Variables

[JacobJones]

I have two related questions. 

I want to make two tables from the same data. In one table I only want to include records where one of the date fields is null and in the other I want to count records where the field is not null. Right now, I include:

=IF(IsNull([Date of Appointment]) ,  [Column Name])

in each column I want in the table. This means I need to paste this into each column and change the name. This can't be the best way to do this. What is the proper way? 

I can think of two approaches.

1. Make a variable that looks like the above only you can insert column name into it, so something like:

=$(nullDateOfAppointment([Column Name]))

but I am unsure of the syntax or how to set it up.

2. Is there some sort of filter that I can add to the table itself?

[marcus_sommer]

You could use such parametrized variable as a customized function:

set v = "IF(IsNull([Date of Appointment]) , $1) as $1";

and then just calling:

load $(v([F1)), $(v([F2)), $(v([F3)) from ...

But I wouldn't do it - beside the above efforts there are then two tables which wouldn't produce much benefit rather the opposite. Therefore I would create a flag like:

-IsNull([Date of Appointment]) as FLAG

and then using this flag within where-clauses or within listbox or in a set analysis to differentiate between both states.

- Marcus

[JacobJones]

This is going a bit over my head here.  I am hoping to do this after the data is loaded using variables and expressions.