I agree, but nulls are valid options in the database.  I like the
ability to restrict the return type of a function and think altering
that to string or any to accommodate nulls is a step backwards and could
have negative consequences.  

Thanks - Tom


-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On
Behalf Of Patrick McElhaney
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 1:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [CFCDev] <cffunction> return type

You should avoid returning null if possible. 

For numeric values, a common practice is to return a number outside
the range of possible values.  For example, the find() function in
ColdFusion returns the position of the substring in a string, which
must be a positive integer. If the substring isn't found, it returns
0.

Patrick

-- 
Patrick McElhaney
704.560.9117
http://pmcelhaney.weblogs.us


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