CFLib.org – Common Function Library Project

Description:
A shorthand way of specifying a default value to be returned if the primary value is empty (or contains only spaces). Handy for a variety of if-then uses.

Return Values:
Returns a string.

Example:

<cfset form.username1 = "Mickey Mouse">
<cfset form.username2 = "">
<cfset sql_aggregated_hours1 = 10>
<cfset sql_aggregated_hours2 = "">

<cfoutput>
Entered username 1:<br>
#ThisOrThat(form.username1, "(unknown user)")#<br>
<br>
Entered username 2:<br>
#ThisOrThat(form.username2, "(unknown user)")#<br>
<br>
SQL aggregated hours 1:<br>
#ThisOrThat(sql_aggregated_hours1, "0")#<br>
<br>
SQL aggregated hours 2:<br>
#ThisOrThat(sql_aggregated_hours2, "0")#<br>
<br>
<br>
</cfoutput>

A fault-tolerant "Go back" link (only relies on Javascript if a security precaution has prevented the return of the HTTP_REFERER):<br>
<a href="<cfoutput>#ThisOrThat(cgi.HTTP_REFERER, "javascript: history.go(-1)")#</cfoutput>">Go back</a>

Parameters:

Full UDF Source:

/**
 * Returns default value if primary value is empty.
 * Based on ValueOrSpace by David Grant (david@insite.net)
 * 
 * @param thisValue      Value to check. (Required)
 * @param defaultValue      Value to use if thisValue is empty. Defaults to a non-breaking space. (Optional)
 * @return Returns a string. 
 * @author Shawn Seley (shawnse@aol.com) 
 * @version 1, April 29, 2003 
 */
function ThisOrThat(thisValue) {
    var defaultValue = " ";
    if(arrayLen(arguments) gte 2) defaultValue = arguments[2];
    if (Len(Trim(thisValue)) LT 1) return defaultValue;
    return thisValue;
}