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?
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
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.
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.
hi kgrice,
yesterday, i submitted a help ticket because it does seem like a bug, that at least this null condition doesn't work if its not the first condition.
if i get a solution, i will post it.
tracy
KGrice 3 years later and it seems that what you said still holds true. Anyways thanks to past you for the help! 🙂
Thank you for this. Been stuck on it for a while and moved the null check to first condition and now it works fine.
