Re: Are level checks still useful?

[Vernon Hamberg <vhamberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Nathan

With the wider use of SQL, null-capable fields are very likely to arise. 
We use an open-source utility that uses a program-described file, and it 
blows up sometimes for our customers. Not enough to make us change 
things - I'm inclined either to go with the C _R* functions or to use an 
SQL equivalent. The C functions have more flexibility in my experience 
for this kind of thing. And direct working with the IO buffers, 
essentially, as I recall.

Vern

On 11/7/2012 6:17 PM, Nathan Andelin wrote:
> > they have not been able to process files with null-capable fields
> Adding a null-capable column to a table causes a run-time exception. I tested that. But what if you never use null-capable fields? In that case, new fields seem to be initialized to default values even though they don't exist in the "d" spec data structure.
>
> Again, I'm not settled on this technique, I just put it out for thought. It appears that you can add table columns without "agonizing" about "recompiling the world".
>
> -Nathan