How can I use an OR function inside an IF statement in PowerQuery?

[nick-evans]

I am using Power BI Desktop, and I have imported a table from a SQL Database.

I am under 'Data | Edit Query | Add Column | Custom Colunn', and having problems getting my formula to work.

I would like to use an IF statement that checks multiple criteria using OR, rather than a bunch of nested if-else statements.

My formula indicates 'No syntax errors have been detected', but when I click OK to generate the new column, I get an error at the top of the window that says:

Expression.Error: The name 'OR' wasn't recognized. Make sure it's spelled correctly.

=if (OR([NAME]="Nick",[NAME]="Sally")) then "true" else "false"

Now I read in this thread that PowerQuery is really sensitive to capitilzation (they specify 'IF' as needing to be 'if'), but if I make 'OR' lowercase, I get a different error.

=if (or([NAME]="Nick",[NAME]="Sally")) then "true" else "false"

Token Literal Expected

If I click 'Show Error' it highlights "or".

I have also tried using || (double pipes) but I get a different error:

=if ([NAME]="Nick" || "Sally") then "true" else "false"

Token Comma expected

If I click 'Show Error' it highlights my first pipe '|'.

I can successfully add an IF statement with only 1 comparison/check, so I feel like the issue is specifically related to trying to add the OR statement.

Example - this works:

=if ([NAME]="Nick") then "true" else "false"

Is it possible to use an OR function inside an IF statement in the Add Column | Custom Column window/tool?

[sivaghani]

This maybe better

=if List.Contains({"Nick","Sally"},[NAME]) then "true" else "false"

[bazeemuddin]

Greetings.

I used this to create a new col using IF and OR

Num_Days = IF((Tickets[Status] = "CLOSED") || (Tickets[Status] = "RESOLVED"),

DATEDIFF('Tickets'[Reported Date], 'Tickets'[Actual Finish], DAY),

DATEDIFF(Tickets[Reported Date], TODAY(), DAY))

Thanks for reading.

Wish you all the happiest time.

[v-jiascu-msft]

Hi @nick-evans,

Could you please mark the proper answer as solution or share the solution if it's convenient for you? That will be a big help to the others.

Best Regards!
Dale

[abduizzm]

Hi @v-jiascu-msft it works I just tried it. 

[abduizzm]

Hi @v-jiascu-msft it works I just tried it. 

[v-jiascu-msft · Accepted solution]

Hi @nick-evans,

Try this formula please. 

=if [NAME] = "Nick" or [NAME] = "Sally" then "true" else "false"

Reference: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/mt186365.aspx

Best Regards!

Dale

[JoseAndres]

Thanks

[nick-evans]

I am trying to add a custom column, and having problems getting my formula to work.

I would like to use an IF statement that checks multiple criteria using OR, rather than a bunch of nested if-else statements.

My formula indicates 'No syntax errors have been detected', but when I click OK to generate the new column, I get an error at the top of the window that says:

Expression.Error: The name 'OR' wasn't recognized. Make sure it's spelled correctly.

=if (OR([NAME]="Nick",[NAME]="Sally")) then "true" else "false"

Now I read in this thread that PowerQuery is really sensitive to capitilzation (they specify 'IF' as needing to be 'if'), but if I make 'OR' lowercase, I get a different error.

=if (or([NAME]="Nick",[NAME]="Sally")) then "true" else "false"

Token Literal Expected

If I click 'Show Error' it highlights "or".

I have also tried using || (double pipes) but I get a different error:

=if ([NAME]="Nick" || "Sally") then "true" else "false"

Token Comma expected

If I click 'Show Error' it highlights my first pipe '|'.

I can successfully add an IF statement with only 1 comparison/check, so I feel like the issue is specifically related to trying to add the OR statement.

Example - this works:

=if ([NAME]="Nick") then "true" else "false"

Is it possible to use an OR function inside an IF statement in the Add Column | Custom Column window/tool?