June 25, 2012 at 11:19 am
Matt Miller (#4) (6/25/2012)
GSquared (6/25/2012)
Actually, if you define "NULL" as "unknown value" as opposed to "no value", then one could define a nullable char(1) column as "we may not know what value it should have, but if we did, we know it would be 1 character". "NULL" is supposed to mean "unknown value", so it's logically sound to think of it that way.(We're getting technical on The Thread. Steve must be on vacation. Checking the editorials ... yep, looks like.)
I belong to the school that NULL represents the absence of value, so it's not even an "unknown value".
You're right though - I will relinquish the soapbox, and let the thread go back to non-technical :). No need to revisit old grounds here.
I partially agree. I think we need two versions of NULL. One for "we know there's no applicable value", one for "heck if we know". Thus, in my case, a column for "Name Suffix", intended for things like "Jr", "III", et al, would have the "confirmed no applicable value" version of NULL, while a column for "What Is Up With His Sense of Humor" would have the "Nobody Knows" version. (Might need a third version for that kind of thing: "NULL3" = "Nobody Knows and Everyone is Scared to Find Out".)
(And, yeah, I skip out on The Thread for a few weeks, and my second post in it breaks the rules. Go figure.)
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June 25, 2012 at 11:22 am
Lynn Pettis (6/25/2012)
How about those Mets?Oh, wait, wrong thread for that too, sorry! 😛
I hope they lose
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
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June 25, 2012 at 11:25 am
SQLRNNR (6/25/2012)
Lynn Pettis (6/25/2012)
How about those Mets?Oh, wait, wrong thread for that too, sorry! 😛
I hope they lose
Actually, me too. If I am going to root for a team it will be the Rockies. I'm just not all that into baseball.
June 25, 2012 at 11:29 am
Matt Miller (#4) (6/25/2012)
GSquared (6/25/2012)
Actually, if you define "NULL" as "unknown value" as opposed to "no value", then one could define a nullable char(1) column as "we may not know what value it should have, but if we did, we know it would be 1 character". "NULL" is supposed to mean "unknown value", so it's logically sound to think of it that way.(We're getting technical on The Thread. Steve must be on vacation. Checking the editorials ... yep, looks like.)
I belong to the school that NULL represents the absence of value, so it's not even an "unknown value".
Doesn't matter which school we get our personal beliefs about Nullability from. What matters is how SQL Server treats the datatypes. Given that SQL treats Varchar(1) as a bigger datatype than Char(1), I see no reason to waste the space for a 1 character field.
June 25, 2012 at 11:36 am
Having one of "those" days today, which really started last Wednesday, so I guess we're almost up to one of "those" weeks.
Jack Corbett
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June 25, 2012 at 11:39 am
Jack Corbett (6/25/2012)
Having one of "those" days today, which really started last Wednesday, so I guess we're almost up to one of "those" weeks.
Take two days vacation and call again on Thursday. :w00t:
June 25, 2012 at 11:44 am
Brandie Tarvin (6/25/2012)
Doesn't matter which school we get our personal beliefs about Nullability from. What matters is how SQL Server treats the datatypes. Given that SQL treats Varchar(1) as a bigger datatype than Char(1), I see no reason to waste the space for a 1 character field.
We'll have to agree to disagree on that aspect I guess. That said - I actually have business cases where the presence or absence of a space in single character field is actually a significant difference (it's used in an external export to some regulatory entities), so still - forcing everyone to use CHAR(1) isn't an option in my case. Assuming that space "means nothing" is a dangerous assumption.
and now - I REALLY won't pollute the thread any further on the topic.
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?
June 25, 2012 at 1:00 pm
Jack Corbett (6/25/2012)
Having one of "those" days today, which really started last Wednesday, so I guess we're almost up to one of "those" weeks.
I feel your pain
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
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June 25, 2012 at 1:38 pm
Lynn Pettis (6/25/2012)
Jack Corbett (6/25/2012)
Having one of "those" days today, which really started last Wednesday, so I guess we're almost up to one of "those" weeks.Take two days vacation and call again on Thursday. :w00t:
I like how you think Lynn. What do you prescribe for "one of those quarters"?
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?
June 25, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Matt Miller (#4) (6/25/2012)
Lynn Pettis (6/25/2012)
Jack Corbett (6/25/2012)
Having one of "those" days today, which really started last Wednesday, so I guess we're almost up to one of "those" weeks.Take two days vacation and call again on Thursday. :w00t:
I like how you think Lynn. What do you prescribe for "one of those quarters"?
A change of scenery:-D
Jason...AKA CirqueDeSQLeil
_______________________________________________
I have given a name to my pain...MCM SQL Server, MVP
SQL RNNR
Posting Performance Based Questions - Gail Shaw[/url]
Learn Extended Events
June 25, 2012 at 4:22 pm
Any one know if those spreading Colorado wild fires are threatening Steve's home or the horses? Any one hear from Steve on twitter or whatever?
http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-fire-near-pikes-peak-forces-11-000-014551591.html
June 25, 2012 at 5:03 pm
bitbucket-25253 (6/25/2012)
Any one know if those spreading Colorado wild fires are threatening Steve's home or the horses? Any one hear from Steve on twitter or whatever?http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-fire-near-pikes-peak-forces-11-000-014551591.html
He's been on twitter, announcing articles and the like, but I don't know if that's automated. Last public and obviously personal tweet from him was yesterday.
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June 25, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Evil Kraig F (6/25/2012)
bitbucket-25253 (6/25/2012)
Any one know if those spreading Colorado wild fires are threatening Steve's home or the horses? Any one hear from Steve on twitter or whatever?http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-fire-near-pikes-peak-forces-11-000-014551591.html
He's been on twitter, announcing articles and the like, but I don't know if that's automated. Last public and obviously personal tweet from him was yesterday.
Closest fire to Steve I would say is the Waldo Canyon Fire. That one is only a few miles from me, in fact my office is only 2 miles from the be prepared to evacuate area along Centennial Blvd. My wife, or I should say ex-wife and a friend had been hiking in the canyon just a few hours before the fire started.
So, right now, I say Steve and his horses (or should we say his wife's horses) are safe.
June 25, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Brandie Tarvin (6/25/2012)
0-1 column instead of BIT.
Don't take the word BIT in your mouth. JC is watching!
June 25, 2012 at 6:10 pm
Lynn Pettis (6/25/2012)
Evil Kraig F (6/25/2012)
bitbucket-25253 (6/25/2012)
Any one know if those spreading Colorado wild fires are threatening Steve's home or the horses? Any one hear from Steve on twitter or whatever?http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-fire-near-pikes-peak-forces-11-000-014551591.html
He's been on twitter, announcing articles and the like, but I don't know if that's automated. Last public and obviously personal tweet from him was yesterday.
Closest fire to Steve I would say is the Waldo Canyon Fire. That one is only a few miles from me, in fact my office is only 2 miles from the be prepared to evacuate area along Centennial Blvd. My wife, or I should say ex-wife and a friend had been hiking in the canyon just a few hours before the fire started.
So, right now, I say Steve and his horses (or should we say his wife's horses) are safe.
Yeah, things are a mess around here these days. Looking at a map, it looks like Denver's almost surrounded by fires. I'm safe, but be carefull out there Lynn - i sure hope the fires don't get too close to you!
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. - Stephen Hawking
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