Custom transform
Learn about the most flexible step in Parabola—the Custom transform step.
Curious to learn more?
Check out our bonus lesson on prompting best practices and sample prompts.
Building challenge
Note: This lesson was added after the course's initial release, so you won't see this step in subsequent screenshots.
- Beneath the Add math column step on the "Calculate revenue by row and assign statuses" card, add a Custom transform step.
- In the instructions, paste: Calculate a column called "Revenue" by multiplying "Line Item Price" times "Units". Format the value as currency with 2 decimal places (ex. $1,000.00).
- Once the step processes, click, "Optimize this prompt".
Check your work ▼
Custom Transform: Automate Any Data Transformation With a Single Prompt
Once you’ve learned the fundamentals, it’s time to unlock one of Parabola’s most powerful tools: the Custom Transform step. This step lets you automate almost any data transformation simply by describing what you want in plain language — no complex logic building required.
In this example, we replicate the logic of four separate steps in one. Instead of manually chaining Edit Columns, Filter Rows, Format Dates, and Add Math Column, you just tell Parabola what to do, like:
“Keep these columns, rename them, filter out certain rows, reformat dates, and calculate revenue as currency.”
Parabola analyzes your data and uses AI to generate the transformation code automatically. You’ll see:
- A logic summary explaining the AI-generated code
- A new column or updated data instantly in your table
Prompt Best Practices
The more specific your prompt, the better the results. Reference column names in quotes, specify output formats, and even provide example values. If you’re unsure, use the Optimize Prompt button to instantly rewrite your prompt with built-in best practices.
Logic Reuse vs. Regeneration
Choose Reuse Logic for consistent results every time — great for stable datasets. Use Regenerate Logic for dynamic datasets, such as those with changing column headers or rolling date ranges.
When to Use Custom Transform
- Best for: Multi-step transformations, complex logic, or transformations without a dedicated step in Parabola.
- Not always needed: If there’s a purpose-built step (Edit Columns, Filter Rows, etc.), use that for speed and simplicity.
Whenever you’re unsure which approach to take, ask Parabola directly from the sidebar or explore our prompting best practices in the resources below.