Hi Nick,

Yes, this version was an example w/ source of how encryption could be done via XP's.  I didn't include error handling (which I probably should have, in hindsight) to...

Hi Nick,

I don't know your specifics, but this version was provided as a demonstration w/ source.  The usual problem that causes that issue is supplying bad decryption passwords to the...

Hi JT, IS NULL and IS NOT NULL are covered in the original "4 Rules" article (link in this article).

FYI - Those two tables are the work of RM Expert Cimode in his attempt to demonstrate eliminating *all* NULLs from the database and query results.

Hi SDM,

Sorry, I thought you were Cimode (didn't look at the heading close enough)   You did make my point to Cimode for me though,...

What can I say, it was a long train ride home.  BTW I copy-and-pasted the table creation script from Cimode's prior post.   I definitely...

Now here's some data for your correct schema.  Show us how to retrieve a list of all personnel, with their respecitve hire_date and terminated_date using your schema and SQL.  No outer...

I'll leave this thread with this: Cimode, if you had come to the discussion and simply said "I disagree with X, Y, and Z that you wrote; and this is why I disagree...

A new BS...I dare Mike C to produce books...papers...

Codd never made any work focused on NULL. And if he did talk about NULLS it was ONLY to warn against their...

If you're using the DBA Toolkit, the key being passed into the XP is passed in as an encrypted key.  So the plaintext key should not be visible at any...

Thanks Mike. I've read the article, but still don't understand the rationale behind ANSI SQL mandating SUM to ignore NULLs. (A good thing I learnt though is that as another...

I encourage people to read for themselves and make up their mind...

A BIG LIE!!! the EXAMPLES RUN PERFECTLY AND WERE TESTED BEFORE GETTING posted...That liar of Gonzalez mistook the writers...

Yes, nice article indeed.

I've got a few questions though (more related to the discussion with Cimode...):

* why does SUM behave this way with NULLs ? To be consistent with...

I do not do personal attacks but I don't mind pointing out absurdities.

People do not confuse, people are either ignorant...

For quite some time we have been using a particular syntax which has worked quite well for us in determining NULL matches.

In our where clause we would use...

Where ISNULL(column,'')...