The SQL*Plus column command is useful for setting a column’s format to appear more aesthetically pleasing in an SQL*Plus query and other work done in SQL*Plus.

I have sort of an odd situation. I have a lot of distributed machines working on a simulation. They each start out with their own work, process it, and eventually put it into a SQL database ...

SQL server will allow zero-length strings without issue, as long as your datatype supports it. Just assign the string value of ('') and you're done, no headaches.