Fill blanks in column based on a condition using IF and Earlier value from another column

[Kreator19]

Hello everyone,

I am trying to  fill in a column with data from another column and then any blanks should be filled in with previous values from the other column too.

My objective is to create a new "Phase" column using a combination of: "Outline level" = 3 and a partial extract of the text in "Task Name"  (noting not all level "3" will be phases). See table 1.

I am doing this in a two step process:

Firstly I have successfully extracted all the phases from "Task Name" into a new "Phase-1" Column using:

 

Secondly, and where I am struggling, is I need to replace the blanks from "Phase-1" with the prior phase in the "Phase" column.

I thought I could get it done with the Earlier function but I can't get it to work as it is not identifying the column and shows the below error message.

 

 I might have tackled this from the wrong angle but any help would be very welcome. Thanks!

Table1.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

@Kreator19,

This might be easier if you do it in Query Editor. Create a conditional column and use Fill Up transformation. Also I think you misunderstood the use of EARLIER, usually it uses to access to outer row context

[Pikka]

And what if the column we are using for comparison is a custom column that we created. In that scenario the column will not be visible in the column name tab.

How to deal with that situaiton.?

[Kreator19]

Thanks NickNg278, 

That was very helpful. I've solved this using conditional columns and Transform-Filldown.

Many thanks.