13. The computer program product of claim 12 , wherein the value predefined to represent NULL values is the largest value capable of being stored in the column data, wherein searching the set of column values comprises identifying column values matching at least one of: (i) the value predefined to represent NULL values, (ii) a value between a specified value in the first predicate and the value predefined to represent NULL values, and (iii) the specified value in the first predicate, wherein the extended comparison operator comprises each individual extended operator selected from the group comprising: (i) an extended greater than operator, (ii) an extended equals operator, and (iii) an extended greater than or equals operator.
12. The computer program product of claim 11 , wherein the received query is modified upon determining that the value predefined to represent NULL values would be returned by applying the extended comparison operator to the column data, the operation further comprising: executing the modified query.