IC65361: UNLOAD OF ZERO LENGTH VARCHAR IS INTERPRETED AS NULL DURING LOAD

APAR status

• Closed as program error.

Error description

• A zero length varchar "" is stored as 0x00. When unloading this
  column, the dbaccess unload writes this column as "||" where |
  is the delimiiter.
  If you try to load this file it interprets this column as NULL.
  If the table has a NOT NULL constraint, the LOAD fails with a
  391 error.
  The customer is trying to upgrade from their current 5.20.UC2
  version to 11.50.xC6 but the LOADs on 11.x are failing with 391
  as the unloaded data in 5.x has these incorrect column values.
  
  Reproduction script:
  
  export DBDATE=mdy4-
  
  dbaccess -e <<EOF
  
  drop database vchar;
  create database vchar;
  
  create table ls_actuate_stats
    (
      agentid char(8) not null,
      hotelnum integer not null,
      reportdesc varchar(255,20)  not null,
      rpt_date date default today not null,
      rpt_time datetime hour to minute default current hour to
  minute not null,
      rpt_type char(1),
      proccode char(15),
      rpt_source char(1)
    );
  
  insert into ls_actuate_stats values ('1200', 5608, '',
  '12-07-2009', '05:30', 'I', 'armbill', 'L');
  
  unload to t1.new select * from ls_actuate_stats;
  
  -- This fails with 391 error (cannot insert NULL)
  load from t1.new insert into ls_actuate_stats;
  
  EOF
  

Local fix

Problem summary

• ****************************************************************
  * USERS AFFECTED:                                              *
  * Users of IDS 5.20xC2                                         *
  ****************************************************************
  * PROBLEM DESCRIPTION:                                         *
  * Unload of zero length varchar is interpreted as NULL during  *
  * LOAD                                                         *
  ****************************************************************
  * RECOMMENDATION:                                              *
  * Please ask support for patch if you run into this issue. At  *
  * this time no fixpack is planned for Online 5.x               *
  ****************************************************************
  

Problem conclusion

• Problem has been fixed.
  

Temporary fix

Comments

APAR Information

• APAR is sysrouted FROM one or more of the following:

• APAR is sysrouted TO one or more of the following:

Fix information

• Fixed component name

  IBM IFMX ONLINE

• Fixed component ID

  5724C4700

Applicable component levels

• R510 PSN

     UP

• R511 PSY

     UP