topic Re: IF value column is blank return a string (HOW??) in DAX Commands and Tips

IF value column is blank return a string (HOW??)

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:16:55 GMT

Hello,

I have a column called clicks where i only have one value and otherwise i have blanks. I want a new column called click1 where if blank = "-" , if not blank then the value. But it doesn't seem to work because it can't combine string and values. But is I choose 0 instead of "-" it work. Do anyone have a solution for this?

Thank you in advance

Re: IF value column is blank return a string (HOW??)

Greg_Deckler — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:23:06 GMT

Right, you would have to have your [Value] & "" in the first case and this would make it text so it would be compatible with a dash (-) character. But, now you have a text column and that may or may not be OK.

Re: IF value column is blank return a string (HOW??)

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:26:45 GMT

So how would you suggest the code to be?

Re: IF value column is blank return a string (HOW??)

AlexAlberga727 — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:34:15 GMT

Because you're not able to have a single column contain mutiple types of data you need to ensure the output is of the same data type.

I know in some programs zeros can be displayed as a hyphens (-). However, I do not see this option within Power Bi. You could always treat these values as text, but then would lose functionality.