Focal Point
[CASE OPENED]Passed 'empty/null' value not captured in HTML Composer file

This topic can be found at:
https://forums.informationbuilders.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7971057331/m/3247027086

February 11, 2016, 09:14 AM
W Kassebaum
[CASE OPENED]Passed 'empty/null' value not captured in HTML Composer file
Can/Would anyone kindly provide insight about whether the below behavior is intended..or if it is an 'undocumented feature'??

When an HTML form, created in WF8 composer in App Studio, sends a blank value (ie '' or no entry/value) to a fex, thru an input/text box, the fex is promopting for the empty parameter.

If the form sends a actual space value (ie ' '), then the fex runs properly.

On the WF client, the IBI_WFDescribe_Default = OFF for Parameter Prompting.

Additionally,
1. When the report is run by itself, and that paramer is set like these below....then there is 'no prompting'.

-SET &STORE = '';
-TYPE &STORE
NO Prompting.

-SET &STORE = ' ';
-TYPE &STORE
NO Prompting.

I think this is a new behavior w/ WF8. I remember that, in previous releases, a null/blank was respected and passed thru the Servlet as a an empty space.

And..I don't think this is behavior at the reporting server layer..I think it is when the HTML form is being parsed for execution.

The implications of this is that, during our upgrade to WF8, we have hundreds of fexes which recognize a '' value for a parameter...and the report behaving a certain way. We don't want to have to come up w/ a form/fex hack (like a -DEFAULT &PARAMn = ''Wink

Any insights would be greatly appreciated.

Wm

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Emily McAllister>,


WebFOCUS 8
Windows, All Outputs
February 12, 2016, 09:54 AM
Emily Max
Turn off the 'prompt for parameters' property on the fex, and the html page will not reprompt for null parameters.


WF 8.1.05 on Windows machines
Backend: Informix, SQL and Oracle databases
February 15, 2016, 10:15 AM
W Kassebaum
Thanks for that suggestion...I tried that..Unfortunately, it had not affect.
The 'prompt' HTML page still appeared to prompt for the null filled parameter/variable.

I'm going to open a case w/ IBI.

thanks


WebFOCUS 8
Windows, All Outputs