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Combine multiple fields based on certain conditions


Hi,

I have a formula that almost works. I'm trying to make my primary field a formula where it looks at "Column A" and looks at "Column B". If a there's a value in "Column A", enter that value as the primary field. If there's a value in "Column B", enter that value in the primary filed. If there's a value in both "Column A" and "Column B", combine those two values and place a "/" between the two fields. The formula I have looks like this:

 
IF(AND({Column A} != BLANK(), {Column B} != BLANK()), CONCATENATE({Column A}, "/", {Column B}),IF(Column A != BLANK(), {Column A}, {Column B}))
 
This does work. However this formula is adding the "/" character to the beginning of "Column A" and at the end of "Column B" when there's only one value in one of the fields.
The results look something like this:
If there's a value in "Column A" but not in "Column B":
12345/
75326/
23457/
 
If there's a value in "Column B" but not in "Column A":
/93664
/30483
/54214
 
I tried replacing
 
IF(Column A != BLANK(), {Column A}, {Column B}))
with this 
IF({Column A} != BLANK(), LEFT({Column A},LEN({Column A})-1), RIGHT({Column B},LEN({Column B}-1)))
 
But that didn't remove the "/" mark in instances where only one value was in either "Column A" or "Column B"

Best answer by Alexey_Gusev

Hi,
Gladly, Airtable formula flexibility allows to avoid over-engineering

{Column A} & IF({Column B},
IF({Column A},'/')&{Column B})






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18 replies

Saravanan_009

It looks like you're trying to create a formula that combines values from two columns, but you're encountering issues with extraneous slashes when only one column has a value. To resolve this, you need to ensure that the slash is only added when both columns have values. Here’s how you can adjust your formula:

IF(
AND({Column A} != BLANK(), {Column B} != BLANK()),
CONCATENATE({Column A}, "/", {Column B}),
IF(
{Column A} != BLANK(),
{Column A},
{Column B}
)
)

In this formula:

AND({Column A} != BLANK(), {Column B} != BLANK()) checks if both columns have values. If true, it concatenates them with a "/" between.
IF({Column A} != BLANK(), {Column A}, {Column B}) checks if only one column has a value and returns that value. It ensures that if only one of the columns has data, no extra slash is added.
Ensure that:

Column Names: Use curly braces {} around your column names correctly.
Blank Checking: Use != BLANK() to check for empty values.

This formula should correctly handle cases where:

Both columns have values: Combine with a "/".
Only "Column A" has a value: Return that value without an extra "/".
Only "Column B" has a value: Return that value without an extra "/".

Try using this adjusted formula and see if it resolves the issue with unwanted slashes.


TheTimeSavingCo
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Try this:

IF(
AND(
{Column A},
{Column B}
),
{Column A} & "/" & {Column B},
IF(
{Column A},
{Column A},
{Column B}
)
)


 


Alexey_Gusev
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  • Answer
  • August 8, 2024

Hi,
Gladly, Airtable formula flexibility allows to avoid over-engineering

{Column A} & IF({Column B},
IF({Column A},'/')&{Column B})







  • Author
  • New Participant
  • 3 replies
  • August 8, 2024
Saravanan_009 wrote:

It looks like you're trying to create a formula that combines values from two columns, but you're encountering issues with extraneous slashes when only one column has a value. To resolve this, you need to ensure that the slash is only added when both columns have values. Here’s how you can adjust your formula:

IF(
AND({Column A} != BLANK(), {Column B} != BLANK()),
CONCATENATE({Column A}, "/", {Column B}),
IF(
{Column A} != BLANK(),
{Column A},
{Column B}
)
)

In this formula:

AND({Column A} != BLANK(), {Column B} != BLANK()) checks if both columns have values. If true, it concatenates them with a "/" between.
IF({Column A} != BLANK(), {Column A}, {Column B}) checks if only one column has a value and returns that value. It ensures that if only one of the columns has data, no extra slash is added.
Ensure that:

Column Names: Use curly braces {} around your column names correctly.
Blank Checking: Use != BLANK() to check for empty values.

This formula should correctly handle cases where:

Both columns have values: Combine with a "/".
Only "Column A" has a value: Return that value without an extra "/".
Only "Column B" has a value: Return that value without an extra "/".

