How to pass a Null date variable to SQL Server dat

Question

I am looking for the best practice, real solution, to send a Null to a SQL Server 2008 R2 database table, when a date is unknown.

I read some inputs from a formview, and a date field maybe unknown. The database allows Null values in the field but the VB to store the Null prior to a parameterized query update is not working/eludes me.

    Dim tb2 As TextBox = TryCast(FormView1.FindControl("tbPurchDate"), TextBox)
    Dim purDT As Date
    If tb2.Text = "" Then
        IsDBNull(purDT)    ' Tried this along with other possible code
    Else
        purDT = Convert.ToDateTime(tb2.Text)
    End If

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

It depends on the data method you are using to send the data to the server.

purDate is a variable of DateTime type and it cannot be set to null.

I suggest you use IsDate instead of testing length.

    Dim purDT As Date
    If Not IsDate(TextBox1.Text) Then
        purDT = Nothing
    Else
        purDT = Convert.ToDateTime(TextBox1.Text)
    End If

Answer 2

You could use the Nullable(Of Date) to allow your purDT variable to also be Nothing:

Dim purDT As Nullable(Of Date) = Nothing

If tb2.Text <> "" Then
    purDT = Convert.ToDateTime(tb2.Text)
End If

However, the magic happens when you define the SQL parameter that will hold this value. The parameter should either be DBNull.Value or a valid (non-null) Date:

' initialize connection, command...

Dim param = New SqlParameter()
param.ParameterName = "NullableDate"
param.Value = IIf(purDT Is Nothing, DBNull.Value, purDT)

cmd.Parameters.Add(param)
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()

Answer 3

Try this :

Dim purDT As Nullable(Of Date)

If tb2.Text = "" Then
    purDT = DBNull.Value
Else
    purDT = Convert.ToDateTime(tb2.Text)
End If

Answer 4

If the date is unknown, send DbNull.Value as the parameter's value:

If dateIsUnknown Then
    cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter _
                       With {.ParameterName = "@purDT", _
                             .SqlDbType = SqlDbType.Date, _
                             .Value = DBNull.Value})
Else
    cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter _
                       With {.ParameterName = "@purDT", _
                             .SqlDbType = SqlDbType.Date, _
                             .Value = theDateVariable})
End If