"No size set for variable length data" Oracle update error with empty string in .NET

[arvee]

Hi - I'm updating an Oracle table with an empty string and getting the
error:

An unhandled exception of type 'System.Exception' occurred in
system.data.dll
Additional information: Parameter 'p1': No size set for variable length data
type: String.

The column is nullable and of type varchar2(50). I'm aware that I can store
DBNull.Value instead and Oracle won't complain, but, I was hoping to avoid
testing and converting for that condition. It seems the .NET class lib
should handle empty strings, no? There are times I'd like to throw the
dataset into a datagrid control and have the user have there way with it,
therefore, its not ideal to have to validate each string value on the
update.

Question 1: Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong?
Question 2: If its a bug, is there an elegant workaround?

Sample C# code is:

// create typed dataset (basic customer list: name, address, phone, etc.)
CustomerDS dsCustomer = new CustomerDS();

// create data adapter
OracleDataAdapter daCustomers = new OracleDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM
Customers", connectionString);

// use command builder to create update, insert and delete commands based on
select
OracleCommandBuilder cb = new OracleCommandBuilder(daCustomers);

// get some data
daCustomers.Fill(dsCustomer.CUSTOMERS)

// delete Middle Name, for example
dsCustomer.CUSTOMERS.Rows[0]["MIDDLE_NAME"] = "";

// store new dataset
daCustomers.Update(dsCustomer, "Customers");

// boom - get error (even though I put it in a try...catch block!)

[Frank van Bortel]

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arvee wrote:
> Hi - I'm updating an Oracle table with an empty string and getting the
> error:
>
> An unhandled exception of type 'System.Exception' occurred in
> system.data.dll
> Additional information: Parameter 'p1': No size set for variable length data
> type: String.
>
> The column is nullable and of type varchar2(50). I'm aware that I can store
> DBNull.Value instead and Oracle won't complain, but, I was hoping to avoid
> testing and converting for that condition. It seems the .NET class lib
> should handle empty strings, no? There are times I'd like to throw the
> dataset into a datagrid control and have the user have there way with it,
> therefore, its not ideal to have to validate each string value on the
> update.
>
> Question 1: Is this a bug or am I doing something wrong?
> Question 2: If its a bug, is there an elegant workaround?
>

[snip!]
Why don't you store a NULL? Oracle will treat '' (empty string) as
NULL, and store as NULL anyway - better be prepared for it, and
treat it as such.

Oh yes - it will work when you let Oracle do the conversion(s), but
some understanding of the product you are working with will only
help you in creating a better product.

All documentation is on docs.oracle.com - free! Start with Concepts.

- --
Regards,
Frank van Bortel
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