SQL COALESCE and IS NULL are not returning a space when when the query returns NULL - sql

Question

I am trying to optimize a humongous SQL query that was written by a self taught developer that used a ton of functions instead of JOINS. Anyway, I am having trouble displaying a space or a empty string('') when there is no value in the field selected. I've included only the SELECT in question. I am having the weirdest problem or just overlooking the correct answer in troubleshooting. Whenever I use COALESCE, when the field is supposed to be a blank string, it displays a zero. And when I use IS NULL, I get back NULL. All info online seems to point toward using COALESCE(value, '') as depicted in the code. But I am getting a 0 instead of ''. Does anyone see what I'm doing wrong? I'm using SSMS.
SELECT
pss8.dbo.xml_StripIllegalChars(dbo.rpt_get_series_volume(b.bookkey)) AS p_seriesvol --SELECT to be replaced that works but is slow due to function use I am told
,COALESCE(bd.seriesvolume, '') AS p_seriesvol --my SELECT that won't work!
FROM
bookdetail bd
WHERE
--bd.bookkey='303177'
bd.bookkey='6002'
The bookkeys at the bottom are for testing as I know the top one returns a 1 and the bottom one returns a '' previously when it worked. The SELECT above my commented SELECT is the code that works but is slow... According to what I read online, I am saying 'if there isn't a series volume number, then it equals an empty string.' Does COALESCE not work like this? Can it only return a 0 if the field has no value, or in this case, has no volume number? All help much appreciated. I'm very curious to hear a solution!
Here's more intel. This is how the this SELECT works:
pss8.dbo.xml_StripIllegalChars(dbo.rpt_get_series_volume(b.bookkey)) AS p_seriesvol
The
.rpt_get_series_vol
function manages to create an empty string with this code... Does this reveal anything?
DECLARE #RETURN
VARCHAR(5)
DECLARE #v_desc
VARCHAR(5)
DECLARE #i_volumenumber INT
SELECT #i_volumenumber = volumenumber
FROM bookdetail
WHERE bookkey = #i_bookkey and volumenumber <> 0
IF #i_volumenumber > 0
BEGIN
SELECT #RETURN = CAST(#i_volumenumber as varchar(5))
END
ELSE
BEGIN
SELECT #RETURN = ''
END
RETURN #RETURN
END

Answer 1

As you are looking for a '0' not a NULL COALESCE()is not useful, instead use a simple CASE:
select
...,
case bd.seriesvolume when '0' then '' else bd.seriesvolume end as p_seriesvol
from
...
Or if you want '' for 0 or NULL
case when bd.seriesvolume is null or bd.seriesvolume = '0' then '' else bd.seriesvolume end as p_seriesvo

Answer 2

COALESCE() function returns the 1st non null value
SELECT COALESCE(NULL, NULL, 'third_value', 'fourth_value'); returns the third value because the third value is the first value that is not null.
So in your case COALESCE(bd.seriesvolume, '') AS p_seriesvol if seriesvolume colum value is null then it will return blank string