Problem with difference between blank and empty cell

[balraj]

I have a formula in a work sheet that goes like '=if(N4="","",N4)'. Th
contents of N4 is a date field formatted as "mm/dd/yyyy".

The formula yields the proper results in that it shows the date if it'
present and a blank if there is no date.

An ISBLANK function on the cell containing the formula shows FALSE
Interestingly enough, if I put the cursor on the cell and hit th
delete key, the ISBLANK function returns TRUE.

Basically, the cell containing the formula is then imported into a
Access database, and this is where the problem is, access rejects th
blank date column. If I delete the blank cell, then it imports int
access without a problem. The access table has an autonumber primar
key with no other required fields.

I think the problem lies in the difference between a BLANK and EMPT
cell. They both look the same, but are quite different much like th
difference between a NULL and EMPTY value in relational databases.

Any help or pointers would be most helpful, I have a ton of data t
import over this weekend and am stuck on this one field.

Lastly, my environment is Windows XP Pro, MS Excel 2002, MS Acces
2002. Hardware is Athlon XP 2400+.

Thanks,
Balraj
Melbourne, Australi

 

[Frank Kabel]

Hi
problem is that "" is not BLANK
Not tested but try changing the formula to
=if(N4="",0,N4)

And delete after the import all record in Access with a '0' in this
field

 

[balraj]

Dear Frank,
Thanks for your reply. That was my workaround anyway, but I wanted t
try and solve the problem in one hit without having to go through an
do editing or a query after the upload into Access.

I guess that there's no easy solution to this problem.

Cheers,
Balra