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How to Handle Empty Values with IFISEMPTY

Learn how to prevent unwanted zeros and handle empty cells properly using the IFISEMPTY function in cobby.

The Problem​

When you reference an empty cell in Excel, it typically displays as 0. This can cause issues when:

  • Setting special prices (0 means free)
  • Copying data from empty cells
  • Building formulas that should remain blank
  • Working with optional product attributes

The Solution: IFISEMPTY​

IFISEMPTY is a custom function available in cobby that checks if a value is empty and returns a specified value instead.

Syntax​

=IFISEMPTY(value; value_if_empty)

Parameters​

  • value: The cell or value to check
  • value_if_empty: What to return if the value is empty

Why Use IFISEMPTY Instead of IF?​

=IF(ISEMPTY(A1); ""; A1)

This works but requires two calculations, which slows down large workbooks.

=IFISEMPTY(A1;"")

This performs only one calculation, significantly improving performance with large datasets.

Step-by-Step: Set Special Prices from Cost Column​

This example shows how to copy costs to special price without accidentally setting products to free.

Step 1: Load Products​

Load your product data into cobby.

Step 2: Reference the Cost Column​

In the Special Price column, enter:

=[@Cost]

Problem: Products without a cost value show 0 in Special Price, making them free.

Step 3: Add IFISEMPTY​

Replace the formula with:

=IFISEMPTY([@Cost];"")

Result:

  • Products with costs: Special Price is set to the cost value
  • Products without costs: Special Price remains empty (not 0)

Step 4: Save Products​

Click "Save products" to transfer the special prices to your store.

Common Use Cases​

Copy Optional Attributes​

=IFISEMPTY([@[Special Price]];"")

Copies the special price only if it exists, otherwise leaves it blank.

Default Values​

=IFISEMPTY([@[Meta Description]];[@[Short Description]])

Uses short description if meta description is empty.

Conditional Calculations​

=IFISEMPTY([@Cost];[@Price]*0.5;[@Cost]*1.2)

Uses cost markup if available, otherwise calculates from price.

Benefits​

Performance​

  • Reduces calculation time in large workbooks
  • Single calculation instead of double
  • Faster product saves with many formulas

Accuracy​

  • Prevents unwanted zeros
  • Avoids accidentally setting prices to 0
  • Maintains data integrity

Simplicity​

  • Cleaner formula syntax
  • Easier to read and maintain
  • Less prone to errors

Tips​

  • Always use IFISEMPTY when referencing optional attributes
  • Test your formula on a few products before applying to all
  • Use "" for empty text or 0 for empty numbers as needed
  • Combine with other functions for complex logic

Troubleshooting​

Still seeing zeros?
  • Check that you're using IFISEMPTY, not IF(ISEMPTY())
  • Verify the cell format is set to "Standard"
  • Make sure you have the latest cobby version
Formula not recognized?
  • IFISEMPTY is a cobby-specific function
  • It only works in cobby workbooks, not regular Excel files
  • Use the fx button to browse available functions
  • ISEMPTY: Checks if a value is empty (returns TRUE/FALSE)