Sql-server – Handle NULL values in SQL Server Reporting Services

reporting-servicessql serverssrs-2008

I have developed one report using SSRS Report Builder. The report contains several parameters in which one of the parameter contains NULL values apart from the values that it fetches from the database.

Now when I select NON-NULL values from that parameter the report runs fine because I'm using IN Clause (as the parameter values are multi-select). But when I select NULL (and not any other values) from that parameter, the IN clause doesn't works as IN doesn't take NULL.

Hence what/how should I modify my query so that it could handle both — NULL and NON-NULL Values?

Best Answer

The following forces all NULLs to be included and makes it clear to the user of the report that the value is missing:

SELECT ISNULL([ColumnNameHere],'[ None ]') AS [ColumnNameHere]
WHERE ISNULL([ColumnNameHere],'[ None ]') IN (@MultiParam)

Syntax:

ALTER TABLE {TABLENAME} 
ADD {COLUMNNAME} {TYPE} {NULL|NOT NULL} 
CONSTRAINT {CONSTRAINT_NAME} DEFAULT {DEFAULT_VALUE}
WITH VALUES

Example:

ALTER TABLE SomeTable
        ADD SomeCol Bit NULL --Or NOT NULL.
 CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol --When Omitted a Default-Constraint Name is autogenerated.
    DEFAULT (0)--Optional Default-Constraint.
WITH VALUES --Add if Column is Nullable and you want the Default Value for Existing Records.

Notes:

Optional Constraint Name:
If you leave out CONSTRAINT D_SomeTable_SomeCol then SQL Server will autogenerate
a Default-Contraint with a funny Name like: DF__SomeTa__SomeC__4FB7FEF6

Optional With-Values Statement:
The WITH VALUES is only needed when your Column is Nullable
and you want the Default Value used for Existing Records.
If your Column is NOT NULL, then it will automatically use the Default Value
for all Existing Records, whether you specify WITH VALUES or not.

How Inserts work with a Default-Constraint:
If you insert a Record into SomeTable and do not Specify SomeCol's value, then it will Default to 0.
If you insert a Record and Specify SomeCol's value as NULL (and your column allows nulls),
then the Default-Constraint will not be used and NULL will be inserted as the Value.

Notes were based on everyone's great feedback below.
Special Thanks to:
@Yatrix, @WalterStabosz, @YahooSerious, and @StackMan for their Comments.

Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, @your_date))

for example

SELECT DATEADD(dd, 0, DATEDIFF(dd, 0, GETDATE()))

gives me

2008-09-22 00:00:00.000

Pros:

No varchar<->datetime conversions required
No need to think about locale

Best Answer

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Sql – How to return only the Date from a SQL Server DateTime datatype

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