Mary,
Look at any inline tcl code in your translation for that message. I have received similar errors when ever there has been a tcl error in a translation. If you run the message through the xlate testing tool you should be able to narrow down what tcl code is the problem.
Darren,
From what you are describing it sounds like you are using the xlateInVals variable directly. You have to remember that this is a list and even if you only expect one value you need to use lassign or lindex to parse the value before using it. If you do this then the resulting value will be an empty string instead of {} when you do your comparisons.
John Mercogliano
Sentara Healthcare
Hampton Roads, VA
