CONVERSION_MODE Option

Restricts implicit conversion between binary data types (BINARY, VARBINARY, and LONG BINARY) and other non-binary data types (BIT, TINYINT, SMALLINT, INT, UNSIGNED INT, BIGINT, UNSIGNED BIGINT, CHAR, VARCHAR, and LONG VARCHAR) on various operations.

Allowed Values

0, 1

Default

0

Scope

Can be set either publicly or temporarily. DBA permissions are not required to set this option.

Description

The default value of 0 maintains implicit conversion behavior prior to version 12.7. Setting CONVERSION_MODE to 1 restricts implicit conversion of binary data types to any other non-binary data type on INSERT, UPDATE, and in queries. The restrict binary conversion mode also applies to LOAD TABLE default values and CHECK constraint. The use of this option prevents implicit data type conversions of encrypted data that would result in semantically meaningless operations.

For more information on data type conversion see System Administration Guide: Volume 1.

For more information on column encryption, see Advanced Security in Sybase IQ. Users must be specifically licensed to use the encrypted column functionality of the Sybase IQ Advanced Security Option.

Implicit Conversion Restrictions

The CONVERSION_MODE option restrict binary mode value of 1 (CONVERSION_MODE = 1) restricts implicit conversion for these operations:
  • LOAD TABLE with CHECK constraint or default value
  • INSERT...SELECT, INSERT...VALUE, and INSERT...LOCATION
  • Certain types of UPDATE
  • Certain types of INSERT and UPDATE via updatable cursor
  • All aspects of queries in general