Default NULL value for date fields changed to 0000-00-00

The Mertech Flex2SQL GUI migration tool and Mertech drivers are being modified to use 00-00-0000 as the default NULL value for DataFlex DF_DATE and DF_DATETIME fields.

Background

The default NULL date value was previously set to 0001-01-01 to be consistent with the DataFlex dummy zero date setting.

Note: This value is internally assigned to the DF_LOW constant.

Potential Problem

Records are added to the database through the Flex2SQL GUI migration tool or through a DataFlex application. NULL dates are set to DF_LOW.

Additional records are added to the database, possibly outside of DataFlex, that have their NULL dates set to  0000-00-00.

When an application performs a LT or LE FIND on the database using an index with a date column segment and does not assign a minimum date value to the search field, the Mertech drivers automatically fill in the field with the DF_LOW value.

If DF_LOW is set to 0001-01-01, records with a date value of 00-00-0000 will not be found.

Schedule for Driver Updates

• MySQLFlex 12.0.6020.0 driver for Windows (03/16/2013)
• MySQLFlex 12.1.6020.0 driver for Windows (03/16/2013)
• MySQLFlex 11.0.5702.1 driver for SCO  (03/23/2013)