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In an eval expression, is there any difference between using NULL and null()?
Use case: I want to return null in an eval expression. I am finding that the following two expressions give the same result and I want to make sure that both are officially correct:
- if (isnotnull (fieldX), fieldX * 10, NULL)
- if (isnotnull (fieldX), fieldX * 10, null())
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In the former case, you are setting it to the value of the field named NULL, which in your case, clearly doesn't exist right now HOWEVER that might not always be the case. It is equivalent to if(isnotnull(fieldX), fieldX*10, ThisFieldNameDoesNotExistSoTheValueThatItHasAlsoDoesNotExistSoRightNowThisEvaluatesToNULL). So it is very poor practice to use the former and you should use the latter.
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In the former case, you are setting it to the value of the field named NULL, which in your case, clearly doesn't exist right now HOWEVER that might not always be the case. It is equivalent to if(isnotnull(fieldX), fieldX*10, ThisFieldNameDoesNotExistSoTheValueThatItHasAlsoDoesNotExistSoRightNowThisEvaluatesToNULL). So it is very poor practice to use the former and you should use the latter.
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Now you mention it the answer is quite obvious 😉
Thanks!
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Ah yes, The Field Who Must Not Be Named...
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