Features with null values are ignored or not displayed when using the '<>' (not equal) operator in ArcMap.
Last Published: April 4, 2018ArcGIS for Desktop
Bug ID Number
BUG-000104895
Submitted
May 3, 2017
Last Modified
June 5, 2024
Applies to
ArcGIS for Desktop
Version found
10.5
Status
Known Limit
After review by the development team, it has been determined that this issue is related to a known limitation with the software that lies outside of Esri's control. The issue's Additional Information section may contain further explanation.
Additional Information
I tested your case against the numeric "numb" field and a calculated text field "testnumb" and neither returns the null record. Detailed documentation on this can be found here: https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms191270(v=sql.105).aspx. Essentially, NULL is not the same as blank, empty, or zero. It is an "unknown". Because it is of "unknown" value, our definition queries and selections will not return the value.
To return the selection you desire, the correct query is: SELECT * FROM test1 WHERE numb <>1 OR numb IS NULL.