How to Change Signature Content Using IFNULL

The IFNULL...THEN...ELSE statement allows you to change the content in an email signature depending on whether a field contains data.

This is useful when employees may or may not have certain information available, such as a mobile number, personal sign-off, or LinkedIn profile.

With this statement, you can define:

  • What to show if a field is empty
  • What to show if the field contains data

This makes your email signatures dynamic and allows one template to work for all employees.

IFNULL statement syntax

Use the following syntax:

{ $$IFNULL(Field)$$THEN(Text if field is empty)$$ELSE(Content if field has value)$$ }

How it works:

  • IFNULL(Field) → checks whether the field is empty
  • THEN → content shown if the field has no value
  • ELSE → content shown when the field contains data

Example 1 — Show direct number if mobile is empty

If an employee does not have a mobile number, you may want to show the company direct number instead.

Example statement:

{$$IFNULL(Mobile)$$THEN(direct 208-555-1275)$$ELSE(cell ((Mobile)))$$}

Result:

Employee with mobile number:

cell 208-555-5678

Employee without mobile number:

direct 208-555-1275

This allows a single signature template to automatically adapt for each employee.

Example 2 — Dynamic email sign-off

You can allow employees to set their own sign-off, while still providing a company default if they leave the field empty.

First, create a field called SignOff and allow employees to edit it.

Then use the following statement:

{$$IFNULL(SignOff)$$THEN(Best regards)$$ELSE(((SignOff)))$$}

Result:

  • If the employee has entered a custom sign-off → it appears in the signature.
  • If the field is empty → the default Best regards is shown.

This removes the need to create multiple signature templates for different preferences.

Example 3 — Default company LinkedIn

You can allow employees to add their own LinkedIn profile, while falling back to the company page when the field is empty.

{$$IFNULL(LinkedIn)$$THEN(www.linkedin.com/company/xink/)$$ELSE(((LinkedIn)))$$}

Result:

  • If the employee provides a LinkedIn profile → their link is used.
  • If the field is empty → the company LinkedIn page is shown instead.

How to test the IFNULL statement

  1. Open Signatures in the Xink admin portal.
  2. Edit the signature template.
  3. Insert your IFNULL statement where the field should appear.
  4. Click Preview.
  5. Select different employees from the preview dropdown.
  6. Verify the results for users with and without field values.

Preview helps confirm that the condition works correctly before publishing the signature.

When to use IFNULL

Typical use cases include:

  • Showing a direct phone number when mobile is missing
  • Adding a company default sign-off
  • Displaying company social links when users have not added their own
  • Providing fallback content when fields are empty

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