{{ transformations:FillGapsAction.png}}
====== FILL DOWN ======
Category: Transform / Advanced\\

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=====Description=====
This action fills the empty cells in selected columns by duplicating the value of the last non-empty cell above the empty ones. The cells are filled downwards.\\

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=====Use cases=====
  * To fill gaps that may be inherent in an imported outlined or hierarchical data structure.

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=====Action settings=====
^Setting ^Description ^
|Fill gaps in selected columns|Select one or more columns to fill empty cells within.|
|Group by selected columns|Select the column(s) where matching values will determine what the source value is to fill in.|

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=====Examples=====

**Example 1:** Add the name of the country in the empty cells of the column "Country".\\

**Table:** Countries and States/ Provinces

^  Country  ^  State/ Province  ^
|Canada  |Alberta  |
|    |British Columbia  |
|    |Manitoba  |
|USA  |Alabama  |
|    |Alaska  |
|    |Arizona  |
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**Action parameters:**
> Select "Country" column.
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**Result table:**

^  Country  ^  State/ Province  ^
|Canada  |Alberta  |
|Canada  |British Columbia  |
|Canada  |Manitoba  |
|USA  |Alabama  |
|USA  |Alaska  |
|USA  |Arizona  |
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**Example 2:** Fill in empty cells in "First Name" based on the values in "Last Name" and "Position".\\

**Table:** Staff positions

^Row Num ^First Name  ^Last Name  ^Position  ^
|  1|Bob |Wilson |Admin |
|  2| |Wilson |Admin |
|  3|Lisa |Smith |CEO |
|  4|Darci |Wilson |Accountant |
|  5| |Wainright |Accountant |
|  6|Tony |Smith |Accountant |
|  7| |Smith |Accountant |
|  8|Roger |Wainright |Accountant |
|  9| |Smith |Custodial |
|  10| |Wilson |Admin |
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**Action parameters:**
> Fill gaps in "First Name" column
> Group by "Last Name" and "Position" columns
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**Result table:**
^Row Num ^First Name  ^Last Name  ^Position  ^
|  1|Bob |Wilson |Admin |
|  2|Bob |Wilson |Admin |
|  3|Lisa |Smith |CEO |
|  4|Darci |Wilson |Accountant |
|  5| |Wainright |Accountant |
|  6|Tony |Smith |Accountant |
|  7|Tony |Smith |Accountant |
|  8|Roger |Wainright |Accountant |
|  9| |Smith |HR Manager|
|  10|Bob |Wilson |Admin |

  * "Bob" is filled in where Last Name is "Wilson" //and// Position is "Admin" (rows 2 and 10).\\
  * "Tony" is filled in where Last Name is "Smith" //and// Position is "Accountant" (row 7).  It is //not// filled in row 9 as Position is "HR Manager" and no previous records have a First Name value for the Last Name = "Smith" and Position = "HR Manager" combination.\\
  * No value is filled in row 5 as there is no Last Name = "Wainright" and Position = "Accountant" record //prior// to the empty cell. (The First Name of "Roger" - row 8 - falls //after// the empty value - row 5.)\\

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====Community examples====
  * [[https://community.easymorph.com/t//1686/2|Aggregation of consecutive date ranges]] ([[https://community.easymorph.com/uploads/short-url/xyC5nPd52hGrMiRXjp5w1RVUTYL.morph|Project]]; Module: //Main//; Group: //Tab 1//; Table: //Easymorph Patient Example Data.xlsx//;\\ Action position: //9//)
  * [[https://community.easymorph.com/t//2275/2|Data on multiple rows from Excel file]] ([[https://community.easymorph.com/uploads/short-url/xmZfLPwSmGmm6WmlLRV2XkCKAo4.morph|Project]]; Module: //Main//; Group: //Group 1//; Table: //Book1.xlsx//; Action position: //2//)
  * [[https://community.easymorph.com/t//1972/2|Read Data with two line header]] ([[https://community.easymorph.com/uploads/short-url/4YFQxslIv3pmgtF2eRywf4wpcFQ.morph|Project]]; Module: //Main//; Group: //Tab 1//; Table: //Read, Mark groups//; Action position: //6//)

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=====See also=====
  * [[transformations:fillright|Fill right]]