How to Deal with Nulls in Tableau (IFNULL, ISNULL, ZN)

Dealing with nulls in Tableau calculations requires a bit of specialized product knowledge. For instance you can’t write IF [Dimension] = NULL THEN “X” END. If you want to reference a null value, you need to use ISNULL. If you want to replace a null value with another value, you can use IFNULL. If you want to replace all nulls with zero, you can use ZN. This videos shows you how these functions work and which use cases they are most helpful for.
-------
Example workbook here: public.tableau.com/app/profil...
------
Thanks for checking out this video! To learn more, check out our upcoming classes, webinars and office hours here: www.eventbrite.com/o/onenumbe...
------

[@MochaPlayer1]

This was very helpful. Thank you.

[@onenumbertableau]

I'm so glad it was helpful. Thanks for the support and encouragement!

[@Nick-xu2hh]

I’m having a problem that likely has to do with the very last thing you talked about. Good stuff man.

[@onenumbertableau]

So glad it helped, thanks for following Nick!

[@ajitsathe3764]

Very much helpful

[@onenumbertableau]

So glad it helped, thanks for watching!

[@bairavi07]

Thank you. That’s helpful. Can you use if Null with string data

[@onenumbertableau]

Thank you! Yes, IFNULL() should work with string data too.

[@onenumbertableau]

Need help with your nulls in Tableau? Schedule an hour with Eric here: www.eventbrite.com/e/tableau-office-hours-with-eric-parker-tickets-42691995909
Ready to master Tableau? Check out our lineup of upcoming classes! www.eventbrite.com/o/onenumber-15678294163

[@shoppersdream]

Can you please upload the Data you are working with? If we don't practice when you are explaining to us then it does not benefit us. Thanks

[@onenumbertableau]

Good call, I must have missed this one! Here is the workbook: public.tableau.com/app/profile/eric.parker/viz/IFNULLISNULLZN-DealingwithNulls/NullFunctionTitle

[@junaidahmed6486]

May i know How to handle null in a date column field ?

[@onenumbertableau]

It depends what you want to replace the Null with. For example, if you're trying to calculate tenure of an employee at a company you might calculate the different between a Hire Date and a Termination Date. But if the Termination Date is null for active employees, for the sake of the DATEDIFF calculation you could do something like this IFNULL([Termination Date],TODAY())

[@MrLukkil]

Replacing NULL for numbers in percentage format? Doesn't seem to work for me.

[@onenumbertableau]

Hi! Try using decimals instead of whole numbers. So if you want 10% it would be something like this, IFNULL([Measure],.1)

[@MrLukkil]

@@onenumbertableau sorry I confused you with how I wrote that!
I have some measures in percentage format which I need to change the null values with "N/A". It works for measures in number format but not percentage format for some reason.

[@onenumbertableau]

@@MrLukkil Interesting. The only way I could think to change null values to N/A would actually be to change the output to string (using the STR function). Otherwise, Tableau won't want to allow a text output for a numeric field. I've also seen folks do creative things with the number formatting options which is potentially a route you could explore: onenumber.biz/blog-1/2021/11/28/format-zeroes-as-blanks-or-dashes-in-tableau

[@MrLukkil]

@@onenumbertableau Thanks! Appreciate the swift reply. I'll take a look!

[@im4485]

Tableau is complicated for no reason

[@onenumbertableau]

There are definitely situations where I agree! What about nulls makes you feel that way?