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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://parabola.io/docs/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Watch this Parabola University video to see the step at work.
A conditional statement is a core building block of any programming language. In Parabola, these are Add if/else column steps. The goal of each Add if/else column step is to create one column where the value of each cell in that column is dictated by the rules you create within the step.

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Input/output

Our input data for this step is a table with four columns.
Input table with four columns of inventory data including type and stock counts
Our output data, after using this Add if/else column step, has a new fourth column ‘Need to place an order?’ that instructs us to order the item in the ‘Type’ column.
Output table with a new Need to place an order column populated by conditional logic

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Custom settings

To enter an additional criteria, click into the + and select the column you’d like to run the criteria against. You can switch between adding condition filters by clicking on ‘and’ and switching it to ‘or’. To add an additional rule, click on the ’+ Add a rule’ button.
Add if/else column step configuration with multiple condition rules added
If you’d like the step to look for a match between two columns, reference the column by placing its header in curly brackets (e.g.: {Stock} or {Type}). If you’d instead like to search for specific values, you can simply enter the exact search term, rather than a column header.
Condition fields using curly-brace column references to compare values between columns
After inputting your initial search term(s), enter the desired new value under ‘then set the new column value to’. Last, save this step’s settings by selecting the ‘Show Updated Results’ button on the bottom of the lefthand-side toolbar.

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Helpful tips

  • The best use of this step includes (A) column name, (B) default value if no rules match, and (C) at least one rule.
  • The ’+ Add Rule’ button adds another if statement. How it evaluates determines which value is set in the output. If it’s true, it sets it to the new value. If it’s false it moves to the next rule below it. Later rules cannot overwrite values set from earlier rules.
  • Technically all you need to use this step and insert a conditional column matching rules you’ve created are: (A) a column name and (B) a default value if no rules match. With only a default value and no rules, the step will create a column with rows filled of your chosen value.
  • The Add if/else column step has built-in date range functionality: once data is flowing into the step, simply click the button under ‘If this is true:’ to open the ‘Condition’ modal. In the dropdown menu on the right, select ‘filter dates to’, and define a range.
  • Add math column — perform math inside conditional rules using merge tags.
  • Add text column — populate static or merge-tag values when conditions don’t apply.
  • Filter rows — keep or remove rows that match the same conditions.
  • Calculate score — assign numeric scores based on rule sets.
  • Find and replace — swap specific values without writing conditional logic.
Last modified on May 18, 2026