# Dropdown List Blank String "Label" Shown as 0 on Initialization

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dropdown-list-blank-string-label-shown-as-0-on-initialization/74082>\
**Category:** Ignition\
**Tags:** ignition81, vision\
**Created:** [May 23, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dropdown-list-blank-string-label-shown-as-0-on-initialization/74082 "2023-05-23T16:53:01Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amarks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/amarks/32/45610_2.png) [@amarks](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/amarks)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 4:53pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dropdown-list-blank-string-label-shown-as-0-on-initialization/74082/1 "2023-05-23T16:53:01Z")

</div>

I have a dropdown used in a template that should show nothing (blank) when the 0 value is selected (which is the default), and allow users to select another value (1, or 2). This template is nested within a couple others.

However, when the dropdown is first loaded (default value of 0) it momentarily shows the `<select option>` prompt (acceptable), but then it shows a "0". Once I go into the template it doesn't show the zero. Then if I go back up a level and then down again it shows. Probably an initialization issue?

Even if I make the 0 row's Label a " " it still shows 0.

opening the top-level template:  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/3/8/383404df83e804f6c930707886ad11ff92192dbd.png)

going into the template:  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/8/7/8751ac20a4a8e92b508c6a6e6f7723a195b93fa5.png)

returning from the template (without saving i.e. no changes - zero is gone):  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/9/2/9244a17075ede0751de4a6e36552805967182e5d.png)

(the dropdown is transparent over one of the buttons in a multistate button)

Dataset for the dropdown is bound to one of two datasets:

```auto
if({ALTER.pumps3},{ALTER.dataset3},{ALTER.dataset2})

```

dataset2 (cell update binding):

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/5/1/51346b191f165ee1c510da1398ce431e66c0d7cc.png)

dataset3 (cell update binding):

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/8/a/8a6accccce62891da287a2bf12db4f689f99550a.png)

-- in both datasets row with a value of 0 has a blank "Label"

`ALTER.pumpXnumber` properties are template parameters

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amarks](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/amarks/32/45610_2.png) [@amarks](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/amarks)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2023, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/dropdown-list-blank-string-label-shown-as-0-on-initialization/74082/2 "2023-05-23T18:44:42Z")

</div>

I was able to remedy this by deleting the 0 value row and changing the no selection properties of the dropdown to a no selection value of 0 and a blank no selection string (since 0 is my default/auto value here). Still not sure why a 0 was shown instead of a blank though.

dataset3 now:

 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/a/0/a071d0b0b32b0b2fc6cc0f2519cad5965ef1fbdc.png)

no selection properties:  
 ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/original/3X/3/8/3835fb9fcbcc5f896fbb2fab09c5cf5d7e871b47.png)