Rachel, This "variant" datatype sounds a lot like the "union" data structure from "C" language, which closely resembled a "struct" (i.e. record) but all of the "fields" overlap the same memory address. In other words, it was a mechanism for type re-casting. In the grand tradition of robust programming languages, there are about a dozen and a half ways to do this in "C", and the "union" structure is one of the less popular. Luckily, it is difficult to use for any other purpose...
Not so with what you're describing. Sounds like a feature which is ripe for all kinds of abuse. I can just imagine entire tables populated with columns of type VARIANT by some designer touting "flexibility" as a mantra. Fortunately, Oracle developers can use the RAW datatype in the same fashion, and it is interesting to note (but perhaps not coincidental) that most "C" programmers tend to favor a similar mechanism (i.e. "void" pointers) for type re-casting too. In other words, be assured that VARIANT is not the only way to get the job done, and might prove unpopular anyway... Just my $0.02... -Tim ----- Original Message ----- To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, July 17, 2002 11:08 AM > Okay, I'm working on what feels like 30 new projects all at once and I > WILL be RTFM'ing as soon as I can get more than 5 minutes out of > meetings but.... > > > first: has anyone heard of any problems with 64-bit Oracle on a > Solaris 64-bit OS? > > second (and this one confuses me a bit)... I've been asked if Oracle9i > supports a "variant" datatype -- they are not familiar with oracle but > are familiar with SQL Server and say that there is a datatype called > "variant" there where you can basically overload the column with > whatever datatype you want (string, number, date) and the database > knows what type of data it is storing within the column. They referred > me to C++ and Java, neither of which I know. > > Can anyone point in the right direction to start researching this? > > Thanks! > > Rachel > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Yahoo! Autos - Get free new car price quotes > http://autos.yahoo.com > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > -- > Author: Rachel Carmichael > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Tim Gorman INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).
