if Request("something") == None: doesn't work

[Sam Sungshik Kong]

Hello!

I use Python for ASP programming.
I found something weird.

Response.Write(Request("something"))
It draws "None" when there's no value for something.
Actually I expect "" instead of "None".

So I changed it like
if Request("something") == None:
Response.Write("")
else:
Response.Write(Request("something"))

Strangely, the result of comparison is False.

if str(Request("something")) == "None":
works!

Also,
if len(Request("something")) == 0:
works!

What's wrong?

ssk

[Ivan Voras]

Sam Sungshik Kong wrote:

if str(Request("something")) == "None":
works!

Also,
if len(Request("something")) == 0:
works!

Try Response.Write(repr(Request("something"))) to see if you are really
getting a None.

[Kirk Strauser]

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At 2004-05-12T17:12:00Z, "Sam Sungshik Kong" <ss*@chol.nospam.net> writes:

if Request("something") == None:
Have you tried:

if Request("something") is None:
if str(Request("something")) == "None":
Well, right. repr(None) == 'None'.
if len(Request("something")) == 0:
works!

That seems kinda strange, granted.
- --
Kirk Strauser
The Strauser Group
Open. Solutions. Simple.
http://www.strausergroup.com/
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[John Roth]

"Sam Sungshik Kong" <ss*@chol.nospam.net> wrote in message
news:AV******************@newssvr29.news.prodigy.c om...

Hello!

I use Python for ASP programming.
I found something weird.

Response.Write(Request("something"))
It draws "None" when there's no value for something.
Actually I expect "" instead of "None".

So I changed it like
if Request("something") == None:
Response.Write("")
else:
Response.Write(Request("something"))

Strangely, the result of comparison is False.

if str(Request("something")) == "None":
works!

Also,
if len(Request("something")) == 0:
works!

What's wrong?
Darned if I know. However, there are two comments.

1. The standard way to check for None is to use the
"is" operator, not the "==" operator. You might try
that. The equals test ought to work, though.

2. However, the even easier way to do it is not to do
a check at all, but simply rely on the fact that both None
and the null string act like False in an if statement. In
other words, just remove the "== None" and see what
happens.

John Roth
ssk

[Sam Sungshik Kong]

Thanks for the replies.

Based on the hints from the replies, I've tested some.

When there's no argument in the request,

Request("id") == None returns False
if Request("id"): returns True
str(Request("id")) returns "None"
repr(Request("id")) returns <COMObject<unknown>>

So my conclusion is that Request("id") is not None.
It's an object, str() of which is accidentally "None".
That confused me.

If it's not None, str(something) should not return "None".

ssk

"Sam Sungshik Kong" <ss*@chol.nospam.net> wrote in message
news:AV******************@newssvr29.news.prodigy.c om...

Hello!

I use Python for ASP programming.
I found something weird.

Response.Write(Request("something"))
It draws "None" when there's no value for something.
Actually I expect "" instead of "None".

So I changed it like
if Request("something") == None:
Response.Write("")
else:
Response.Write(Request("something"))

Strangely, the result of comparison is False.

if str(Request("something")) == "None":
works!

Also,
if len(Request("something")) == 0:
works!

What's wrong?

ssk

[Leif K-Brooks]

Sam Sungshik Kong wrote:

If it's not None, str(something) should not return "None".

What about str("None")?

[Donn Cave]

Quoth "Sam Sungshik Kong" <ss*@chol.nospam.net>:
....
| When there's no argument in the request,
|
| Request("id") == None returns False
| if Request("id"): returns True
| str(Request("id")) returns "None"
| repr(Request("id")) returns <COMObject<unknown>>
|
| So my conclusion is that Request("id") is not None.
| It's an object, str() of which is accidentally "None".
| That confused me.

It would confuse anyone. That's pretty bad.

Donn Cave, do**@drizzle.com

[Max M]

Sam Sungshik Kong wrote:

Hello!

I use Python for ASP programming.
I found something weird.

Response.Write(Request("something"))
It draws "None" when there's no value for something.
Actually I expect "" instead of "None".

You could make it easier on yorself and you convert your Request object
to a Python Dictionary instead.

http://www.mxm.dk/products/public/iisUtils

regards Max M

[Oliver Fromme]

John Roth <ne********@jhrothjr.com> wrote:

"Sam Sungshik Kong" <ss*@chol.nospam.net> wrote:

if Request("something") == None:
Response.Write("")
else:
Response.Write(Request("something"))

[...]
2. However, the even easier way to do it is not to do
a check at all, but simply rely on the fact that both None
and the null string act like False in an if statement. In
other words, just remove the "== None" and see what
happens.

Furthermore, in Python the result of a boolean operator is
the value of the operand that has been evaluated last.
So, the above if...else construct could be reduced to this
simple (and very readable) line:

Response.Write(Request("something") or "")

Of course that assumes that the Request() really returns
None, not a string with content "None".

Best regards
Oliver

--
"To this day, many C programmers believe that 'strong typing'
just means pounding extra hard on the keyboard."
-- Peter van der Linden