Forum Discussion
Check for null in conditional column
Using the null in the conditional column should work fine. Here's an example:
You can see in the Date column that it actually shows null. Do you see the same thing in the column you're checking? Or is it something like a blank, or maybe a single space?
- elz10 years agoAdvocate IIHi KGrice,
Yes my date field shows null.
Because of your reply, I went back and created a new conditional column, with just this criteria and that worked.
Then something told me to add this criteria with the other criteria I'm using, but to put this check for null as the first criteria and low and behold, that worked. So I guess for some strange reason, the null criteria only works (at least for me), if it is the first row.
I guess I can live with that, it's just a bit quirky.
Thank you.
Tracy- KGrice10 years agoMemorable Member
Thanks for trying that out. I tried as well and got the same issue. When I added a second condition to my column, it worked fine with the null check as the first step. When I moved the null check down to the second position, I get an error and the column wouldn't work.
Can't think of an intended reason for this. Sounds buggy.
- Anonymous7 years agoNot applicable
This can be explained simply. The compiler cannot verify anything if there are null values, as null values return an error when an operation is performed on them. The null type is a distinct type, it is not a string or numbers. If you do not test for null values first, then it creates an error since you are asking the compiler to perform the operation on null values. Once the null values are out of the equation, the compiler can execute any other operations on the other fields. Always remember to think about the logical hierarchy when testing conditions.
- NGTaylor8 years agoAdvocate I
Thank you for this. Been stuck on it for a while and moved the null check to first condition and now it works fine.
- augustindelaf9 years agoImpactful Individual
very good solution.
MSFT should propose more arguments in the List "Equals [...] Contains..." for the conditional columns.
it should propose "is empty" and "is not empty'
thank you anyway.
the solution is very easy but it seemed quite hard to figure out