datatype_spec Clause

The datatype_spec clause is used to describe the data type of a field in the data file if the data type is different than the default. The data type of the field can be different than the data type of a corresponding column in the external table. The access driver handles the necessary conversions. The syntax for the datatype_spec clause is as follows:

If the number of bytes or characters in any field is 0, then the field is assumed to be NULL. The optional DEFAULTIF clause specifies when the field is set to its default value. Also, the optional NULLIF clause specifies other conditions for when the column associated with the field is set to NULL. If the DEFAULTIF or NULLIF clause is TRUE, then the actions of those clauses override whatever values are read from the data file.