>>In addition, we do some OUTER JOINs that involve these key fields. With the OUTER JOINs, we use the NVL() function on the key fields but, of course, that won't work with integer type values so it required further work-arounds.
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>Can you give us some more idea how you use the NVL() function that won't work with outer joins?

NVL() does not apply to integer type fields so when I do an outer join and use NVL() on key fields which are type integer and that record did not exist in the primary join table, then the result is bogus.

>>So... can you offer me any further advice on managing integer key fields (i.e. dealing with problems unique to integer key fields or problems not encountered with character type key fields)? I welcome the opportunity to learn from your experience versus having to learn from my own painful mistakes.
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>What further problems to you envisage?

None. I am anticipating that I have not experienced or foreseen all related problems. IOW, I expect that those experienced with integer type key fields are likely to have encountered much more than I have in a couple days. Maybe not. That would be cool.