RE: RPG IV not up to the task of reading and writing to DB files....

Shannon,

One big advantage of a NULL capable DB field can be found in defining
foreign key constraints.

A NULL value in the foreign key column doesn't violate the foreign-key
constraint.

So you can have a column that may or may not have a value in it.  But if
the column does have a value, it must be a valid foreign key into some
other table.


Charles Wilt
--
iSeries Systems Administrator / Developer
Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America
ph: 513-573-4343
fax: 513-398-1121
  

> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Shannon ODonnell
> Sent: Thursday, May 18, 2006 4:21 PM
> To: 'RPG programming on the AS400 / iSeries'
> Subject: RE: RPG IV not up to the task of reading and writing 
> to DB files....
> 
> Charles, 
> 
> What is the advantage to having a NULL capable database 
> field, as opposed
> to, say, blanks?  Wouldn't that be easier?
> 
> I ask because I don't understand.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Shannon O'Donnell
>