Core Fields Ajax edit field with no value?

On a new install some of the sites fields don't yet have a value. They don't appear with the edit cog icon. Fields with values are editable.

We'd like to encourage users to complete the missing fields but don't want the standard edit profile page (as it's quite messy, sorry).

Can empty fields be filled with values via the ajax edit?

I've snooped around the options and can't see anything which allows this.

Thanks

OK, sorted it. In case anyone is also searching the answer is to enable 'Show Empty Fields' in the CB config and use a non-breaking space in the 'Empty Field Text' box. A non-breaking space is this without spaces:

& n b s p ;