How to set a Default value for null?

[#1]

I have these fields that sometimes return null values and I want to write something when they are null.

So I wrote this formula in the display string of the format editor for the field

if ISNULL({client_updates.client_notes}) then "There is not comment"

else {client_updates.client_notes}

I get no error on it but it returns nothing. There is still a blank field. I've tried clicking Convert Database null values to default in report options or in the formula editor changing from exceptions for nulls to default value for null and then changing my formula to say

if  {client_updates.client_notes} = "0" then "There is not comment"

else {client_updates.client_notes}

But I still get blank fields.

I don't know if it helps but no matter what I try I still get the correct value returned when it is not null so that's working.

What am i doing wrong?

Thanks

[abhilash_kumar]

Hi Kurt,

In the formula editor select 'Default Values for Nulls' and then modify the code to:

if  {client_updates.client_notes} = '' then "There is not comment"

else {client_updates.client_notes}

-Abhilash

[Former Member]

It's still giving me a blank field.

[DellSC]

It could be that the field has one or more blank spaces in it instead of actually being null.  With "Default Values for Nulls' turned on, try this:

if  Trim({client_updates.client_notes}) = '' then "There is not comment"

else {client_updates.client_notes

-Dell

[Former Member]

Still blank. It is a whole field of comments that I'm trying to do this with. Does that make a difference?

[abhilash_kumar]

Hi Kurt,

What do you mean by 'whole field'?

-Abhilash

[Former Member]

The field is varying lengths of comments sometimes formatted differently.

So sometimes it's "This is the comment written."

Sometimes it's "This is one of three comments.

                         This is one of three comments.

                         This is one of three comments. "