Val Function Returns Zero Not Missing

Hi

Im using the Val() function to return numeric data from stored text strings.

My problem is that the function returns zero where the data are missing (i.e. a space character at the desired position within the text string).

This is very problematic for me, as the numeric data I am pulling out are in themselves response codes, where zero means something very different from missing.

Is there a way I can use this or another function to pull out numeric values, but return missing/null where appropriate.

Many thanks

Mat.