Im trying to update nulls - first I convert them to empty strings - I know this but it is not working. isnull(lkpAccountExpires)? " " : [lkpAccountExpires] - this syntax is supposed to be correct - I've used it in the past and it worked I'm not sure why it's failing now but basically it's supposed to evaluate the return of my lookup - check to see if it's null - then change it to an empty strinf if it is so I can use an ole db command to update it. KDW

what error do you receive with that expression?http://www.rad.pasfu.com

Why not to use this expression like this (modify to suite your needs): ((ISNULL(lkpAccountExpires) ? 0 : lkpAccountExpires) != (ISNULL(dest_lkpAccountExpires) ? 0 : dest_lkpAccountExpires))Arthur My Blog

so just use that in my conditional split? Will that work?KDW

Sorry, forgot to mention that the intended purpose yes, is to use it in the Conditional SplitArthur My Blog

I think I know what it is - I need to cast the date as a string beofre i can check for nulls and then use an empty string...can you assist with casting to string?KDW

the value is either null or a date, not sure why you need this.Arthur My Blog

This won't work either - it's looking for date format where the 0 isKDW

Hi KDW, Does Arthur's expression work? If so, we can use another Derived Column transfomation task to change the value 0 to empty string again. Thanks, Jin ChenJin Chen - MSFT

Jin - no it did not - I would rather do everything in an ssis package instead of using a stored procedure being called in ssis. The derived column is expecting a date format to be replaced - so if I replace it with getdate() - I think it will work - when it evaluates the expression it does not turn red. I do not want to use a value - nulls converted to empty strinngs would be preferred. or how about if MS allowed nulls to be updated - hey - that would be a neat idea huh!!! Anyway - if you can provide an alternative suggestion - please do so.KDW

I do not understand why a stored procedure mentioned here. When you say it does not work, do you get an error? Empty string is "" not " ", did you try this?Arthur My Blog

yes i didKDW

Could you elaborate on what is the current situation please?Arthur My Blog