Changing the display of null values

Often null, or empty, values can be found in a data warehouse. They can also be a product of the calculations and cross-tabbing that is performed on a report. Rather than leave the null values as blank cells in a report, they can be displayed as other values. Often reports display a zero or the word NULL instead of a blank cell.

The value that is replacing the null is only replacing it temporarily. It does not change the actual value in the data warehouse. It is used either for calculation during the processing of SQL or as a display in the final report.

The Missing Object Display setting is used for Freeform SQL reports that may, under certain circumstances, reference unavailable objects. For example, you mapped the attribute description and ID forms of the Region attribute, but included only the ID in the SELECT clause. When the report is executed, the description cannot be displayed because it has not been retrieved from the data warehouse. The Missing Object Display setting allows you to specify the value to display in place of such missing objects.

To change the display of null values

1. Open the Report Editor. (How?)

2. From the Data menu, choose Report Data Options. The Report Data Options dialog box opens.

3. Under Categories, expand Display, and then select Null Values. Display – Null Values appears on the right side of the editor.

4. To change the values displayed on a report,

   • Clear the Use default check box under Null display settings.

   • If desired, enter the value to be displayed when an empty value is retrieved from the data warehouse.

   • If desired, enter the value to be displayed when an empty value results from cross-tabulation.

   • If desired, select the Set the value to be used in place of empty values when the report data is sorted check box and enter the value.

5. To change the value displayed when a metric value cannot be aggregated at the desired level,

   • Clear the Use default check box under Aggregation null values.

   • Enter the value.

     The values can be text or numeric data.

6. To change the value displayed when a Freeform SQL report references an unavailable object,

   • Clear the Use default check box under Null display settings.

   • Enter the value.

7. Click OK.

Related Topic

• Report Data Options dialog box: Null Values