Handling null value in a state indicator column

Contents[Hide]

1. Overview

By default, state indicators are colored gray with a shape of ellipse. The default style is simply what the state indicator looks like when the value doesn't fall within any of the states. For example, in the screenshot below, "Tokyo", with no data for "Sales", does not fall within any of the states defined.

Default State Indicator style
Default State Indicator style

You can display a text instead of a state indicator if your value does not fall within any of the states, such as for a null value. For example, you want to show the text "N/A" instead of a state indicator if the value is null. This article will walk you through the steps needed to accomplish the desired result below:

Result - shows
Result - shows "N/A" for null value

2. Sample data

Data with null value
Data with null value

3. Missing data rule

In order for data with null value to appear on the Data Table, configure the Metric Set Element, set Missing Data Input Rule to Source Nulls, and set Missing Data Output Rule to Empty.

Missing Data Rule
Missing Data Rule

4. Set up the states

For example, "Good" state is for Sales of 5000 and up. "Bad" state is for Sales of less than 5000.

Set-up the States
Set-up the States

5. Column type

By default, the date in a table is shown as a text. You can set this to show a State Indicator instead by setting the Column Type to State Indicator.

Set the Column Type
Set the Column Type

6. Default style

Since a null value is an unknown value, it will not fall within any state and will use the default style. In order to set the default style, expand the Default Style section to be show the default properties.

Expand the default style properties
Expand the default style properties

Edit the appropriate default state style. In this case, the Marker Symbol and Text.

  • Marker Symbol = "None"
  • Text = "N/A"

Set the default style
Set the default style

7. Testing

Result - shows
Result - shows "N/A" for null value

8. See also

Dundas Data Visualization, Inc.
400-15 Gervais Drive
Toronto, ON, Canada
M3C 1Y8

North America: 1.800.463.1492
International: 1.416.467.5100

Dundas Support Hours:
Phone: 9am-6pm, ET, Mon-Fri
Email: 7am-6pm, ET, Mon-Fri