SAP Knowledge Base Article - Public

3674325 - Handling of Null and Zero Values in SAP Analytics Cloud for BW Live Connections in SAP Analytic cloud (SAC).

Symptom

  • Data points are not showing in charts for null data points.
  • Zero values are not suppressed in charts and tables when Zero Suppression is turned on.
  • Empty cells or cells with "-" are displayed in tables for null values

Environment

SAP Analytics Cloud

Reproducing the Issue

  1. Logon to SAP Analytics Cloud
  2. Create a story in SAP Analytics Cloud using a BW Live Connection.
  3. Add a table or chart based on a query that includes:
    • Key figures that return null values (e.g., no data exists in the InfoProvider for future periods).
    • Key figures that return explicit zero values (e.g., calculated counters that evaluate to zero).
     
  4. Enable Zero Suppression in the chart or table settings.

Notice:

  1. Rows or columns containing only zeros are suppressed.
  2. Rows or columns containing a mix of zeros and non-zero values are not suppressed, and zeros remain visible.
  3. Null values are not displayed (shown as blank or “–” in tables; omitted in charts), even without explicit null suppression.

Cause

In SAP Analytics Cloud, Zero Suppression for BW Live Connections operates using the logic "ALL_CELLS_ARE_ZERO". This means:

  • A row or column is only suppressed if every cell in that row or column contains a zero value.
  • If any cell in the row or column contains a non-zero value, the entire row or column is displayed—including any zeros or nulls within it.
  • Null values (i.e., missing data in the underlying BW InfoProvider) are automatically suppressed in charts and shown as blank (“–”) in tables, regardless of the Zero Suppression setting.
  • Explicit zeros (e.g., from calculated key figures that evaluate to 0) are treated differently from nulls and will only be hidden if the entire row/column consists of zeros.

This behavior is by design and aligns with the current product implementation for BW Live data sources in SAC.

Resolution

This is expected behavior. To manage data display:

  • Understand that Zero Suppression in SAC does not hide individual zero cells—only entire rows or columns where all values are zero.
  • If future periods contain nulls (no data), they will naturally be omitted from charts and shown as blank in tables.
  • If future periods contain explicit zeros (e.g., from formulas), those zeros will appear unless the entire row/column is zero.
  • Consider adjusting the underlying BW query logic (e.g., using exceptions or conditional calculations) if different suppression behavior is required—but note that SAC’s suppression logic cannot be overridden at the story level beyond the current design.

See Also

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Keywords

Zeros, SAC, Charts, table, BW, key figures. , KBA , LOD-ANA-DES , Story Design & Visualizations , LOD-ANA-DES-NLQ , SAC Story Natural Language Query, suggestions , Problem

Product

SAP Analytics Cloud 1.0