Add math column
The Add math column step lets you quickly create new calculated fields in your dataset. It’s like writing formulas in Excel or Google Sheets—but designed to be faster, easier to read, and built specifically for row-by-row math in your flow.
⚠️ Note: This step supports core math operators. It does not run Excel or SQL-style functions (like DATEDIFF() or NULLIF()).
Check out this Parabola University video to see the Add math column step in action.
Step configurations
- Drag Add math column onto your canvas.
- Under 'New Column Name', type the name of your new column.
- In the 'Calculation' field, enter your math formula. Wrap column names in curly braces— for example:
{Inventory} + {In transit}→ sums two columns{Total Goods Sold} * 52→ creates a 'Yearly Forecast' column
- You can add multiple formulas by clicking 'Add Math Rule'.
- Click 'Show Updated Results' to apply your formulas. Your new columns will calculate row by row and will appear to the very right of your data set.
As you type, column names will autocomplete—helpful when working with large datasets.
If you see a 'Settings error', check for typos or incorrect notation in the 'Calculation' field.
Helpful tips
- To reuse a column you created here, connect another Add math column step after it.
- Handles positive/negative numbers, currency symbols, percentages, decimals, and commas automatically.
- If your numbers are in accounting format, first use the Format numbers step to update them.
- Supported operators are:
- Addition (+)
- Subtraction (-)
- Multiplication (*)
- Division (/)
- Modulo (%)
- Power (^)
⚠️ Reminder: This step is optimized for math operators only. Advanced Excel formulas, date/time functions, and logic functions are not supported. Use other steps—or a combination of steps—in Parabola to accomplish those workflows.
Doing math conditionally
In Excel or Google Sheets, you might write a formula that uses if/else logic to decide which math to run.
In Parabola, use the Add if/else column step to apply conditions and perform math in the same place. For example, you could:
- Multiply
{Price}by{Quantity}only if{Quantity}is greater than 1. - Apply a discount rate if
{Customer Type}equals “Wholesale.” - Set a value to 0 if the field is blank.
This step combines conditional logic and math, so you don’t need to chain multiple steps together.
⚠️ If you’re performing math operations, click the gear icon in the value field and check the box labeled ‘Accepts math function’.