Yes, '' is an empty string. What I can't figure out is how to specify this in a conversion in the GeniusConnect Folder Items window using the Conversion button or some other technique. What I want to specify in GeniusConnect is something like the isnull() sql function, e.g., isnull(Department,'') so that GeniusConnect checks the value of the Outlook Department field and submits to the database the value of the field if it is not null, and the empty string ('') if is is null.