Author: Jim Bob Howard

Many times, requirements call for a column to be set to empty via a workflow. If you simply leave the set to empty, the workflow will give you an error.

To blank out any column in SPD:

• Create an Initiation variable (Name it something like EmptyString or NoDate) of the type you want to blank out

Click Initiation… to create a Workflow variable you can use to set a column to null


Click Add…  to create as many null Initiation types as you need

• Leave it blank (for Date/Time set to Blank default value)

Single line of text


Multiple lines of text


Number


Date/Time

Note: For Choice and Yes/No, use Single Line of Text for an ID or Lookup field, try Number or Single Line of Text

• Update the column you want to blank out with the value from your Initiation variable, which will appear in the Workflow Data list

When using an "Update" action, set your column to your blank Initiation variable

As long as the column you are updating isn’t required, you should have no trouble blanking it out using an SPD workflow.

Author: Jim Bob Howard

Jim Bob Howard is a web designer / web master in the healthcare industry. He has been working with SharePoint only since March 2009 and enjoys sharing what he has learned. You can email him at [email protected].