ADO.NET Cookbook

2.14. Passing Null Values to Parameters

Problem

You need to pass a null value to a parameter.

Solution

Use the System.DbNull.Value static value.

The sample code, as shown in Example 2-18, uses a single stored procedure:

SP0214_NullParameter

Accepts a single parameter and a returns one-row result set containing a single value indicating whether that input parameter was null.

Example 2-18. Stored procedure: SP0214_NullParameter

CREATE PROCEDURE SP0214_NullParameter
    @ValueIn int
AS
    if @ValueIn is null
        select 1 as IsParameterNull
    else
        select 0 as IsParameterNull

    return 0

The sample code contains two event handlers:

Go Button.Click

Creates a stored procedure command for SP0214_NullParameter and defines its single input parameter. The input parameter is set to System.DbNull.Value if the user has checked the Null Parameter check box on the form; otherwise it is set to the value that the user has entered in the Parameter text box. The stored procedure is executed using the ExecuteScalar( ) method and the value returned indicates whether the input parameter for the stored procedure is null.

Null Parameter CheckBox.CheckedChange

Clears the value of the Parameter text box if checked and enables the Parameter text box if not checked.

The C# code is shown in Example 2-19.

Example 2-19. File: NullParameterForm.cs

// Namespaces, variables, and constants using System; using System.Configuration; using System.Data; using System.Data.SqlClient; // . . . private void goButton_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs ...