Create Nonmaterialized, Non-Null Columns

Nonmaterialized columns exist virtually, but are not physically stored in the row. Use nonmaterialized columns the same as any other column, selecting, updating, and referring to them in SQL queries, or using them as index keys.

SAP ASE treats nonmaterialized columns the same way it treats null columns: if a column is not physically present in the row, SAP ASE supplies a default. The default for a nullable column is null, but the default for a nonmaterialized column is a user-defined non-NULL value.

Converting a nonmaterialized column to a physically present column is called “instantiating” the column.