---
title: "Use the IFBLANK Function to Merge Blocks and Fill Empty Values"
slug: "ifblank-function"
description: "Learn to apply the IFBLANK function to fill empty cells in a Block by pulling non-blank values from another Block."
updated: 2025-05-30T09:38:37Z
published: 2025-08-22T12:00:18Z
canonical: "kb.pigment.com/ifblank-function"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.pigment.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# IFBLANK function

## ​​​Description

Merges the contents of two Blocks, by calling values from the first source Block into a target Block, then filling any blank values with non-blank values from the second.

## Syntax

`IFBLANK(Metric to Fill, Value)`

## Arguments

| Argument | Type | Dimensions | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| *Metric to Fill* (required) | Any | Any Dimensions | First source Block that contains some blank cells. |
| *Value* (required) | Same Type as *Metric to Fill* | No Dimension or Dimensions of *Metric to Fill* | Number, formula or second source Block to fill the blanks with. |

## Returns

| Type | Dimensions |
| --- | --- |
| Same Type as *Metric to Fill* | Dimensions of *Metric to Fill* |

## Examples

| Formula | Result | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `IFBLANK(List.Dates1, List.Dates2)` | Overwrites current column with values from the property `List.Dates1`. Any blanks are filled by `List.Dates2` where it has data. | This is a convenient way to tidy up imports into Transaction Lists. |
| `IFBLANK(List.Dates1, IFBLANK(List.Dates2,List.Dates3))` | Nested `IFBLANK` expressions overwrite current column with values from the property `List.Dates1`. Any blanks are filled by `List.Dates2` then by `List.Dates3` where they have data. | This merges three columns into one, respecting a hierarchy. |
| `IFBLANK(SOURCE_METRIC, 20)` | Returns a Metric full of `SOURCE_METRIC` data and 20s. | Filling the current Metric in this way is convenient but makes it high density, which can slow down performance. Coupling with `IF()` expressions can remediate this. |
| `IFBLANK(SOURCE_METRIC, PREVIOUS(MONTH))` | Returns a Metric full of `SOURCE_METRIC` data, with any `BLANKS` filled with data from the previous month. | As above, convenient but if you encounter performance issues, combine with `IF()` expressions. |

See more details on the above examples in the [IFBLANK Use Cases](/v1/docs/ifblank-use-cases) article.

## See also

Related articles: [ISBLANK](/v1/docs/isblank-function)

> [!TIP]
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> 
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