You could replace the original field with:

IF sum(Field)==0 then ''  // IF THE SUM IS ZERO, REPLACE WITH AN EMPTY STRING

else str(sum(Field)) end  // OTHERWISE, RETURN THE SUM AS A STRING

But the result will be a String, not a number, which may lead to other headaches and I'm sure there are other ways to accomplish this.

Overly complicated, inferior solution deleted by author.

--Shawn

I might be over-simplifying here, but what about something like:

IF SUM([Sales]) > 0 OR SUM([Sales]) < 0 THEN SUM([Sales]) END

?

More likely that I was over complicating it, I'd think.

I think custom number formatting is what you are after.

In Excel it is usually enough to write 0; -0; where the last semicolon formats zero as blank, but it doesn't work like this in Tableau. However, it works if you write "" indicating a text: 0;-0;""

.

Ps. Online Help  says custom format can be specified by an Excel style number code ... and it seems to work almost like Excel. A more detailed documentation of which code can be used would be helpful and therefore hope some Tableau technical writer employee reads this.

Matthew you think you over-complicated it? I REALLY over-complicated it! With pictures and everything. Oh well.

Cheers,

--Shawn

Even simpler: IF SUM() <> 0 THEN SUM() END

Thanks for the tip, Johan, I always forget what's possible with the custom formatting!

With regards to your documentation note, here's a post from a couple years ago with a bunch of what we can do:

http://www.clearlyandsimply.com/clearly_and_simply/2011/04/tableau-quick-tip-2-custom-number-formats.html#more

Shawn, did you reply by email? I had used SUM([Sales]) in my original reply but it didn't make it through to the post, I've sent an email to Dustin & Tracy to get their feedback.

Thanks for the link. It is very helpful.

Interesting findings in regard to this question about blank zeros:

{0;-0;}   shows zero

{0;-0; }   hides zero

The only difference is that a space is added after semicolon.

Nope, I just posted on the forums, but did copy your format.

From: Jonathan Drummey

Sent: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 9:00 AM

To: Shawn Wallwork

Subject: Re:  - how to show blank cells when sum is 0

            Tableau Support Community

            how to show blank cells when sum is 0

            reply from Jonathan Drummey in Forums - View the full discussion

NOTE: This was sent as a reply to your email notice.

That's just weird.