Tableau: Using Date Slider Filter w/ NULL Cells

1
votes

I have a sliding date range filter that is tied to a text table in Tableau. The text table shows addresses and lease expiration dates but some of the dates are blank and therefore show as NULL. When I use the sliding date range filter, the NULL data still shows. The picture below has the filter currently set to Jan 2020 - Sep 2040, yet the NULLs are still showing.

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I do not want to completely remove the NULL data from the text table, only when the date filter is applied. In the edit Filter option, there is a button to 'Include Null Values'. If I unselect it, then the NULLs are removed from the text table.

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How do I keep the NULLS in the text table and only remove them when the date slider is used?

1
datenulltableau-api

1 Answers

1
votes

Your problem highlights a genuine need. While, it seems to me, that there is no direct solution to your problem, still you can do one the few workarounds.

Consider the following sample data

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Workaround-1 create a new calculated field NULL dates with calculation as

ISNULL([DATE])

Now include this field (T/F) in the filter along with date range filter (with NULL values included indeed). The two filters simultaneously can do your job

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Workaround-2 create a new date field wherein the null can either be shifted to just above or below the max/min of all the dates available. Use this calculation-

IF ISNULL([Date]) = TRUE
then DATEADD('day', 1, {Max([Date])}) ELSE [Date] END

This will shift your null values to either end of the filter and whenever you'll filter that slider the dates will be filtered out else not.

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Still I think first strategy with two filters should be better as it has more flexibility.