I'm just checking some Oracle table creation SQL that my installer program has generated against the SQL that was given to me. Once the installer is done I'll be able to generate the Postgres and Sybase versions automatically.
On looking I can see that my version in several cases is writes VARCHAR2 whereas the given version has CHARACTER VARYING.
Shelley Doll's article on SQL basics: String data types says:
"The CHARACTER VARYING, CHAR VARYING, and VARCHAR keywords are synonymous." but I can't find the exact same information in the Oracle Reference.
This is typical of the accidental complexity that arises dealing with Oracle.
I can empathize with the reviewer of Oracle8: The Complete Reference who writes: "This book is huge, at 1344 pages it is huge. But not at all useful. Information is too darn difficult to find, and more often that not it is simply not there."
Posted by stuartcw at November 18, 2002 01:59 PM