Hi Carly,
I am using both "item" and "item desc" in one single report table. To be more specific this report table has only these two columns. Also "item" object is directly retrieving data from database table and the "item desc" is a report level variable that needs to be created to display 'Y' for rows of "item" that has data and 'N' for rows that are null. I am quite sure there is no context coming here. Even the deski version of this report uses Item Desc=if (isnull([Item])) then "N" else "Y" formula and it shows the desired output. It is just that this formula is not working in Webi.
Regards,
Argha