Nil Variables vs. Empty String

[firefly2442 6]

I have some code that is creating a string:

_query = format ["Whatever('%1', '%2', '%3', '%4', '%5', '%6', '%7', '%8')", _puid, _name, _a, _b, _c, _d, _e, _f];

The problem is, some of the variables are Nil and have an empty string "". When I print out the string it looks like this:

Whatever('blah', 'blah2', ', ', ', ', '... etc.)

What I really want it to look like is to actually use those empty strings when formatting it:

Whatever('blah', 'blah2', '', '', '', ''...etc.)

Is this possible? Thanks in advance.

[tryteyker 28]

How did you initialize the empty variables?

_a = "";

or

_a = [];

//Edit

I ABSOLUTELY suck at reading properly..

Well maybe try the other method with [], I'm not sure.

Edited December 12, 2012 by tryteyker

[cuel 25]

Try this, I can't test it atm.

_query = format ["Whatever('%1', '%2')",str _puid,str _name];

No idea if it works on nil variables.

Maybe

private ["_a","_b"];

{
  if (isNil "_x") then {_x = ""};
} forEach [_a,_b];

[firefly2442 6]

I'm pretty sure I tried the isNil check and assignment to an empty string "" already. The trouble is, the emptry string still evaluates to Nil which is not really technically correct IMO. I'll try it again to double check. Any other thoughts?