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DATA · JOURNAL EXPORTS

Crypto Trading-Journal Exports: Null vs Zero - Handle Missing Fields Correctly

Journal exports mix fields that are blank because they don't apply with fields that are blank because nobody filled them in. Analysis has to know which.

By ChartsPod Editorial Team · Reviewed by ChartsPod Research
Published · Updated · 5 min read

Short answer

In a trading-journal export, a blank exit price on an open trade means 'not applicable yet', a blank fee field often means 'not recorded' (unknown), and a fee of 0 means a genuinely free fill (e.g. a maker rebate netted to zero). Before analysis, map each column: required fields that are blank should be flagged, not zero-filled; open trades should be excluded from closed-trade statistics; and fees should be reconciled with exchange records. Zero-filling unknown fees inflates net results.

Fields and what missing values mean

FieldNull / absent meansZero / empty means
Exit priceOpen trade: not applicable—
FeeNot recorded: unknown0: genuinely no fee
TagNot tagged—
StopNo planned stop recorded—
ScreenshotNot attached—
Journal Exports: how to read each fieldJournal Exports: how to read each field: Exit price — Open trade: not applicable; Fee — Not recorded: unknown; Tag — Not tagged; Stop — No planned stop recorded; Screenshot — Not attached.Exit priceOpen trade: not applicableFeeNot recorded: unknownTagNot taggedStopNo planned stop recordedScreenshotNot attached
Journal Exports: missing vs zero, field by field. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

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Handling policy

Policy for this sourcePolicy for this source: Separate open from closed trades; Flag blank required fields; Never zero-fill fees; Reconcile fees with exchange; Count untagged trades.POLICY FOR THIS SOURCESeparate open from closed tradesFlag blank required fieldsNever zero-fill feesReconcile fees with exchangeCount untagged trades
Apply this policy to every journal exports request. Original ChartsPod editorial graphic.

Illustrative: an export with 40 blank fee cells treated as zero reports +$1,200 net; reconciling with exchange fee records gives +$860.

Conclusion

Related: Trading-Journal Fee Reconciliation: A Worked Crypto Example With Fees Included, Crypto Backtest Trade Lists: Null vs Zero - Handle Missing Fields Correctly.

Zero-filling unknown fees inflates net results.

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Questions readers ask

Is a blank fee zero?

No; it's unknown until reconciled.

Should open trades be in statistics?

Not in closed-trade results.

What about untagged trades?

Count and report them.

Sources and methodology

Field definitions come from DEX Screener's API reference, CoinGecko's onchain API documentation and Binance's Spot API documentation, read 17 October 2026. Where a schema was not visible in the documentation, this guide says so and describes defensive handling rather than asserting field behaviour.

  1. ChartsPod: product overview, pricing and FAQ — free terminal, venues, modules, no order placement; checked 17 Oct 2026.
  2. ChartsPod documentation — guides for order flow, derivatives, alerts, backtests, journal and workspaces.

This article explains research tools and workflows. It is not financial advice, does not recommend buying or selling any asset and does not predict prices. Crypto derivatives carry a risk of rapid and total loss of margin.

CHARTSPOD EDITORIAL EDITION · RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ONLY · NOT FINANCIAL ADVICE.