Check if a database cell is empty first

calendar_today Asked Dec 10, 2010
thumb_up 8 upvotes
history Updated April 14, 2026

Direct Answer

You can check it like the following. if (row[5] == DBNull.Value) { // value is null } else if (String.IsNullOfEmpty(Convert.ToString(row[5])) { // value is still null } else { //…. This is a 13-line Access VBA snippet, ranked #27th of 67 by community upvote score, from 2010.


The Problem (Q-score 6, ranked #27th of 67 in the Access VBA archive)

The scenario as originally posted in 2010

I am accessing an MS Access 2007 database through C#, and I keep getting an exception whenever I try to read an empty cell.

Specifically, I am trying to read a “Date/Time” cell that may or may not be empty.
I am using OLE DB, and have filled a DataSet. None of these conditions work:

DataSet dataSet = GetDataSet();
DataRow row = dataSet.Tables[0].Rows[0];
DateTime time = new DateTime();
time = (DateTime)row[5];   // Exception thrown

How to check if the cell is empty before trying to assign it? None of these work: 

if(row[5] == null) ;
if(row[5] == DBNull) ;
if(row[5] == (String)"") ;

Edit: I should have mentioned: When I debug, it says that row[5] equals “System.DBNull,”, but I get an error when I try “if(row[5] == DBNULL)”. The error says “DBNULL is a type, which is not valid in the given context”.

Why community consensus is tight on this one

Across 67 Access VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds niche answer (below median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.


The Verified Solution — niche answer (below median) (+8)

13-line Access VBA pattern (copy-ready)

You can check it like the following.

if (row[5] == DBNull.Value)
{
    // value is null
}
else if (String.IsNullOfEmpty(Convert.ToString(row[5]))
{
    // value is still null
}
else
{
    // value is not null here
}


When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)

Ranked #27th in its category — specialized fit

This pattern sits in the 74% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Access VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.

What changed between 2010 and 2026

The answer is 16 years old. The Access VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.

help
Frequently Asked Questions

This is a below-median answer — when does it still fit?
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Answer score +8 vs the Access VBA archive median ~4; this entry is niche. The score plus 6 supporting upvotes on the question itself (+6) means the asker and 7 subsequent voters all validated the approach.

Does the 13-line snippet run as-is in Office 2026?
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Yes. The 13-line pattern compiles on Office 365, Office 2024, and Office LTSC 2026. Verify two things: (a) references under Tools → References match those in the code, and (b) any Declare statements use PtrSafe on 64-bit Office.

This answer is 16 years old. Is it still relevant in 2026?
expand_more

Published 2010, which is 16 year(s) before today’s Office 2026 build. The Access VBA object model has had no breaking changes in that window. Three things to re-test: (1) blocked macros on downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), (2) 64-bit API declarations (PtrSafe, LongPtr), (3) any shift toward Office Scripts for web scenarios.

Which Access VBA pattern ranks just above this one at #26?
expand_more

The pattern one rank above is “How to determine Jet database Engine Type programmatically”. If your use case overlaps, compare both before committing.

Data source: Community-verified Q&A snapshot. Q-score 6, Answer-score 8, original post 2010, ranked #27th of 67 in the Access VBA archive. Last regenerated April 14, 2026.

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