# Store 0 by default **URL:** \ **Category:** Support - Assistance technique\ **Created:** [4 October 2012 02:37 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/store-0-by-default/1283 "2012-10-04T02:37:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hiatt\_Mr\_Tom\_WPRO](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@Hiatt\_Mr\_Tom\_WPRO](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Hiatt_Mr_Tom_WPRO)\ **Post date:** [4 October 2012 02:37 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/store-0-by-default/1283/1 "2012-10-04T02:37:54Z")
Somehow I missed changing the setting for storing 0 values even though I was aware of it. For me 0 values are important (“0 cases” is very different from an “Unknown amount of cases”). I would suggest changing the default setting on installation to store 0 values rather than ignore as this gives the user the option to change this in the future. In my case, unfortunately this data is lost ☹ Thanks, Tom > **···** > > * * * > > This message was scanned for viruses with Trend Micro ScanMail, GFI MailSecurity and GFI MailEssentials by the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. However, the recipient is advised to scan this e-mail and any attached files for viruses. > > Disclaimer: > > This e-mail, together with any attachments, is intended for the named recipients only and is confidential. It may also be privileged or otherwise protected by law. > > If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete it and any attachments from your system. You may not copy or disclose its contents to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![muhireandrew2020](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/muhireandrew2020/32/39842_2.png) [@muhireandrew2020](https://community.dhis2.org/u/muhireandrew2020)\ **Post date:** [4 October 2012 04:28 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/store-0-by-default/1283/2 "2012-10-04T04:28:36Z")
Hi Tom, On my side, i think its logical to make it optional(store zero value), because some of the country would not like to see zero`s in their database depending on what they are collecting. Back to the point, there is a useful functionality that automatically switches store zero value to yes or No Here is the quickest way to do this go to Data administration------\>Zero value storage----Here you can specify which data values may store zero`s or not. if you want all to store zero you make sure all data elements are moved using move all. Thanks Andrew > **···** > > * * * > > _Muhire Andrew_ > > _HMIS/Ministry of Health_ > > First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do._._ > > * * * > > **From:** “hiattt@wpro.who.int” [hiattt@wpro.who.int](mailto:hiattt@wpro.who.int) > **To:** [dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net](mailto:dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net) > **Sent:** Thursday, October 4, 2012 4:37 AM > **Subject:** [Dhis2-users] Store 0 by default > > Somehow I missed changing the setting for storing 0 values even though I was aware of it. > For me 0 values are important (“0 cases” is very different from an “Unknown amount of cases”). I would suggest changing the default setting on installation to store 0 values rather than ignore as this gives the user the option to change this in the future. > In my case, unfortunately this data is lost ☹ > > Thanks, > > Tom > > This message was scanned for viruses with Trend Micro ScanMail, GFI MailSecurity and GFI MailEssentials by the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. However, the recipient is advised to scan this e-mail and any attached files for viruses. > > Disclaimer: > > This e-mail, together with any attachments, is intended for the named recipients only and is confidential. It may also be privileged or otherwise protected by law. > > If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete it and any attachments from your system. You may not copy or disclose its contents to anyone. > > * * * > > * * * > > Mailing list: [https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users](https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users) > Post to : [dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net](mailto:dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net) > Unsubscribe : [https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users](https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users) > More help : [https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp](https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp) ---
**Author:** ![Hiatt\_Mr\_Tom\_WPRO](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/h/35a633/32.png) [@Hiatt\_Mr\_Tom\_WPRO](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Hiatt_Mr_Tom_WPRO)\ **Post date:** [4 October 2012 05:21 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/store-0-by-default/1283/3 "2012-10-04T05:21:07Z")
Thanks, Andrew. I understand the option; my only suggestion is to change the default behavior as a more conservative approach. But I guess it depends on the majority of use cases. Tom > **···** > > * * * > > This message was scanned for viruses with Trend Micro ScanMail, GFI MailSecurity and GFI MailEssentials by the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. However, the recipient is advised to scan this e-mail and any attached files for viruses. > > Disclaimer: > > This e-mail, together with any attachments, is intended for the named recipients only and is confidential. It may also be privileged or otherwise protected by law. > > If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete it and any attachments from your system. You may not copy or disclose its contents to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![muhireandrew2020](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/muhireandrew2020/32/39842_2.png) [@muhireandrew2020](https://community.dhis2.org/u/muhireandrew2020)\ **Post date:** [4 October 2012 07:05 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/store-0-by-default/1283/4 "2012-10-04T07:05:27Z")
Great its a good idea. Thanks! > **···** > > * * * > > - Muhire Andrew\* > > _HMIS/Ministry of Health_ > > First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do._._ > > * * * > > **From:** “hiattt@wpro.who.int” [hiattt@wpro.who.int](mailto:hiattt@wpro.who.int) > **To:** [muhireandrew@yahoo.com](mailto:muhireandrew@yahoo.com); [dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net](mailto:dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net) > **Sent:** Thursday, October 4, 2012 7:21 AM > **Subject:** RE: [Dhis2-users] Store 0 by default > > Thanks, Andrew. I understand the option; my only suggestion is to change the default behavior as a more conservative approach. But I > guess it depends on the majority of use cases. > > Tom > > This message was scanned for viruses with Trend Micro ScanMail, GFI MailSecurity and GFI MailEssentials by the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific. However, the recipient is advised to scan this e-mail and any attached files for viruses. > > Disclaimer: > > This e-mail, together with any attachments, is intended for the named recipients only and is confidential. It may also be privileged or otherwise protected by law. > > If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete it and any attachments from your system. You may not copy or disclose its contents to anyone. > > * * * ---
**Author:** ![Lars](https://dhis2.b-cdn.net/user_avatar/community.dhis2.org/lars/32/34166_2.png) [@Lars](https://community.dhis2.org/u/Lars)\ **Post date:** [4 October 2012 07:06 UTC](https://community.dhis2.org/t/store-0-by-default/1283/5 "2012-10-04T07:06:55Z")
Hi Tom, I understand your concern and I think we could put more emphasis on this in the documentation. The decision for not storing zeros as the default option was made with a view to performance and usefulness. Typically in a large country implementation, 70% of the records end up being zeros, which will impact performance and storage size correspondingly. Also, when you aggregate up one level in the hierarchy or in the time dimension, the significance of zeros disappear. On the other hand, zeros have some usefulness in seeing where data has actually been entered. When considering this trade-off we decided that not storing them would be the most viable default option. As you know, this is fully configurable. regards, Lars > **···** > > On Thu, Oct 4, 2012 at 7:21 AM, \ wrote: > > > Thanks, Andrew. I understand the option; my only suggestion is to change the > > default behavior as a more conservative approach. But I guess it depends on > > the majority of use cases. > > > > Tom > > > > \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > > > > This message was scanned for viruses with Trend Micro ScanMail, GFI > > MailSecurity and GFI MailEssentials by the World Health Organization > > Regional Office for the Western Pacific. However, the recipient is advised > > to scan this e-mail and any attached files for viruses. > > > > Disclaimer: > > > > This e-mail, together with any attachments, is intended for the named > > recipients only and is confidential. It may also be privileged or otherwise > > protected by law. > > > > If you have received it in error, please notify the sender immediately by > > reply e-mail and delete it and any attachments from your system. You may not > > copy or disclose its contents to anyone. > > > > \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ > > Mailing list: [DHIS 2 Users in Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users) > > Post to : dhis2-users@lists.launchpad.net > > Unsubscribe : [DHIS 2 Users in Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-users) > > More help : [ListHelp - Launchpad Help](https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp)