how can I find what value is in my variable?

[Middletree]

At first glance, the question in the subject line seems way too easy. But I
am finding some situations in my app where the value in a variable is some
sort of blank-like value, such as Null or " " or "", but I cannot tell
which.

Of course, in order to find out the value, I did a response.write, and added
a nonsense word afterward, to help make sure it is writing it out for me.

First, I tried to check for null:

if IsNull(strOrigValue) then

response.Write strOrigValue & "if"

response.End

else

response.Write trim(strOrigValue) & "else"

response.End


end if

==================

If not NULL, then perhaps it's blank, or a space. I tried this:

if Trim(strOrigValue) = "" then

response.Write strOrigValue & "if"

response.End

else

response.Write trim(strOrigValue) & "else"

response.End


end if

=====================

In both cases, I ended up with "else" being displayed. I am at a loss here.
Is there something else I can check for that will make it fall into the "if"
part of the statement?

 

[Dave Anderson]

In both cases, I ended up with "else" being displayed. I am at
a loss here. Is there something else I can check for that will
make it fall into the "if" part of the statement?

I would start here:

Response.Write(TypeName(strOrigValue))

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/script56/html/49a1baa0-24a3-427b-ad6f-4ccc0e94dae0.asp


You don't really say where this variable is coming from. Could you offer up
some detail on how this variable gets populated?

 

[Mike Brind]

At first glance, the question in the subject line seems way too easy. But I
am finding some situations in my app where the value in a variable is some
sort of blank-like value, such as Null or " " or "", but I cannot tell
which.

Of course, in order to find out the value, I did a response.write, and added
a nonsense word afterward, to help make sure it is writing it out for me.

First, I tried to check for null:

if IsNull(strOrigValue) then

response.Write strOrigValue & "if"

response.End

else

response.Write trim(strOrigValue) & "else"

response.End


end if

==================

If not NULL, then perhaps it's blank, or a space. I tried this:

if Trim(strOrigValue) = "" then

response.Write strOrigValue & "if"

response.End

else

response.Write trim(strOrigValue) & "else"

response.End


end if

=====================

In both cases, I ended up with "else" being displayed. I am at a loss here.
Is there something else I can check for that will make it fall into the "if"
part of the statement?

Try Response.Write TypeName(strOrigValue)

If that doesn't light a bulb somewhere, show the code that generates
the variable's value.

 

[Mike Brind]

Try Response.Write TypeName(strOrigValue)

If that doesn't light a bulb somewhere, show the code that generates
the variable's value.

Oh, and if the result of the above is Empty, check the spelling of the
variable name where it gets its value assigned.