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# Blank cells and missing values

Why a downloaded file can have empty cells, and why ZeraBooks never fills them with a guess.

## Documents are read once

ZeraBooks reads each document once, when you upload it. A download format only chooses and arranges what was read. It never reads the document again and never makes up a value.

So when a document doesn't show a value, that cell stays empty. For example, most bank lines have no reference: in the **Xero-ready** or **Sage-ready** format, only the rows with a check number have one.

## Common blank cells

- **Reference** or **Check Number**: only on check transactions.
- **Balance**: only when the statement prints a running balance.
- **Cardholder**: only on card statements with several cardholders.
- **Payee**: only when a payee can be read from the line.
- **Money In** and **Money Out**: each row fills one of the two; the other is empty.
- Invoice fields such as **Due Date**, **Terms**, **PO Number** or **Quantity**: only when the invoice prints them.

## Frequently Asked Questions

<details>
<summary>What if a column I want isn't on the document?</summary>

ZeraBooks never guesses. A value the document doesn't show is an empty cell. Fill it in your spreadsheet or accounting software after you download.
</details>

<details>
<summary>Why is the Reference column mostly empty?</summary>

Most bank lines aren't checks, so the statement shows no check number for them. Only check transactions have one.
</details>

<details>
<summary>A value is on the PDF but the cell is empty. What now?</summary>

Open the document and compare it with your PDF. If a transaction's details were read wrong, correct them on the statement; downloads use your corrected rows. See [Fix a statement](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/convert-documents/fix-a-statement).
</details>

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