--- MPIWGWeb/MPIWGStaff.py	2012/03/22 13:37:46	1.10.2.83
+++ MPIWGWeb/MPIWGStaff.py	2012/03/22 13:44:54	1.10.2.84
@@ -338,7 +338,8 @@ class MPIWGStaff(CatalogAware,ZSQLExtend
                 if self._v_cone==None:
                     self._v_cone=""
             except:
-                return None
+                self._v_cone=""
+                return ""
             
         return self._v_cone