Re: [HACKERS] Serial and NULL values - Mailing list pgsql-hackers

From Bruce Momjian
Subject Re: [HACKERS] Serial and NULL values
Date
Msg-id 199910311317.IAA29898@candle.pha.pa.us
Whole thread Raw
In response to Re: [HACKERS] Serial and NULL values  (wieck@debis.com (Jan Wieck))
List pgsql-hackers
> > No, I wouldn't expect that at all.  A default is inserted when you
> > don't supply anything at all for the column.  Inserting an explicit
> > NULL means you want a NULL, and barring a NOT NULL constraint on
> > the column, that's what the system ought to insert.  I can see no
> > possible justification for creating a type-specific exception to
> > that behavior.
> >
> > If the original asker really wants to substitute something else for
> > an explicit null insertion, he could do it with a rule or a trigger.
> > But I don't think SERIAL ought to act that way all by itself.
> >
> >              regards, tom lane
> 
>     I agree with tom.
> 
>     If you don't want the user to be able to insert NULL, specify
>     NOT NULL explicitly. And if  you  want  to  force  a  default
>     behaviour, use a trigger (a rule can't do - sorry).

I thought Informix put the nextval with NULL, but I now see they do it
with zero, which is pretty strange.

Never mind.

--  Bruce Momjian                        |  http://www.op.net/~candle maillist@candle.pha.pa.us            |  (610)
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