 		
 		public function getApplyRemarksOperation(remarks:String):UpdateRequestOperation {
 			var value:String = null;
-			if(ArrayUtil.isNotIn(REASON_BLANK_SYMBOLS, symbol)) {
+			var symbol:FieldSymbol = getSymbol(); //preserve old symbol
+			if(! isReasonBlankSymbol(symbol)) {
 				value = textToRequestValue(); //preserve old value
 			}
-			var symbol:FieldSymbol = getSymbol(); //preserve old symbol
 			var o:UpdateRequestOperation = getUpdateFieldOperation(value, symbol, remarks);
 			return o;
 		}

		}
		
		public static function isShortCutForReasonBlank(text:String):Boolean {
			return ArrayUtil.isIn(REASON_BLANK_SYMBOLS, text);
		}
		
		protected function get dataClient():DataClient {

		
		public function getApplySymbolOperation(symbol:FieldSymbol):UpdateRequestOperation {
			var value:String = null;
			if(! isReasonBlankSymbol(symbol)) {
				value = textToRequestValue(); //preserve old value
			}
			var remarks:String = getRemarks(); //preserve old remarks
