Thread

1. PostgreSQL

   Om Computer & Software S.R.L. <omc@rdsnet.ro> — 2003-01-10T10:11:44Z

   When inserting a row into a table, if there is a varchar column and if
   in that column the value to be inserted is a zero length string (like
   ''), then instead of writing a null value, PostgreSQL writes that zero
   length string. We are able to do this with delphi which generates such
   sql insert phrases. We contacted Borland, but there was no answer. I
   don't know if this is a bug, but I'm sure that inserting a null value
   instead of a zero length string would help us a lot.
   

2. Re: PostgreSQL

   Robert Hentosh <hentosh@io.com> — 2003-01-11T12:28:12Z

   On Fri, 10 Jan 2003, Om Computer & Software S.R.L. wrote:
   
   > When inserting a row into a table, if there is a varchar column and if
   > in that column the value to be inserted is a zero length string (like
   > ''), then instead of writing a null value, PostgreSQL writes that zero
   > length string. We are able to do this with delphi which generates such
   > sql insert phrases. We contacted Borland, but there was no answer. I
   > don't know if this is a bug, but I'm sure that inserting a null value
   > instead of a zero length string would help us a lot.
   
   NULL and an empty string are two different things.  NULL is supposed to 
   represent an unknown value.  This is similar to NULL in the integer space, 
   where NULL is not the same as a 0.
   
   Postgresql is following the spec in this regard.