I'd like the users to set default text for web page column in the .Net Master Page but also give them the option of overriding this text on individual pages if they want.

On my Master Page there's a field called textOnTheSide, default content has been added.

On the local page there's a field called textOnTheSideLocal.

In the template for the local page I added the fields via the UI;

<umbraco:Item field="textOnTheSideLocal" useIfEmpty="textOnTheSide" recursive="true" runat="server"></umbraco:Item>

If textOnTheSideLocal text is empty then nothing shows but there is text in the master page's textOnTheSide field.

If I replace the field reference with;

<umbraco:Item field="textOnTheSide" recursive="true" runat="server"></umbraco:Item>

then the default web column text shows.

Lastly, if I add another field onto the local page and specify that its content should be shown if the field textOnTheSideLocal is empty then the new field's contents are shown when required.

It seems to me that the 'recursive' argument isn't used when the useIfEmpty field isn't on the currentPage.

Or am I missing something ?