List columns now support specifying a default option used when the value would otherwise be null.

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+* **Build 27x** (2015-06-xx)
+ - List columns now support specifying a `default` option used when the value would otherwise be null.
+
 * **Build 272** (2015-06-27)
   - Protected images and their thumbnails are now supported in the back-end.
   - Editing CMS templates now support form fields that use AJAX.

modules/backend/classes/ListColumn.php

@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ class ListColumn
      */
     public $valueFrom;
 
+    /**
+     * @var string Specifies a default value when value is empty.
+     */
+    public $defaults;
+
     /**
      * @var string Custom SQL for selecting this record display value,
      * the @ symbol is replaced with the table name.
@@ -134,6 +139,9 @@ class ListColumn
         if (isset($config['valueFrom'])) {
             $this->valueFrom = $config['valueFrom'];
         }
+        if (isset($config['default'])) {
+            $this->defaults = $config['default'];
+        }
         if (isset($config['select'])) {
             $this->sqlSelect = $config['select'];
         }

modules/backend/widgets/Lists.php

@@ -783,6 +783,13 @@ class Lists extends WidgetBase
             $value = $this->{'eval'. studly_case($column->type) .'TypeValue'}($record, $column, $value);
         }
 
+        /*
+         * Apply default value.
+         */
+        if (empty($value)) {
+            $value = $column->defaults;
+        }
+
         /*
          * Extensibility
          */