If a column contains (or starts with) a certain letter then output a certain column

[MatthewFiero]

Hello Power BI Community,

What I thought would be a simple calculation has had me at this for a few hours now., After searching a bit on the community I couldn't find any previous answers that could assist me. Though I am sure this is simple enough it has been dealt with on several occasions perhaps I am not searching correctly.

I was hoping to do this as a measure but I'm thinking this would be better as a custom column. 

Basically I have a list of Items in [Column A] that I want to output to a different column but only if [Column B] contains (or starts with) the letter "M". If [Column] B does not start with "M" then null

I've tried many different ways but I think I got closest using this:

=if List.Contains([Column B],"M", [Column A] else null

Clearly I have something wrong. 

Can anyone help point me in the right direction. Honestly, with M or DAX I am having difficulties searching for anything or starting with and I know this knowledge will come in time. 

Thank you,
Matthew

[amitchandak · Accepted solution]

@MatthewFiero , if it only starts with M

=if Text.Left([Column B]) = "M" then [Column A] else null

if it is contains M

=if Text.Contains([Column B],"M") then [Column A] else null

[SebSchoon1]

Hello,

would it be possible to select Dynamically each Column which Start with the word "Column" ?? To add a conditional column?

Someting like ,  

If #"My list of columns"  Text.contains ("%") then A else B )

?

[MatthewFiero]

Okay so seconds after I click sent I realized I can just create a conditional column. I must be tired.

= Table.AddColumn(#"Filtered Rows1", "Custom", each if Text.Contains([Column A], "M") then [Column B] else null)