How to make a field NULL using MySQL GUI Tools?

Question

I'm using the MySQL Query Browser (part of the MySQL GUI Tools) and need to change a field to NULL, but I can't figure out how to do it - if I delete the value it tries to update it to ''. Typing "NULL" makes it try to update to 'NULL' (a string).

I know I could just write a query to do it, but that defeats the entire purpose of the tool, no?

Biflagellate

Answer 1

In MySQL Query Browser, right click on the cell and select 'Clear field content' while the focus is in another cell.

In MySQL Workbench, right click on the cell and select 'Set Field to NULL'.

Keyes

In MySQL Workbench this setting is now called Set Field(s) to NULL, and is the first option in the list. – Antibody

Expanding upon @MerlynMorgan-Graham's comment, this option is only visible if you right-click the cell when it does not have the text insertion point in it. – Keos

William's detail is crucial. Shift+Del and others mentioned in other answers don't work for me for some reason. However, if all else fails, you can click apply and just edit the update statement (script) field to just say null. – Meritocracy

Answer 2

In MySQL Workbench, with the cell selected, press Shift + Delete

Tested on 6.3.4.0

Juristic

Answer 3

Right-click on that column and select the

'Set field to Null'

option from the context menu.

Fabled

Answer 4

Removing the contents:

This works for some tools (sorry to hear it doesn't for yours). This may not appear as null but will when you perform a query.

Ema

in MySQL at least, an empty string is different to NULL. Selecting and deleting the column contents sets it to be an empty string (which doesn't work at all if your column is numerical) – Biflagellate

Answer 5

Shift + Delete 

work well in MySql Workbench 8

Decode

Answer 6

I make Beekeeper Studio, and also make a free and open source community edition.

If anyone is using my tool, instead of remembering a weird key combo you can clear a cell by using backspace, the cell will show as (blank). Then hit backspace again to set it to (NULL).

I think this is pretty intuitive, let me know what you think.

Matty

While this does provide an answer, the question is specifically asking about the official MySQL Workbench product. – Margheritamargi

Answer 7

I'd try Ctrl-0 (zero), because that works in some tools.

Pseudoscope