# How to make an empty variable show a default text

**URL:** <https://community.blippa.com/t/how-to-make-an-empty-variable-show-a-default-text/147>\
**Category:** Uncategorized\
**Tags:** variables\
**Created:** [October 26, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.blippa.com/t/how-to-make-an-empty-variable-show-a-default-text/147 "2023-10-26T13:15:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![mrunhem](https://community.blippa.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@mrunhem](https://community.blippa.com/u/mrunhem)\
**Post date:** [October 26, 2023, 1:15pm UTC](https://community.blippa.com/t/how-to-make-an-empty-variable-show-a-default-text/147/1 "2023-10-26T13:15:25Z")

</div>

Use “?text” after the var:key

Like this:

$var:surname?(Name is missing)$

If the variable surname does not contain any data, the text (Name missing) will be displayed.

To use with other formatting options:  
$var:date:yyyy-mm-dd?(Date is missing)$