Null references for java numbers and flex

[Morten Franorge]

In our domain model, having a null value for certain numbers (Integer, Long and Double) have specific business meaning in our domain (different than 0). However, there is no way to represent nulls in action script. They are interpreted as NaN, but once a NaN is sent back to Java, it is not translated back to null. What is the best practise to handle this?

[Satish Kore]

Hi Morten,

In ActionScript primitive types do not hold null value so anything that is Number,int or uint cannot hold null. Only Object or * type can hold null reference. There are two ways that I can see.

1. Simple approach would be just change type of ActionScript property from Number to Object and then if you assign null, it will be deserialized into null on java side.
2. Try not to use null as valid value, try using -1 or any negative value to represent your meaning.

Thanks,

[Morten Franorge]

Satish Kore wrote:Hi Morten,

In ActionScript primitive types do not hold null value so anything that is Number,int or uint cannot hold null. Only Object or * type can hold null reference. There are two ways that I can see.

1. Simple approach would be just change type of ActionScript property from Number to Object and then if you assign null, it will be deserialized into null on java side.
2. Try not to use null as valid value, try using -1 or any negative value to represent your meaning.

Thanks,

Option 2 require me to change the inherit functionality in my domain model, which does not sit well with the DDD. Option 1 makes the action script model sub optimal....hmmmm