--- In firebird-support@yahoogroups.com, Helen Borrie wrote:
> >For the often used used sex field, I use CHAR(1) NOT NULL DEFAULT '9'
> >thanks to the wise guys at ISO.
>
> So -- what are the other 9?
> :-)

Uhh, the ISO guys weren't that wise to cover the interesting cases.

It's just '1' for male, '2' for female (with a long-winded explanation
why it's not the other way around) and '0' and '9' for two flavours
of null (not-known vs. not specified). You can use '3' to '8' to
test the robustness of the implementation :-)

At least the HL7 guys have added some variety with both a gender and a
seperate sex field, assuring that the transsexuals are given proper
care in the hospitals. (Any email-filters already turninng red?).

Regards,
Peter Jacobi