Index: branches/5.3.x/core/kernel/utility/formatters/formatter.php
===================================================================
diff -u -N -r16111 -r16195
--- branches/5.3.x/core/kernel/utility/formatters/formatter.php	(.../formatter.php)	(revision 16111)
+++ branches/5.3.x/core/kernel/utility/formatters/formatter.php	(.../formatter.php)	(revision 16195)
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 <?php
 /**
-* @version	$Id: formatter.php 16111 2014-12-07 14:49:01Z alex $
+* @version	$Id: formatter.php 16195 2015-05-19 15:58:57Z alex $
 * @package	In-Portal
 * @copyright	Copyright (C) 1997 - 2011 Intechnic. All rights reserved.
 * @license      GNU/GPL
@@ -209,11 +209,12 @@
 	 */
 	public function Parse($value, $field_name, &$object)
 	{
+		$options = $object->GetFieldOptions($field_name);
+
 		if ($value == '') {
-			return NULL;
+			return $options['type'] == 'string' ? $value : null;
 		}
 
-		$options = $object->GetFieldOptions($field_name);
 		$tc_value = $this->TypeCast($value, $options);
 
 		if ($tc_value === false) {