Add if/else column

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.

Input/output

Our input data for this step is a table with two columns.  

Our output data, after using this Add if/else column step, has a new third column "Column 3" that tells us whether the values in "Column 1" and "Column 2" are equal or not.

Custom settings

To enter a new column name, click into the linked Untitled selection and type the new name you'd like. You can switch between adding condition filters that apply to multiple rules, or just one rule, by clicking on any and switching it to all.

If you'd like to create a new column showing which rows match between "Column 1" and "Column 2", you can click on select from menu to select the first column's data. Then, click on is blank to select 1 of 10 filter options you'd like to preform on your data.

If you'd like to create a new column showing which rows match between "Column 1" and "Column 2", you can click on select from menu to select the first column's data.

Then, click on is blank to select 1 of 10 filter options you'd like to preform on your data. In this example of finding matching rows between columns, select the filter option is equal to.

After that, wrap the second column you're comparing the rows to in curly braces like {Column 2} name. If you'd instead like to search for specific values, you can enter the letter or number characters instead of the column name wrapped in curly braces.

Then, enter what you'd like the new value to be in the Text or {merge tag} section.

Finish by saving this step's settings by selecting the "Show Updated Results" button on the bottom of the lefthand-side toolbar.

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.
• Each large section "+ Add Condition" is an if statement. It can either evaluate true or false. 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.