LINQ Replace DBNull with Blank String

Question

In this example, an error is raised if either row.FirstName or row.LastName are NULL.

How do I rewrite the Select clause, to convert a DBNull value to a blank string ""?

Dim query = From row As myDataSet.myDataRow in myDataSet.Tables("MyData") _
            Select row.FirstName, row.LastName

NOTE: Since the DataSet is strongly-typed. I can use row.isFirstNameNull(), but IIF(row.isFirstNameNull(), "", row.FirstName) will not work since all parameters are referenced.

Answer 1

In your note you have mentioned IIf(row.isFirstNameNull(), "", row.FirstName) replace that with If(row.isFirstNameNull(), "", row.FirstName) which will not evaluate the false part if the condition is true

Answer 2

what about row.FirstName ?? string.Empty

Answer 3

Use VB's ternary operator "if" :

Dim query = From row As myDataSet.myDataRow in myDataSet.Tables("MyData") _
    Select if(row.isFirstNameNull(), "", _
        row.FirstName), if(row.isLastNameNull(), "", row.LastName)