---
url: >-
  /statelake/scripting-reference/functions-and-procedures/string-functions/ifblank.md
---

# IfBlank

The **IfBlank** function checks the string specified by **aValue1**, and if it is blank, then the replacement value specified by **aValue2** is put in its place.

If **aValue1** is blank, it will return a vartype value of **258**, representing a string.

A blank string is not the same as a string of blank spaces - a string containing blank spaces is not considered to be blank for the purposes of this function.

Please also refer to [IfNull](/statelake/scripting-reference/functions-and-procedures/variant-functions/ifnull) and [IfEmpty](/statelake/scripting-reference/functions-and-procedures/variant-functions/ifempty) under **Variant Functions**.

**Declaration**: Function IfBlank(const aValue1, aValue2 : string) : string;

Simple examples.

```pascal
procedure ScriptEvent (var Value : variant);
var
  Str1, Str2, Str3 : string;
begin
  Str1 := '';
  Str2 := 'Hello';
  Str3 := IfBlank(Str1, Str2);                         //Replaces the blank string with "Hello"
  LogInfo(Str3);                                       //Returns 'Hello'
  LogInfo('');

  Str1 := '      ';
  Str2 := 'Hello AGAIN';
  Str3 := IfBlank(Str1, Str2);                          //Str1 is not considered to be BLANK
  LogInfo(Str3);                                        //Returns '        '
  LogInfo('');

  Str1 := '';
  LogInfo('Str1 = '+IntToStr(VarType(Str1)));            //BLANK string ariable returns 258
  Str2 := 'Winnie The Pooh';                             //Non blank
  LogInfo('Str2 = '+IntToStr(VarType(Str2)));            //Non-BLANK string variable returns 258
  LogInfo('');

  Str3 := IfBlank(Bla1, 'Param1 is BLANK');              //Str1 is BLANK
  LogInfo('Str3 = '+Str3);                               //Returns 'Param1 is BLANK'
  LogInfo('');

  Str3 := IfBlank(Str1, Str2 + ' + Piglet!');            //Str1 is BLANK
  LogInfo('Str3 = '+Str3);                               //Returns 'Winnie The Pooh + Piglet!'
  LogInfo('');

  Str3 := IfBlank('', 'Replacement value.');             //Param1 is empty
  LogInfo('Str3 = '+Str3);                               //Returns 'Replacement value.'
  LogInfo('');

  Str3 := IfBlank('    ', 'Param1 is BLANK');            //1st param holds blank spaces - so not blank
  LogInfo('Str3 = '+Str3);                               //Returns itself '      '   (blank spaces)

end;
```