Field with NOT NULL

meenakshi_forum · Active User Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 121 Location: India

Hi,

Are spaces allowed in a column which is NOT NULL?

If a table is getting a feed from a file, and a column in the table is NOT NUL but it's repective value in File is blank then what would be the case ?

Thanks.

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:21 am

Hello,

By definition a blank value is not a null value.

When blanks arrive, they will be treated like any other data unless the code does something specific for blanks. There is nothing null about them.

meenakshi_forum · Active User Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 121 Location: India

Thank you.

1. So can we say spaces as blank ?

2. For a value as spaces(blank in a file) after some processing done on the file i am getting '.' as the value there .

There was no coding done to insert '.' there, any idea why it happens?

This field has 'N' or 'Y' as the eligible values.

3. If there are some fixed values for a field, say 'N' , 'Y', so can it get spaces at any instance?

Suresh Ponnusamy · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:15 am

Hi

1) We cannot directly say always SPACES are Blank. We have to refer the HEX value to determine the value. If the Hex Value is X'40' then it contains SPACES. If it is X'00' then it contains LOW-VALUES.
2) Please check the hex value and determine that. If it is X'00' then using INSPECT statement you can convert that to SPACES.
3) Please validate your program. There might be something in your program

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:16 am

Hello,

1. Yes spaces are blanks (they are hex'40').

2. You probably have some unprintable character rather than a blank.
If you browse the data in tso/ispf and use HEX ON, you can see
the actual hex value in the data.

3. I don't understand what this is asking. The "data" does not know that
there are fixed values. Your code may expect Y or N, but that does
not prevent other values (i.e. space) from being in the field. Whatever
creates the file must ensure that only valid values are in the data.

meenakshi_forum · Active User Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 121 Location: India

Thanks all,

I understand that space may come up and it can be valid but how about

'.' coming up ?

meenakshi_forum · Active User Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 121 Location: India

In TSO/ISPF--

For a number 001000750757P536 , it's corresponding values against it are as seen below

********************************

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 3:15 am

Hello,

Yes, there are 9 spaces (x'40') after the 6. The last byte contains x'00'.

Please note that your post has been edited using the "Code" tag (near the top of the Reply panel). This will preserve alignment and make your post much more readable.

When you are entering a post, you can use the Preview to see how your post will appear to the forum rathe rthan how it appears n the Reply editor. When you are satisfied with how your post appears, then click Submit.

As far as where the x'00' comes from, you would need to look into how the file is created.

meenakshi_forum · Active User Joined: 27 May 2008 Posts: 121 Location: India

Thank you all

dick scherrer · Posted: Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:56 pm

You're welcome

d