How to Test for a Blank Character Variable

ID: Q102453

The information in this article applies to:

• Microsoft FoxPro for Windows, versions 2.5x, 2.6, 2.6a
• Microsoft FoxPro for MS-DOS, versions 1.01, 1.02, 2.0, 2.5x, 2.6, 2.6a
• Microsoft FoxBASE+ for the Macintosh, version 2.01
• Microsoft FoxBASE+ for MS-DOS, version 2.1

FoxBASE+

In FoxBASE+, to determine if a character field is blank, use the LEN() function in an IF statement, as follows:

   IF LEN(TRIM(x)) = 0    && where x is the blank memory variable

FoxPro versions 1.02 and Later

In FoxPro version 1.02 and later, the EMPTY() function may be used as follows:

   IF EMPTY(x)       && where x is still the blank memory variable

FoxPro versions 2.6 and Later

In FoxPro version 2.6 and later, the ISBLANK() function may be used instead.

For information about the ISBLANK() function, refer to the FoxPro Help file or the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q99095
   TITLE     : ISBLANK() Function Provides Additional Null Value
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