Use IsEmpty method instead of Count

Properties
LC0081 Warning Design Code Fix Ignore Obsolete

Count() returns the total number of records matching the current filters, which translates to a SELECT COUNT(*) query against the database. When the only question is whether any records exist, that full count is wasted work — on a table like "G/L Entry" with millions of rows, the query scans far more data than necessary.

IsEmpty() answers the same question by fetching at most one row.

When you are using SQL Server, this method is faster than using the Count Method (Record) and then testing the result for zero.

— RecordRef.IsEmpty() Method on Microsoft Learn

Replace any Count() comparison against zero with IsEmpty().

Example

Checking for no records

procedure IsCustomerTableEmpty(): Boolean
var
    Customer: Record Customer;
begin
    if Customer.Count() = 0 then // Use IsEmpty method instead of Count [LC0081]
        exit(true);
end;

Use IsEmpty() directly:

procedure IsCustomerTableEmpty(): Boolean
var
    Customer: Record Customer;
begin
    if Customer.IsEmpty() then
        exit(true);
end;

Checking for any records

procedure HasCustomers(): Boolean
var
    Customer: Record Customer;
begin
    if Customer.Count() > 0 then // Use IsEmpty method instead of Count [LC0081]
        exit(true);
end;

Use not IsEmpty():

procedure HasCustomers(): Boolean
var
    Customer: Record Customer;
begin
    if not Customer.IsEmpty() then
        exit(true);
end;

Exception

The diagnostic is not raised for temporary records. Count() on a temporary record operates on an in-memory dataset, not the database, so the performance concern does not apply.

See also