title: SQL how to return a string when dbnull is found?
body: <p>To simplify the problem:</p>
  
  <p>I have a select that can return at times NULL. </p>
  
  <p>For example: </p>
  
  <pre><code>-- if the customer has no fax then NULL will be returned
  select customerFax from customers 
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>How can I check for this null, then return a string value instead of NULL, I need to display some friendly message in a report. </p>
  
  <p>so if null - then return some string, else return the value from db...</p>
  
  <p>I hope this is simple enough to understand - thanks</p>