Checking for null

[saaqibz]

What is the preferred way of using getColumn(#).getText() when the value could be null?

Currently I am using isNull() before running the query but I am not sure if that is the best way.

[SRombauts]

Sorry for the delay @saaqibz, this is an interesting question; I've looked at how I deal with this in my own application code

I am currently using a wrapper around const char* pointers in a form like the following;
const char* pText = getColumn().getText();
return (pText?pText:"");

So know I am thinking of adding an alternative API to automatically deal with NULL pointer if useful application code. This would be something like:
getColumn().getText(apDefaultString=NULL);
That could be used in the following ways;
getColumn().getText("[null]"); => get "[null]" instead of NULL ( a valid std::string instead of a crash)
getColumn().getText(""); => get empty string "" instead of NULL
getColumn().getText(NULL); => get NULL

Warning - API change;
getColumn().getText(); => default get empty string "" instead of NULL

This is to handle default std::string() cas.

Cheers,
SRombauts

[SRombauts]

Thanks a lot @saaqibz!