def nz(value, none_value, strict=True):
    ''' This function is named after an old VBA function. It returns a default
        value if the passed in value is None. If strict is False it will
        treat an empty string as None as well.

        example:
        x = None
        nz(x,"hello")
        --> "hello"
        nz(x,"")
        --> ""
        y = ""
        nz(y,"hello")
        --> ""
        nz(y,"hello", False)
        --> "hello" '''
    if not DEBUG:
        debug = False
    else:
        debug = False
    if debug: print("START nz frameworkutilities.py ----------------------\n")
    if value is None and strict:
        return_val = none_value
    elif strict and value is not None:
        return_val = value
    elif not strict and not is_not_null(value):
        return_val = none_value
    else:
        return_val = value
    if debug: print("value: %s | none_value: %s | return_val: %s" %
        (value, none_value, return_val))
    if debug: print("END nz frameworkutilities.py ----------------------\n")
    return return_val
This function is named after an old VBA function. It returns a default
        value if the passed in value is None. If strict is False it will
        treat an empty string as None as well.

        example:
        x = None
        nz(x,"hello")
        --> "hello"
        nz(x,"")
        --> ""
        y = ""
        nz(y,"hello")
        --> ""
        nz(y,"hello", False)
        --> "hello"