Re: Help about a data type

The answer to a general question such as the one below is almost always: "It depends". The downside of using an alpha data type is that it won't compress as tightly, and you have to write code to validate it yourself.

The down side to using a numeric is that you may find it difficult to expand your usage of the column to other codes that are alphanumeric. An example: you store zip codes in a number column, then your system expands to cover Canada. Canadian postal codes are alphanumeric. Now you have to change data types, or not use the same column.

acatala_at_llacerynavarro.com wrote in message <3A14FB1D.DD882010_at_llacerynavarro.com>...
>Hi:
>
>What data type is better for a field that will contain a number from a
>arithmetic operetion never will be made (like product code, telephone
>number, etc) ?
>
>Is it better numeric, alphanumeric or is it the same ?
>
>Many thanks.
>
Received on Fri Nov 17 2000 - 13:23:48 CET