Zend: How to insert NULL values into MySQL

Question

I am using Zend Framework with MySQL,Apache and Ubuntu 9.04.

I am trying to insert NULL values into database like this:

$personObj->setPersonId( '1' );
$personObj->setPersonEmail('NULL');
$personObj->save();

But 'NULL' is stored in database as string and not NULL.

When I use this:

$personObj->setPersonId( '1' );
$personObj->setPersonEmail(NULL);
$personObj->save();

But nothing happens and previous entry is unchanged.

What should I do to insert NULL values into MySQL?

Bailar

When I use $personObj->setPersonEmail('NULL'); It inserts NULL as string. When I use $personObj->setPersonEmail(NULL); previous entry is unchanged and nothing happens. – Bailar

What type of object is $personObj? As others already said, without knowing the implementation of setPersonEmail() you cannot determine what has to be passed in. – Phonemic

$personObj is person's record object. setPersonEmail() is a mothod to set the value for personEmail entry in database. save() is a method to store all set values into database.It is a common practice in zend framework. As I said that it is working for String values perfectly but problem is NULL entry. – Bailar

That does not help... It's crucial to know the implementation setPersonEmail() and save(); especially important is how the data is written to the database. A lot of things can happen in between calling save() and the time when the data is written to the database. – Phonemic

Answer 1

If you are not modifying any of the values after they are assigned then

new $personObj->setPersonEmail(new Zend_Db_Expr('NULL'));

Ozoniferous

This worked for me too, but I have to do new Zend_Db_Expr('NULL') – Selfpossession

Answer 2

First thought would be straight passing in the null keyword, without quotes around it. As pavium said, the quotes around it turn it into a string.

Rasorial

I have tried this $personObj->setPersonEmail(null); But no luck. Actually I am updating this entry. An email is already exists in database and I want to remove this and insert NULL. – Bailar

Could try empty quotes, though that would likely just make it an empty string. Have you tried accessing the column more directly, rather than through the set function? ie: $personObj->personEmail = null; – Rasorial

Answer 3

I think putting NULL in quotes is what makes it look like a string.

I don't know about your method, but for a direct insert though a mysql INSERT command, the single quotes around a NULL are incorrect.

Yoon

I have also tried this $personObj->setPersonEmail(NULL); But nothing happened. Previous entry is unchanged. – Bailar

It depends entirely on how the setPersonEmail() method works, then, and whether it is valid for updating an entry. – Yoon

Yes it updates. When I use this $personObj->setPersonEmail('[email protected]'); It replace previous database entry with [email protected]. But my problem is to remove previous entry and insert NULL if an user remove his/her email address. – Bailar