Dealing with categorys and Lists -- special character for empty fields '?'

I want to make one application which fills field A (simple text field) in one category, if that field A is empty.When I use AttrGetValues() and field A is filled with text "blabla", then AttrGetValues() returns List as "{blabla}". But when A is not filled, it returns List "{?}", which is very confusing.What is this '?' value? How can I test if this List contains normal '?' (ascii code 63) or special '?'Thank you!

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Taavi_Ilves

I use Java LAPI and Livelink 9.7

Carsten_Kulms

The ? is the string representation of the UNDEFINED value.If you inspect the list of values by means of the LLValue API you'll find that it contains in case of "{?}" a LLValue with isUndefined()==truein case of "{blabla}" a LLValue with isString()==true

Taavi_Ilves

Thanks for your reply.I define attrValues like this:LLValue attrValues = new LLValue().setList();I use AttrGetValues which sets attrValues to represent data inside category field.attrValues.isList() == True(both with filled in string in category and blank field in category (NULL in db)).attrValues.isString()==False (both with filled in string in category and blank field in category (NULL in db)).attrValues.isUndefined()==False (both with filled in string in category and blank field in category (NULL in db)).I can use attrValues.toString() and it gives me "{blabla}" or "{?}" (in case of empty field) as a string. .toBoolean(), .toDate() and .toDouble() obviously fail. I'm currently out of any ideas how to test the field correctly, but use oracle jdbc, but then LAPI loses its point.

Pierre_Nocera

Message from Pierre Nocera <pnocera@opentext.com> via eLink

eLink

the attrValues LLValue you define is a List. So you shouldn't check for attrValues.isUndefined(), but for the first item in attrValues is defined or not.

Pierre

De: eLink Discussion: LAPI Discussion [mailto:lapi@elinkkc.opentext.com]
Date: mar. 11/03/2008 14:22
À: eLink Recipient
Objet : attrGetValues returns List

attrGetValues returns List		Posted by taaviilves (Ilves, Taavi) on 03/11/2008 09:17 AM
In reply to: the ? is the string representation of Undefined (not a special text)		Posted by ckulms (Kulms, Carsten) on 03/11/2008 08:17 AM

Thanks for your reply.

I define attrValues like this:

LLValue attrValues = new LLValue().setList();

I use AttrGetValues which sets attrValues to represent data inside category field.

attrValues.isList() == True(both with filled in string in category and blank field in category (NULL in db)).

attrValues.isString()==False (both with filled in string in category and blank field in category (NULL in db)).

attrValues.isUndefined()==False (both with filled in string in category and blank field in category (NULL in db)).

I can use attrValues.toString() and it gives me "{blabla}" or "{?}" (in case of empty field) as a string. .toBoolean(), .toDate() and .toDouble() obviously fail.

I'm currently out of any ideas how to test the field correctly, but use oracle jdbc, but then LAPI loses its point.

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Topic:	Dealing with categorys and Lists -- special character for empty fields '?'
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Taavi_Ilves

Yes, you hit the core of this question actually. I didn't say it out loud, but I really didn't know how to do it. attrValues.getValue(0) is represents the first member of this list.attrValues.getValue(0).isUndefined == true in case of {?}Thanks for your ideas, I'm able to continue my work.

Taavi_Ilves

Sadly this .toValue(int n) isn't documented under my LAPI documentation and JavaDoc isn't available also, so I was mislooking it.Do you have .toValue(int n) explanation in your documentation under "Value API: Java and .NET" ?

Carsten_Kulms

Please have a look at section "Field Retrieval Methods" of the chapter "Value API: Java and .NET".

Taavi_Ilves

Yes. I've overlooked it hundred times. Thank you. Case closed.