DBNULLKEYS= LIBNAME Statement Option

Controls the format of the WHERE clause when you use the DBKEY= data set option.

Valid in: LIBNAME statement
Default: DBMS-specific
Supports: All

Syntax

DBNULLKEYS= YES | NO

Details

If there might be NULL values in the transaction table or the master table for the columns that you specify in the DBKEY= option, use DBNULLKEYS=YES. This is the default for most datasources. When you specify DBNULLKEYS=YES and specify a column that is not defined as NOT NULL in the DBKEY= data set option, SAS generates a WHERE clause that can find NULL values. For example, if you specify DBKEY=COLUMN, and COLUMN is not defined as NOT NULL, SAS generates a WHERE clause with the following syntax:
where ((column = ?) or ((column is null) and (? is null)))
This syntax enables SAS to prepare the statement once and use it for any value (NULL or NOT NULL) in the column. Note that this syntax has the potential to be much less efficient than the shorter form of the WHERE clause (presented below). When you specify DBNULLKEYS=NO or specify a column that is defined as NOT NULL in the DBKEY= option, SAS generates a simple WHERE clause.
If you know that there are no NULL values in the transaction table or the master table for the columns that you specify in the DBKEY= option, you can use DBNULLKEYS=NO. If you specify DBNULLKEYS=NO and specify DBKEY=COLUMN, SAS generates a shorter form of the WHERE clause (regardless of whether the column specified in DBKEY= is defined as NOT NULL):
where (column = ?)

See Also

To apply this option to an individual table, use the DBNULLKEYS= data set option.