Grasshopper, if the "null" columns are stored in separate tables (6NF?), then a join (left) to build the original table would return nulls for the missing value. I see...

How about defining the null to mean that this column should exist in a separate table where there would be no record for this value? Then construct the T-SQL logic...

The debate reminds me of a quote, "I'm a mathematical optimist: I deal only with positive integers."

I'm glad I came across this discussion. 6NF with only one non-key column...

roger.plowman (3/1/2016)

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ZZartin (3/1/2016)

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roger.plowman (3/1/2016)

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patrickmcginnis59 10839 (2/29/2016)

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If you need to know why a value is missing,...

kenambrose (2/29/2016)

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[[You'll have up to 8 bits to designate just "how" the data is missing. You certainly do NOT want to store 'TBD' | 'NA' | etc. in any column(s).]]

Oh...

MadAdmin (2/29/2016)

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j-1064772 (2/29/2016)

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rstone (2/29/2016)

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I think nulls are used more often than required, but they have their place. If we start with a rule that forbids nulls in the database, then...

Using a single record in a related table to define "missing" or "unknown" is an option that I have seen in use. I thought it resulted in some very...

I think nulls are used more often than required, but they have their place. If we start with a rule that forbids nulls in the database, then we are doing...

Robert, I look forward to the updates. Here is a script to enable the jobs and schedules after a fresh install. It might save a few clicks here...

In the past, I use a tool called ClearTrace to report on the worst of the worst. (I set high limits on the trace reads or writes.) Even...

Robert, I'm running your solution on my desktop. Looks good to me. Added some views for fun. Single values for average MB/sec, IOPS, and stall per database?...

Thanks Robert. I've been using TYPEPERF to collect counters from several servers. It appears that if I want IO detail at the database or database file level, I...

Requirements often don't directly address transactions and locking. Non-functional requirements normally don't specify or limit T-SQL methods. A table that describes the preverbal "it depends" by relating requirements...

The "TOP 100 PERCENT" seems to be ignored by the optimizer. The "TOP verylargernumber" can produce the recordset in the "expected" order. However, this is incidental. If...

I know this is an old post. I can't help but wonder why there has been no response. It's a good question, which is why I'm here. ...