How to Check if XML Node is Empty/Null/Blank

[jrlittle86]

I know I'm overlooking something very simple but How can I check if the text within an XML tag is blank?

The code below works fine as long as there are values within an XML node (For example the <CPU>Intel</CPU> node below) but it throws an Exception error when the node value is blank/null whatever as in the example node <Monitor> </Monitor>.

It's ok if the node value is blank, I just want to check for it and not throw an exception error.

This question uses the following XML snippet below: Note: The tag <Monitor></Monitor> has no value in it.
<PCSettings>
<SystemSettings>
<CPU>Intel</CPU>
<Monitor> </Monitor>
</SystemSettings>
</PCSettings>

The call that would generate the exception from the application would be:

Textbox1.Text = GetXMLTag("Monitor")


Public Function GetXMLTag(ByVal Tagname As String) As String

Dim XMLSetting As String = " "

Try
'Load the Settings.XML Document
Dim Doc As New XmlDocument
Doc.Load("Settings.XML")

'Retrieve the XML Nodes
Dim SettingsNodes As XmlNodeList
SettingsNodes = Doc.GetElementsByTagName(Tagname)

Dim Node As XmlNode

'Cycles through the nodes to find the correct one
For Each Node In SettingsNodes
'If (Node is not Null/Blank) code then continue should probably go here
'This is where I'm stuck
'
XMLSetting = Node.ChildNodes(0).Value 'This works fine if data exists
Next

'Return the Node's Value
Return XMLSetting

Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
End Try
End Function

Oh, this also produces the Warning message:

Function 'GetXMLTag' doesn't return a value on all code paths. A null reference exception could occur at run time when the result is used.

And, this is precisely what I'm trying to account for.

Thanks for your response in advance.

[Aimee Bailey]

@jrlittle86
place "Return XMLSetting" on the line below the "End Try", functions must always return a value, even if its empty!