Null handling issue

prasson_ibm · Post by **prasson_ibm** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:01 am

Hi all,

I have job design where data is written to seq file with "UNKNOWN" whwerever null is coming from the source.

While reading the file given null field value='UNKNOWN' in format tab so this will convert all 'UNKNOWN' data to null in seq file.

My source data coming as 'UNKNOWN' ,so my confusion is do 'UNKNOWN'(Src null) match with seq. file data i.e. null.

Regards
Prasoon

chulett · Post by **chulett** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:07 am

I'm confused too.

If you are trying to compare non-file sourced data with 'UNKNOWN' as the value to that same value sourced from a file where you've converted that to null, then they won't match. Don't set the null field value if you want to compare them.

If you were asking something else, please... rephrase.

zulfi123786 · Post by **zulfi123786** » Mon Dec 12, 2011 8:57 am

The basic rule with Null Field values in seq files is "Do not use a Null Field value that has a non zero probability to be a part of the file data" hence you need to use a string which you are sure that it wont be appearing in the file.