7 Replies Latest reply on Jul 19, 2018 9:38 AM by Chris Panks

Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Chris Panks Jul 18, 2018 1:22 PM

This is how a portion of my data looks. The source fields are all of a numeric data type. Tableau makes some of these string data type, and other numeric. One of my needs is to count non-null values in the [Wisc Dsf] column. However, there are no null values, because a default value of 0.0 is there (these are all null or empty strings coming from the redcap source). Since 0.0 is a possibly valid value for that column, I can't exclude from the count based on that value.

I notice that the string data type columns have blanks. I can work with that. Is there a way to tell the data connector to make everything a string data type?

And, unrelated, can I tell the data connector to quit messing with my column headers, and just give them to me as I wrote them in the first place instead of making them so ugly?

Thank you!

tableau_default_zeroes.jpg 253.8 KB

1. Re: Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Joe Oppelt Jul 18, 2018 1:55 PM (in response to Chris Panks)

In your screenshot there is a little pound sign above all those numeric fields. if you click on it, you can change the data type of each to ABC. You'll have to do each column individually.
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
2. Re: Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Jeff Strauss Jul 18, 2018 1:55 PM (in response to Chris Panks)

Is it an option to convert it via the data navigation window to a string as in this example?
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
3. Re: Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Chris Panks Jul 18, 2018 2:44 PM (in response to Joe Oppelt)

Thanks for your suggestion. When I do that, I get left-aligned string zeroes in the column, not the nulls or blanks that I can use. My guess is that it reformats what has been imported, it doesn't go back and make that a string variable for import.
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
4. Re: Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Chris Panks Jul 18, 2018 2:49 PM (in response to Jeff Strauss)

Thanks!
Again, that converts the existing numeric zeroes into string zeroes, it doesn't go back and change how the original data is imported.
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
5. Re: Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Jeff Strauss Jul 18, 2018 3:00 PM (in response to Chris Panks)

Maybe it's specific to redcap? I tried a Postgres, Excel, and csv datasource, and all the # fields were kept as null if there was no value. One other suggestion is within the data connection window, try changing the datatype here to a string and see if it helps.

1 of 1 people found this helpful
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
6. Re: Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Chris Panks Jul 19, 2018 8:02 AM (in response to Jeff Strauss)

Thank you, it's great to have that confirmation that this is not the expected behavior. As a workaround, maybe I'll try exporting from redcap to a csv, to see if that makes the data usable.
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
7. Re: Can I force a data connection to assign all fields as string data type?

Chris Panks Jul 19, 2018 9:38 AM (in response to Chris Panks)

For anyone else that might come across this problem, getting the data to Tableau from Redcap via a csv file, instead of via a direct Web Connector did the job. The nulls are showing up as nulls. It's a clumsy workaround, but at least the data can be used until I figure out a better way.
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions