[Resolved] mysql int(6) defaults to 0...it killing me

azunoman

I have serveral fields within a table...that may or not be set to the id of another table. They are defined in the table as int(6) null=no.

But when I look at the field, when it has not been written to, it contains a value of '0', phpmyadmin displays this as the default.

This is messing up my code in that if when I fill out the form, I test if that field is empty, it has a '0' in it, so the test fails...Suppose that I could test for value of '0', but only if there is no other way. I am going to have this problem for several of the fields...argh...

What is the best approach to rid myself of this default value? Sage advice is most welcome.

Regards,

Fred

drew010

when creating the table you can just do
CREATE TABLE whatever (fieldname int(6) NOT NULL DEFAULT '')

that should stop it from having a 0 in it.

laserlight

Conversely, instead of using empty() you might be able to use isset(), depending on what you need.

azunoman

when I init the post fields from the DB, the post field gets a '0', so isset isn't going to work..as '0' is a value....if you disagree, then I will go test that....

laserlight

As I mentioned, it depends on what you need.

It's not clear what you mean by "the test fails".

azunoman

What I had hoped and obviously didn't make clear, is that I am testing for an empty field, the DB defaults a non-null int with no value to 0, hence empty and isset will not work.

Primarily, I don't understand ;1) why a default by mysql is needed for an integer (nothing I can do about that) ;2) if it makes sense to fudge about with the DB defs so that there is no default to 0, (probably doesn't make sense) which leaves me with ;3) check for a value of 0 instead of empty/isset.

But then again...I could just have a beer (that what I am doing now) and let my noggin rest....lol

While I am a newbie, 25 years of mainframe assembler programming, requires that I make things as complicated while at the same time...offering kick butt user interace...one can do everything on one page...lol

Thanks for you patience with me...

drew010

is there a problem with storing it as a varchar(6) so you can get a blank default value? when you bring the value out, you can do a type conversion (if even necessary).

laserlight

I normally store integer values as
INT NOT NULL
in my mysql DBs, which is equivalent to INT(11) NOT NULL, if I remember correctly.

Never had a problem with it for forms.
empty() should work, could you provide sample code?
empty() should return true if the variable is NULL, 0 or '0' (or other zero and null values)

azunoman

It actually turned out that in my testing...I was using a link to re-display my page, hence the post values were empty. So if one made a change, it was not refelected in the original DB array, so the posts got the old values, now if $submit is not set, I unset the DB array....I fill like a big dumb fool...about 98% of the time, with 2% genius the other. Not sure it a fair trade off. When I finally get the site off my private server, I will post it here...and you all can see how someone with a 'little' knowledge can be very dangerous....lol