How do you check if an RTF field is empty?

This interesting workaround comes from Alan Keele. It does cause a little bit of UI flicker, but works on the front-end and back-end:

Function IsRTFNull(rtfield As String) As Integer
     
  'This function tests a Rich Text field to see whether or not it is null.  It returns TRUE if the field is null, and
  'returns FALSE if the field is not null.  It works even if the rich text field contains a file attachment, 
  'doclink, or OLE object but does not contain any text.
     
  On Error Goto Errhandle
     
  Dim workspace As New NotesUIWorkspace
  Dim uidoc As NotesUIDocument
  Set uidoc = workspace.CurrentDocument
     
  'Store the name of the field that currently has focus.  Note:  if this function is being called from a form button,
  'currentfield will be null (because the button has the focus, and not a field).  If this function is called
  'from an action button, and if the cursor is in a field, then currentfield will correctly store the name 
  'of the field that has focus.
  currentfield = uidoc.CurrentField
     
  Call uidoc.GotoField(rtfield)
  Call uidoc.SelectAll
  'The next line will generate a 4407 error message if the Rich Text Field is null
  Call uidoc.DeselectAll
     
  'Return the cursor the the field that had focus before this function ran.  If the currentfield variable is null (because a button
  'or hotspot had focus, then the cursor will actually wind up getting left in the rich text field.
  If currentfield <> "" Then
    Call uidoc.GotoField(currentfield)
  End If
     
  IsRTFNull = False
     
  Exit Function
     
     
Errhandle:
  Select Case Err
  Case 4407
    'the DeselectAll line generated an error message, indicating that the rich text field does not contain anything
    If currentfield <> "" Then
      Call uidoc.GotoField(currentfield)
    End If
    IsRTFNull = True
  Exit Function
  Case Else
    'For any other error, force the same error to cause LotusScript to do the error handling
    Error Err
  End Select 
End Function

From Eric Wilson:
In LotusScript, you can also check by looking for: NotesItem.Text = "" and ValueLength < 200.

Applies to Notes Versions: 4 4.5 4.6 5