Cloudera Docs

Including null values in date filters

The date filter enables you to select null values for visualization. The following instructions use a Scatter visual, which is built on the Issue Tracker dataset. This dataset includes issues that are created and resolved and also issues that are created but still open. Resolved issues have a timestamp and open issues have a 'null' value. By default, visuals only display values with a timestamp. This feature enables you to configure the date filter and display 'null' values in the visuals.

Creating a dashboard with date filters

The quick date filter enables you to provide a quick selection of date ranges for visualizing your data. This example shows a dashboard with a Scatter visual that plots created and resolved issues.

  1. Create a new dashboard and name it 'Issue Completeness'.
  2. In the Dashboard Designer, create a Scatter visual based on the Issue Tracker dataset.
  3. Populate the shelves from the available Dimensions and Measures fields in the DATA menu.
    1. Under the X shelf, add created from Measures.
    2. Under the Y shelf, add resolved from Measures.
    3. Click the field to open the Field Properties menu and make the following changes:
      • Select Enter/Edit Expression, enter the following expression, and click SAVE:
        if([resolved] IS NOT NULL,datediff([resolved],[created]),datediff(now(),[created]))
      • Select Alias and name the field 'Days Open'.
    4. Under Colors, add assignee from Dimensions.
    5. Under Tooltips, add the following fields:
      • Description
      • Issue Key
      • Assignee
      • Date Open
      • Date Closed
    6. Under Filters, add created and resolved from Dimensions.
  4. Click REFRESH VISUAL.
  5. Click SAVE.
    The visual appears in the main area of the dashboard interface.
  6. Add two date filters, created and resolved in the dashboard, with a date range from 2018-06-25 to 2018-09-12.
    For information on how to create date filters in a dashboard, see Using fixed dates (date range picker) mode.
  7. Click SAVE.
The following image shows the new dashboard you have created. This visual does not include the null values in the dataset.
Proceed to the next section to learn how to include null values in a visual.

Including null values in a visual

The quick date filter enables you to provide a quick selection of date ranges for visualizing your data.

You have created dashboard with a scatter visual that plots created and resolved issues.
  1. Hover over the top right corner of the resolved filter and click to configure the filter.
  2. On the Values tab of the Settings modal window, select the Permit selection of NULL values option.
  3. Click APPLY.
  4. Click the Calendar icon on the resolved filter.
    The Include NULLs option appears in the drop-down menu.
  5. Close the drop-down menu without selecting the Include NULLs option.

    The following image shows that the Current Parameters on the top right corner shows resolved.include_nulls: false, indicating that the Include NULLs option was not selected in the filter.

  6. Click the Calendar icon on the resolved filter and select the Include NULLs option.

    The following image shows that the Current Parameters modal in the top right corner shows resolved.include_nulls: true, indicating that the Include NULLs option was selected in the filter. The visual now includes the null values in the dataset.

  7. To verify that the visual includes null values, hover over one of the selections to view the tooltip.

    The following image shows that Date Closed has a 'NULL' value.