Error in the date field (with NULL value...).Thanks!

How can I "binds" PostgreSQL to consider '' as null ?

You can modify src/backend/utils/{datetime,date,timestamp}.c to accept
an empty string as a null value. But imho it is better to fix this in
your input file, perhaps using sed:

sed "s/''/NULL/g" < informix.dump > pg.dump

- Thomas

Just do a search-replace on your source file and replace all occurrences of
'' with NULL.

Chris

-----Original Message-----
From: pgsql-hackers-owner@postgresql.org
[mailto:pgsql-hackers-owner@postgresql.org]On Behalf Of Maurizio Ortolan
Sent: Thursday, 29 March 2001 12:51 PM
To: pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org; pgsql-sql@postgresql.org;
pgsql-general@postgresql.org; pgsql-ports@postgresql.org;
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Subject: [HACKERS] Error in the date field (with NULL value...).Thanks!

Subject: Importing data from Informix to PostgreSQL.
Error in the date field (WITH NULL value)

Hello!
I'll try to explain my little problem. Well, I have this table

create table mytable
( codice char(16) not null,
dt_inizio date,
dt_fine date,
tipo_operazione char(1),
causa_operazione integer
);

ok!

I find out that pgsql:

In my example '' is the NULL value exported from Informix... ! (an ASCII
file)

INFORMIX PostgreSQL
char(16) '' ------> blank
string (I think it's ok! )
char(1) '' ------> blank
string (I think it's ok)
integer '' ------> 0 (is
it an error? )
date '' ------> ERROR! Bad date
external representation ''

select * from mytable ;

codice | dt_inizio | dt_fine |
tipo_operazione | causa_operazione

ABCEDEFFFFFFFFF |
2001-03-28 | | | 0
XXXYYYAAA23C957Y |
2001-03-28 | | | 0

clinica=# insert into mytable values ( '','03/28/2001', '' , '' , '' );
ERROR: Bad date external representation '' ^^^

PostgreSQL doesn't want '' as an input of a date with NULL value:
it's necessary to use this kind of insert:

insert into mytable values ( '','03/28/2001',null,'','');

^^^^^^

Now there is a new line in the table:

|
2001-03-28 | | | 0

My question:
How can I resolv my problem? I have a big data file to import where
in the 2nd date field there is '' instead of null ....

How can I "binds" PostgreSQL to consider '' as null ?

Many thanks for any suggestions!

CIAO!
MAURIZIO

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