Empty String Function

[Paul H]

I have on ongoing struggle with empty strings vs. null. I've learned a bit over time, but they look the same and of course behave differently. I have written a function to check for both a null and an empty string, "". and then return a substitute value like the NZ function. I'm not sure if it's necessary, but it solves a problem I was having with an empty combo box on my form. NZ was not working so I wrote this.

Public Function NZ_Empty(varString As Variant, strSubstitute As String)
    If IsNull(varString) Or varString = "" Then
        NZ_Empty = strSubstitute
    Else
        NZ_Empty = varString
    End If
End Function

I've seen other developers do similar things. This function works in place of NZ. Does Access have something built in like this? I'd appreciate your comments.

[orange]

The description and syntax of Nz() and IsNull() are at these links

http://www.techonthenet.com/access/f...dvanced/nz.php

http://www.techonthenet.com/access/f...ced/isnull.php

Lots of posters seem to use blank, empty and Null interchangeably and as you have said
they behave differently.

You may find this article by Susan Harkins interesting
http://www.techrepublic.com/article/...ccess/6125114/

[Missinglinq]

Does Access have something built in like this?

If you're asking if there is a native (built-in) Function that checks for Nulls and Zero-Length Strings ("")...the answer is no! You have to roll your own, as you've done. There are three or four hacks for doing this, and everyone seems to have one in particular that they like.

Linq ;0)>