merging columns with rules

[jcastr02]

How can I merge two columns into new column (col C) where if col A and B are equal then it should only give me the value of what is first column.  If they are not equal then merge two columns together?

Col A	Col B	New Column  (Col C)
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Example Match	Example Match	Example Match
Muscle Shoals		Muscle Shoals
Junuea		Junuea
New City	Florida	New CityFlorida
New City	Jupiter	New CityJupiter
New City	Jupiter	New CityJupiter
Fort Lauderdale		Fort Lauderdale
Miami		Miami

[edhans]

@jcastr02 

If you do this in Power Query, you can use this formula in a custom column. You could then remove the other two columns and onlhy bring in the final column to Power BI if you wish.

if [Col A] = [Col B] then [Col A] 
else Text.Trim([Col A] & " " & [Col B])

It generates the 3rd column here:

Full M code is here:

let
    Source = Table.FromRows(Json.Document(Binary.Decompress(Binary.FromText("i45Wcq1IzC3ISVXwTSxJzlDSQePH6oyqGKwqfEuLk4ECwRn5iTnFQBVgQa/SvNLURBjPL7VcwTmzpBLId8vJL8pMSUQX9iotyCxJLcIn7JZfVKLgk1iaklqUkpiTCjPbNzMxNxPMiQUA", BinaryEncoding.Base64), Compression.Deflate)), let _t = ((type nullable text) meta [Serialized.Text = true]) in type table [#"Col A" = _t, #"Col B" = _t]),
    #"Added New Column" = Table.AddColumn(Source, "New Column", each if [Col A] = [Col B] then [Col A] 
else Text.Trim([Col A] & " " & [Col B])),
    #"Changed Type" = Table.TransformColumnTypes(#"Added New Column",{{"New Column", type text}})
in
    #"Changed Type"

How to use M code provided in a blank query:
1) In Power Query, select New Source, then Blank Query
2) On the Home ribbon, select "Advanced Editor" button
3) Remove everything you see, then paste the M code I've given you in that box.
4) Press Done
5) See this article if you need help using this M code in your model.

[jdbuchanan71 · Accepted solution]

You could add this as a new calculated column:

Col C = IF ( [Col A] = [Col B], [Col A], [Col A] & [Col B] )

[jcastr02]

@jdbuchanan71 Thank you, that worked!