mssql empty (not null) varchar fields

Hello, From habbit and an unexplained hate to NULLs I do not use them in my databases. I use varchar fields with empty strings ('') instead. However MSSQL via the php4 module, returns these values as a single space character, and it forces me to trim all the returned varchar fields, before using them. This happens only if I query the database from php. In the query analyzer, the empty varchars are returned as empty strings. I have tried to call SET ANSI_PADDING off, before quering the database, but no change. Do you have any clues? vmp