How to Handle Null and Empty Values in Bold BI Text Widgets Using Expressions and Label Parameters

In Bold BI, Text Widgets support dynamic values through Label Parameters. However, conditional logic for null or empty values cannot be written directly inside the Text Widget.

To display fields such as Product Name, Category, or Region with a clean fallback (for example, “N/A”), create the logic in a Dashboard Expression and then reference that expression in the Text Widget using a Label Parameter. You can optionally drive the displayed value with a filter widget such as a Combo Box.

This approach is useful when:

Data contains NULL or empty values that should appear as “N/A” (or another placeholder)
You want consistent, user-friendly labels without blank or broken text
You need the displayed value to update dynamically based on user selections (for example, from a Combo Box)

Step 1: Create an Expression in the Dashboard Designer

Open the dashboard in Edit mode.
Go to Data Configuration and Click Add Expression.
Enter a new expression with the following logic:

IF([Category] = '' OR [Category] ISNULL, 'N/A', [Category])

Provide a name for the expression (for example, Category_Display_Value).
Click Save.

This expression checks:

If Category is empty (‘’)
Or if Category is NULL

If either condition is true, it returns “N/A”. Otherwise, it returns the actual Category.

Note:
Conditional logic cannot be written directly inside a Text Widget. In Bold BI, all conditional logic must be defined using Expressions, and the evaluated result is then displayed using Label Parameters.

Step 2: Use the Expression in the Text Widget Using Label Parameters

Once the expression is created, reference it inside the text widget using Label Parameters.
Syntax:

{{:YourExpressionName}}

For example: {{:Category_Display_Value}}

Step 3: Bind a Combo Box Widget to Drive Dynamic Values

To allow users to control which value appears dynamically in the Text Widget:

Add a Combo Box widget to the dashboard.
In the Assign Data tab, drag the Category field into the Columns section.
In the Properties tab, enable Act as Master Widget to allow filtering other widgets.
Configure the Combo Box to filter the data source used by the Text Widget.

Preview or Publish the dashboard. Check: Selecting a value from the Combo Box updates the underlying data, which in turn updates the value displayed in the text widget.

Resulting Behavior

When a valid Category exists → the name is displayed in the text widget
When Category is null or empty → “N/A” is displayed instead
The text widget updates dynamically based on user selection in the Combo Box

This ensures clean, user‑friendly output without broken or empty labels.

Important Notes

Conditional logic must be implemented using Dashboard Expressions
Inline conditional syntax is not supported in Text Widgets
Label parameters render only evaluated expression results, not raw logic
This approach applies to all text‑based fields, not just customer names

Summary

To display dynamic values with fallback handling in Bold BI Text Widgets:

Use expressions to manage null or empty values
Reference the expression through label parameters
Update values dynamically using filters such as Combo Box widgets

This approach ensures consistent rendering and prevents evaluation or formatting issues in Text Widgets.

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Written by Erick Oloo Awino

Updated:

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