nvl

First determines if the value of the first parameter is null. If it is, it returns the value of the second parameter.

Syntax

nvl(expr1, expr2)

Enabled For

For a description of the business object categories, see Notes on "Enabled For".

Business Object Category	Yes/No
Business Rules: Before-Save Rules	Yes
Business Rules: Calculation Rules (After Save, with or without Also Recalculate on Load)	Yes
Business Rules: Calculation Rules (Before Save or Always, without Also Recalculate On Load)	Yes
Business Rules: Calculation Rules (Before Save or Always, with Recalculate On Load)	Yes
Business Rules: Editing Rules	Yes
Business Rules: Initialization Rules	Yes
Business Rules: Read Only Rules	Yes
Business Rules: Required Rules	Yes
Business Rules: Validation Rules	Yes
Client Expressions	Yes
Object Permissions	Yes
Services	Yes
LDAP	Yes
Mobile	Yes
Quick Actions (except UI Quick Actions)	Yes
UI Quick Actions	Yes
Reports	Yes
Search/Dashboard without field references	Yes
Search/Dashboard with field references	Yes

Parameters

Parameter	Description
expr1	The first expression.
expr2	The second expression.

Return Value

Text value:

•Returns the value of the expr1 parameter if the value of the expr1 parameter is null.

•Returns the value of the expr1 parameter if the value of the expr1 parameter is not null.

•Returns "" if the values of both the expr1 and expr1 parameters are null.

Example

The following example tests the Owner field to see if it is empty, and returns the appropriate message:

$(if nvl(Owner, "") !="" then "Owner is not null or empty" else "Owner is null or empty")

nvl does not support multiple values to be used as parameter, therefore a list cannot be used as expr1. That is, a Validated field cannot be used as expr1.