What is bloomberg's response when one of a few fields is not found? - bloomberg

Question

I have a Java code that uses blpapi to request specific fields of specific securities. My code runs fine now. However, I have thought of a case that is not being handled by my current code.
Say, for example, I am requesting 'CUR_MKT_CAP', 'PX_LAST', and 'EQY_SH_OUT' for a specific security. What if Bloomberg does not have the value for 'PX_LAST'? What will Bloomberg give me then?
(a) Will it give me a field Element where PX_LAST = 0?
(b) Will it give me a field Element where PX_LAST = NULL?
(c) Will it not include PX_LAST to the response that I will receive? Thus, the response will look like this?
HistoricalDataResponse (choice) = {
securityData = {
security = XXXXX Equity
sequenceNumber = 0
fieldData[] = {
fieldData = {
date = YYYY-MM-DD
CUR_MKT_CAP = XX.XXXX
EQY_SH_OUT = XX.XXXX
}
}
} }
Basically, I just want to know how I should handle if one of the fields I need is not given by Bloomberg.

Answer 1

You are correct, if a field returns no data, it will be omitted from the fieldData element. If none of the fields returns data, the fieldData will be empty:
ReferenceDataResponse = {
securityData[] = {
securityData = {
security = "MSFT US Equity"
eidData[] = {
}
fieldExceptions[] = {
}
sequenceNumber = 0
fieldData = {
}
}
}
}
You can easily test this, for example using MSFT US Equity / YAS_BOND_YLD.

Answer 2

I tested it using #assylias's answer. It gave me the following results.
MSFT US Equity
HistoricalDataResponse (choice) = {
securityData = {
security = MSFT US Equity
sequenceNumber = 0
}
}
YAS_BOND_YLD
HistoricalDataResponse (choice) = {
securityData = {
security = YAS_BOND_YLD
sequenceNumber = 0
securityError = {
source = 500::bbdbh5
code = 15
category = BAD_SEC
message = Unknown/Invalid securityInvalid Security [nid:500]
subcategory = INVALID_SECURITY
}
}
}

Answer 3

As per #assylias comment, I used YAS_BOND_YLD as a field. And blpapi returned the following as a response.
My input to the request:
Ticker: XXX XX Equity Start/End Date: 20160818 Fields: CUR_MKT_CAP YAS_BOND_YLD PX_LAST EQY_SH_OUT
BLPAPI's response is,
HistoricalDataResponse (choice) = {
securityData = {
security = XXX XX Equity
sequenceNumber = 0
fieldData[] = {
fieldData = {
date = 2016-08-18
CUR_MKT_CAP = 117.7144
PX_LAST = 1.06
EQY_SH_OUT = 111.051
}
}
}
}
Note: I changed the ticker to XXX XX on purpose. =D