic of NULLs. But now I am prepared for it.

Ciao, MM

-- 
Marian Aldenhövel, Rosenhain 23, 53123 Bonn. +49 228 624013.
http://www.marian-aldenhoevel.de
"It's easy to make a small fortune in aviation,
  provided you start with a big one"
Received on Tue Aug 02 2005 - 03:14:33 CDT

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