Subject Re: SUM
From Ronnie MacGregor <No_Sp@m.Thanks>
Date Sun, 14 Jan 2024 12:48:01 -0000
Newsgroups dbase.getting-started

In article <JohWGBuRaHA.1876@ip-AC1E04A7>, andy.taylor.1959@outlook.com
says...

> Eeek! It's a matter of preference, but I try to avoid nulls as much as
> possible.

A matter of preference yes, but also one of data accuracy and integrity.

Consider a simple boolean field labelled "COVID Vaccinated".

You cannot default to "No" or "False", because that may not be true.

There are actually three valid data states for this boolean field.

True / Yes - We know with certainty the individual is vaccinated.

False / No - We know with certainty the individual is NOT vaccinated.

Null / Unknown - We don't know whether they are vaccinated or not.


> "Set AutonullFields Off" and "xxx.rowset.autonullfields=false"
> are my friends here and neither are the default settings in dBASE.

And neither should they be !!! . . . . .