How can I remove or replace strings (not set)
in my GridView and ListView?
6 Answers
Two ways that I know (now):
Formatter
Set nullDisplay of Formatter to something other than null. You can do this in global configuration or for the single GridView or DetailView.
Globally (typically in config/web.php
or <application>/config/main.php
files):
'components' => [
...
'formatter' => [
'class' => 'yii\i18n\Formatter',
'nullDisplay' => '',
],
...
],
In certain GridView (same with DetailView):
<?= GridView::widget([
'dataProvider' => $myProvider,
'formatter' => ['class' => 'yii\i18n\Formatter','nullDisplay' => ''],
'columns' => [
...
],
]); ?>
Set the value
Probably not so elegant. In a certain GridView:
<?= GridView::widget([
'dataProvider' => $myProvider,
'columns' => [
...
[
'attribute' => 'some_attribute',
'format' => 'raw',
'value' => function (ModelClass $model) {
if ($model->some_attribute != null) {
return $model->some_attribute;
//or: return Html::encode($model->some_attribute)
} else {
return '';
}
},
],
...
],
]); ?>
Or in a certain DetailView:
<?= DetailView::widget([
'model' => $model,
'attributes' => [
...
[
'attribute' => 'some_attribute',
'value' => $model->some_attribute != null ? $model->some_attribute : '',
//or: 'value' => $model->some_attribute != null ? Html::encode($model->some_attribute) : '',
],
...
],
]) ?>
Two hints
If several approaches are used at the same time: setting the value (directly or by function) overrides the formatter configuration of the Grid/DetailView, and this in turn overrides a global formatter configuration.
You can also define something different than an empty string. E.g. if bootstrap is used you may want to use \yii\bootstrap\Html::icon('question-sign')
(or '<span class="glyphicon glyphicon-question-sign"></span>'
) to get a symbol for missing values.

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Ok but consider using `$attribute !== null` or similar instead of `!= null`. – Alexeyer Oct 20 '22 at 19:55
Set emptycell in gridview config:
<?= GridView::widget([
'dataProvider' => $dataProvider,
'filterModel' => $searchModel,
'emptyCell'=>'-',
'columns' => [
['class' => 'yii\grid\SerialColumn'],
.........
['class' => 'yii\grid\ActionColumn'],
],
]); ?>
or in :
'attribute' => 'description',
'label' => Yii::t('app', 'description'),
'value' => function($data) {
return !empty($data->description) ? $data->description : '-';
}
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This is not the right. As documentation says emptyCell is to show when nothing is returned. – Prescol Oct 12 '17 at 00:31
for kartik\grid\GridView
;
'class' => 'kartik\grid\EditableColumn',
'attribute'=>'myAttribute',
'header' => 'myHeader',
'editableOptions' => [
'inputType' => \kartik\editable\Editable::INPUT_TEXT,
'valueIfNull' => '-',
/**
* @var string the value to be displayed. If not set, this will default to the attribute value. If the attribute
* value is null, then this will display the value as set in [[valueIfNull]].
*/
public $displayValue;

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For DetailView and GridView I use if else in columns
DetailView:
<?= DetailView::widget([
'model' => $model,
'attributes' => [
['label' => 'labelName', 'value' => function($data) {
if (!empty($data->tDeal->DealDate)) {
return $data->tDeal->DealDate;
} else { return ''; }
}],
],
])
?>
GridView:
<?= GridView::widget([
'dataProvider' => $dataProvider,
'columns' => [
['label' => 'labelName', 'value' => function($data) {
if (!empty($data->tDeal->DealDate)) {
return $data->tDeal->DealDate;
} else { return ''; }
}],
],
])
?>

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I wouldnt recommend set nullDisplay method. It is best practical to check if the variable you access is null or not.
I would do
//model code
public function getProjectName()
{
$project = $this->project;
return ($project) ? $project->name : '';
}
//your gridview
<?= GridView::widget([
'dataProvider' => $myProvider,
'columns' => [
...
[
'attribute' => 'some_attribute',
'format' => 'raw',
'value' => function (ModelClass $model) {
$model->projectName;
},
],
...
],
]); ?>

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3Why is checking each item to null is better than setting formatter to null. Explain – Double H Aug 13 '15 at 16:11