>>I don't see how that applies. I advised him not to use empty at all. If there is a tab character in a field, I would not consider it empty.
>>
>Existing code is always correct at first approximation - the code you advised would change the biz logic of the existing program.
>Such changes should be mentioned when advising alternate coding.

I doubt that. Existing code is likely incorrect. The OP likely assumed empty = spaces and was likely completely unaware that tab = space as far as empty is concerned.