RE: How to return null on a PI

I'd disagree.

It makes perfect sense when writing SQL UDF to have the
RETURNS NULL ON NULL INPUT 
clause

or to return NULL for an invalid input.  For example, I've got a SQL UDF for
converting to Date data types.  If zeros are passed I return NULL.  

I think RPG could really use a way to return a NULL.  But I'm guessing it
wouldn't be easy to add.

Charles


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tilo von Brandis [mailto:tvonbrandis@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Thursday, January 15, 2004 8:47 AM
> To: RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries
> Subject: RE: How to return null on a PI
> 
> 
> Hi
> 
> The null value is an indicator that can be set for a database field
> indicating that this field has got no value in it. *null is 
> not a value. It
> is the absence of a value in a database field.
> 
> So by definition, a null value can not be passed. 
> Theoretically, to pass a
> "null" value is like saying "I will not pass anything back", 
> which is not
> the intention because you want to tell the calling program 
> that you did get
> an invalid string.
> 
> Tilo von Brandis
> Manager, IT
> SAFAIR (PTY) Ltd
> Tel   : +27 (011) 928 0043
> Cell  : +27 (083) 675 7778
> 
>