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Good 'ol Oracle... 
So I got this table with this column, VARCHAR2 NOT NULL, has been that way for years and it's used in applications, procedures and services.
Now a recent change in the software and functionality allows this value to be empty.
No problem, I'll just make it an empty string as to not break existing functionality (don't look at me like that, you've all done it!).
Unfortunately in Oracle NULL == ''      
So now I have to change the table definition (and the software, services and procedures) to allow for NULL...
The more I work with Oracle the less I like it... 
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According to SO:
Back in the olden days before there was a SQL standard, Oracle made the design decision that empty strings in VARCHAR/VARCHAR2 columns were NULL and that there was only one sense of NULL (there are relational theorists that would differentiate between data that has never been prompted for, data where the answer exists but is not known by the user, data where there is no answer, etc. all of which constitute some sense of NULL).
By the time that the SQL standard came around and agreed that NULL and the empty string were distinct entities, there were already Oracle users that had code that assumed the two were equivalent. So Oracle was basically left with the options of breaking existing code, violating the SQL standard, or introducing some sort of initialization parameter that would change the functionality of potentially large number of queries. Violating the SQL standard (IMHO) was the least disruptive of these three options.
But even worse:
Oracle has left open the possibility that the VARCHAR data type would change in a future release to adhere to the SQL standard (which is why everyone uses VARCHAR2 in Oracle since that data type's behavior is guaranteed to remain the same going forward).
So you're dealing with a legacy to support ancient implementations, a possible future where this will be changed, and no way to set a global configuration to change the behavior now for compliant implementations.
Yeah, that is a real suck.
Marc
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Marc Clifton wrote: So you're dealing with a legacy to support ancient implementations, a possible future where this will be changed, and no way to set a global configuration to change the behavior now for compliant implementations.
Yeah, that is a real suck.
It really is
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Well wipe your chin when you're done!
Decrease the belief in God, and you increase the numbers of those who wish to play at being God by being “society’s supervisors,” who deny the existence of divine standards, but are very serious about imposing their own standards on society.-Neal A. Maxwell
You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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I like Oracle, probably more than SQL Server. Just took some getting used to, for me, at least. My current projects use SQL Server.
It's what we do. It's what I do. Oracle, SQL Server, Visual Studio, it's all good. 
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If you had consulted an oracle you'd have foreseen the problems.
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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I did, but I had trouble making an ad-hoc query and then she wanted a package...
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Sander Rossel wrote: she wanted a package
That's generally true of women . . .
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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That's if you can afford the oracle's consultation fees
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Well, the only way to know for sure is to ask the oracle.*
| "The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." - Albert Einstein | | "As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error." - Weisert | | "If you are searching for perfection in others, then you seek disappointment. If you are seek perfection in yourself, then you will find failure." - Balboos HaGadol Mar 2010 |
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Being Christmas and all I suddenly thought of:
Oracle Oracle on the wall
Who's the fairest of them all?
Life is too shor
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It's one of joys of development...the challenge! What should be simple almost never is! Good luck!
"Go forth into the source" - Neal Morse
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kmoorevs wrote: What should be simple almost never is!
That pretty much sums up our profession!  
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If it's of any consolation, it's even worse the other direction.
If you're used to Oracle and have to work on SQL Server, it's like working with the cousin from the country side
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Now don't you go talkin' ill 'bout dat there SQL Server!
And wot's wrong with ma cousin Betty Jo? We two gettin' married next summer! 
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...and now I'm addicted. Just a shout out and thanks to all the german friends who have such delicacies.
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
"just eat it, eat it"."They're out to mold, better eat while you can" -- HobbyProggy
modified 21-Dec-15 5:51am.
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Werde satt und dick
The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a f***ing golf cart.
"I don't know, extraterrestrial?"
"You mean like from space?"
"No, from Canada."
If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.
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Language, Timothy!*
* Only UKians of a certain vintage are likely to understand this....
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Nothing offensive here, not even a pun.
The language is JavaScript. that of Mordor, which I will not utter here
This is Javascript. If you put big wheels and a racing stripe on a golf cart, it's still a f***ing golf cart.
"I don't know, extraterrestrial?"
"You mean like from space?"
"No, from Canada."
If software development were a circus, we would all be the clowns.
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Do they know who stole it?
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I made the same pun - I'm starting to worry :P
Basically the next one to steal it would be me, I freaking love it.
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
"just eat it, eat it"."They're out to mold, better eat while you can" -- HobbyProggy
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To be honest, I am not a big fan of Marzipan. Actually I avoid it.
But come to Germany and visit the city of Lübeck. You just cannot avoid marzipan here.
cheers,
Super
------------------------------------------
Too much of good is bad,mix some evil in it
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Good. I'll take note - I'm pretty near to southern German border by the way, and someday I'll take a proper vacation in Germany.
super wrote: You just cannot avoid marzipan here.
It will be the marzipan who'll be trying to avoid me. 
Also most of the north european sweets are rich in gingerbread and cinnamon, two other addictions of mine. 
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
"just eat it, eat it"."They're out to mold, better eat while you can" -- HobbyProggy
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Except the selves all made of Lubeck marzipan[^]...
(I was there, but found marzipan far too sweet for me)
Skipper: We'll fix it.
Alex: Fix it? How you gonna fix this?
Skipper: Grit, spit and a whole lotta duct tape.
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Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter wrote: too sweet for me
The concept of "too sweet" is new to me. What does it mean?  (seriously though, I have a tolerance to sweetness far higher than the average).
GCS d--- s-/++ a- C++++ U+++ P- L- E-- W++ N++ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t++ 5? X R++ tv-- b+ DI+++ D++ G e++>+++ h--- ++>+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
If you think 'goto' is evil, try writing an Assembly program without JMP. -- TNCaver
"When you have eliminated the JavaScript, whatever remains must be an empty page." -- Mike Hankey
"just eat it, eat it"."They're out to mold, better eat while you can" -- HobbyProggy
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