By default, when there's no value for a metric on a given day, Databox will display "No data to display" in visualizations like line or bar charts. However, some users prefer to show a 0 value instead.
There’s a simple workaround for this using Data Calculations and a custom metric that pushes the value 0 every day.
How to display 0 instead of no data
1. Create a custom metric using the Databox Token or Google Sheets
SIMPLE OPTION: You can create a new spreadsheet and create two columns. The first column contains future dates for each day, and the second column contains the value "0" for each row/day.
Please note that this option requires you to connect the spreadsheet to Databox as a new Data Source which may cause additional charges.
ADVANCED OPTION: If you know how to navigate through pushing custom data using the Databox Token API, you can push the value "0" for each day for the next couple of years.
2. Use Data Calculations to combine with your main metric
Open the Data Calculations page and sum together your original metric with the new custom metric you created in the previous step: [Your Metric] + [Zero Metric]
Now, even on days when your main metric has no value, the chart will still display a 0 instead of a gap or "No data to display".
This approach helps keep your visualizations clean and consistent, especially in reports where stakeholders expect to see trends—even when there’s no activity.
For more on using Data Calculations, visit: How to use Data Calculations.