Try using this adjusted formula and see if it resolves the issue with unwanted slashes.


Thank you Saravanan for the response. The above formula still left the "/" mark character if only Column A or Column B had a value. Others in this thread provided a solution to get rid of the "/" mark when Column A or Column B had a value.


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  • 3 replies
  • August 8, 2024
TheTimeSavingCo wrote:

Try this:

IF(
AND(
{Column A},
{Column B}
),
{Column A} & "/" & {Column B},
IF(
{Column A},
{Column A},
{Column B}
)
)


 


Thank you The TimeSavingCo. This formula works like a charm!


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  • August 8, 2024
Alexey_Gusev wrote:

Hi,
Gladly, Airtable formula flexibility allows to avoid over-engineering

{Column A} & IF({Column B},
IF({Column A},'/')&{Column B})







Thank you Alexey_Gusev. This formula works great! I appreciate how concise the formula is. 


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  • February 3, 2025
Alexey_Gusev wrote:

Hi,
Gladly, Airtable formula flexibility allows to avoid over-engineering

{Column A} & IF({Column B},
IF({Column A},'/')&{Column B})







@Alexey_Gusev with your solution above (from last Aug), is it possible to add addtioinal steps for my use case

If C = asset01

and A is blank and B is not blank, 'missing A'

and or A is not blank and B is blank, 'missing B'

and or A & B are blank, 'missing A & B'

and or A & B are not blank, 'all ok'

I hope that makes sense!

Todd


Alexey_Gusev
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airballer86 wrote:

@Alexey_Gusev with your solution above (from last Aug), is it possible to add addtioinal steps for my use case

If C = asset01

and A is blank and B is not blank, 'missing A'

and or A is not blank and B is blank, 'missing B'

and or A & B are blank, 'missing A & B'

and or A & B are not blank, 'all ok'

I hope that makes sense!

Todd


 

 

 

IF(C='asset01',
IF(A,IF(B,'all ok','Missing B'),
IF(B,'Missing A','Missing A & B')))

 

 

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  • February 3, 2025
Alexey_Gusev wrote:
 

 

 

IF(C='asset01',
IF(A,IF(B,'all ok','Missing B'),
IF(B,'Missing A','Missing A & B')))

 

 

@Alexey_Gusev thank you!

How can I add a second Asset with similar rules?

If C = asset01

and A is blank and B is not blank, 'missing A'

and or A is not blank and B is blank, 'missing B'

and or A & B are blank, 'missing A & B'

and or A & B are not blank, 'all ok'

AND

If D = asset02

and E is blank and F is not blank, 'missing E'

and or E is not blank and F is blank, 'missing F'

and or E & F are blank, 'missing E & F'

and or E & F are not blank, 'all ok'

 

 


Alexey_Gusev
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airballer86 wrote:

@Alexey_Gusev thank you!

How can I add a second Asset with similar rules?

If C = asset01

and A is blank and B is not blank, 'missing A'

and or A is not blank and B is blank, 'missing B'

and or A & B are blank, 'missing A & B'

and or A & B are not blank, 'all ok'

AND

If D = asset02

and E is blank and F is not blank, 'missing E'

and or E is not blank and F is blank, 'missing F'

and or E & F are blank, 'missing E & F'

and or E & F are not blank, 'all ok'

 

 


I don't get it. Conditions C and D are independent or they can affect each other? What kind of output you expect?
Could you please give an example? No need to expand A,B,E,F, suppose they all present or all absent
If C and D are independent, just copy the same formula with other letters and put & between them.
Possible flaw - is when you see 'all ok' and don't know - 'which all is ok" 🙂    I mean A&B both present or E&F


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  • February 4, 2025
Alexey_Gusev wrote:

I don't get it. Conditions C and D are independent or they can affect each other? What kind of output you expect?
Could you please give an example? No need to expand A,B,E,F, suppose they all present or all absent
If C and D are independent, just copy the same formula with other letters and put & between them.
Possible flaw - is when you see 'all ok' and don't know - 'which all is ok" 🙂    I mean A&B both present or E&F


@Alexey_Gusev I appreciate the pushback, as it helped me rephrase my question. I'm looking to provide multiple notifications for one field; existing or missing: copy (3 fields), image (1 field), and URL (1 field)

IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF(AND({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}='',{CTA Copy (EN)}=''), 'Missing Copy: Headline & CTA',
IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF(AND({Headline/Title Copy (EN)},{CTA Copy (EN)}=''), 'Missing Copy: CTA',
IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF(AND({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}='',{CTA Copy (EN)}), 'Missing Copy: Headline'
)
)
)
)
)
)

AND

IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({English MC Link}='', 'Missing Image'
)

AND

IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', 'Missing URL'
)

Alexey_Gusev
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airballer86 wrote:

@Alexey_Gusev I appreciate the pushback, as it helped me rephrase my question. I'm looking to provide multiple notifications for one field; existing or missing: copy (3 fields), image (1 field), and URL (1 field)

IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF(AND({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}='',{CTA Copy (EN)}=''), 'Missing Copy: Headline & CTA',
IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF(AND({Headline/Title Copy (EN)},{CTA Copy (EN)}=''), 'Missing Copy: CTA',
IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF(AND({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}='',{CTA Copy (EN)}), 'Missing Copy: Headline'
)
)
)
)
)
)

AND

IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({English MC Link}='', 'Missing Image'
)

AND

IF(
{Creative Placement} = 'Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', 'Missing URL'
)

Well, I added line breaks and it looks good, I think

IF({Creative Placement}='Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}, IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: CTA'),
IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: Headline & CTA','Missing Copy: Headline')) &
IF({English MC Link}='', '\nMissing Image') &
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', '\nMissing URL') )

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  • February 4, 2025
Alexey_Gusev wrote:

Well, I added line breaks and it looks good, I think

IF({Creative Placement}='Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}, IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: CTA'),
IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: Headline & CTA','Missing Copy: Headline')) &
IF({English MC Link}='', '\nMissing Image') &
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', '\nMissing URL') )

@Alexey_Gusev This is next level! Thank you so much!!


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  • February 6, 2025
Alexey_Gusev wrote:

Well, I added line breaks and it looks good, I think

IF({Creative Placement}='Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}, IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: CTA'),
IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: Headline & CTA','Missing Copy: Headline')) &
IF({English MC Link}='', '\nMissing Image') &
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', '\nMissing URL') )

@Alexey_Gusev one last question, is there a way to separate the responses with a ',' or ';' vs. a line break?


Alexey_Gusev
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airballer86 wrote:

@Alexey_Gusev one last question, is there a way to separate the responses with a ',' or ';' vs. a line break?


That's strange, but I never met such simple thing.
Maybe better solution exists. I would add ";" in the end of each text output except last
then remove possible trailing ';' in the end by wrapping whole formula  in a such way:

 

REGEX_REPLACE(
...
whole formula
...

';$','')

 

Of course, line breaks '\n' should be removed


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  • February 7, 2025
Alexey_Gusev wrote:

That's strange, but I never met such simple thing.
Maybe better solution exists. I would add ";" in the end of each text output except last
then remove possible trailing ';' in the end by wrapping whole formula  in a such way:

 

REGEX_REPLACE(
...
whole formula
...

';$','')

 

Of course, line breaks '\n' should be removed


@Alexey_Gusev so this?

REGEX_REPLACE(
IF({Creative Placement}='Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}, IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: CTA;'),
IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: Headline & CTA;','Missing Copy: Headline;')) &
IF({English MC Link}='', '\nMissing Image;') &
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', '\nMissing URL') ) ';$','')

Alexey_Gusev
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  • February 10, 2025
airballer86 wrote:

@Alexey_Gusev so this?

REGEX_REPLACE(
IF({Creative Placement}='Email Seasonal Trends Category 2-Column 840x630 Medium',
IF({Headline/Title Copy (EN)}, IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: CTA;'),
IF({CTA Copy (EN)}='','Missing Copy: Headline & CTA;','Missing Copy: Headline;')) &
IF({English MC Link}='', '\nMissing Image;') &
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', '\nMissing URL') ) ';$','')

 '\nMissing Image;') &
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', '\nMissing URL') ) ';$',''


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  • February 14, 2025
Alexey_Gusev wrote:

 '\nMissing Image;') &
IF({Full URL + Reftag}='', '\nMissing URL') ) ';$',''


@Alexey_Gusev once again, thank you! much appreciated!