Hi smccomish
There's nothing really wrong with your formula, but it all depends on how your database handles the "empty" field.
If the field doesn't exist - so if there is no entry in the field, then it doesn't exist, try: isnull({CmtMain.CmtIssueDate})
If the field is empty (eg it exists, but there is no data in it), try:
totext({CmtMain.CmtIssueDate})=""
It's a different version of what you have, but it might work.
Check to see if your database's default date is actually 22nd December 1999 (as this is an unusual date to have as default). If it is, try this in case your field is only a date field (and not a date/time field):
{CmtMain.CmtIssueDate}=Date(1999,12,22)
An all catch would be:
isnull({CmtMain.CmtIssueDate}) or
totext({CmtMain.CmtIssueDate})="" or
{CmtMain.CmtIssueDate}=Date(1999,12,22)