Multiple conditions to multiple columns

[cwentz]

Hello all!

I have a table that lists the population a student belongs to based on the term. See image.

I want to write a formula that would check the columns for a specific phrase and only keep those rows.

 

If the column = "First Time Freshman" or "Incoming Transfer" and the next column is blank keep

If the next column is not blank but the third column is blank, keep.

[AlexT]

Hi,

If I understand correctly and the goal is to keep only certain columns a visual filter recipe with formula is a good choice.  If I understood your logic correctly it would could something like this:

((column1=="First Time Freshman" || column1== "Incoming Transfer")  && (isBlank(column2) || column2 == '' ))  
|| ((column1=="First Time Freshman" || column1== "Incoming Transfer")  &&  isNonBlank(column2) && (isBlank(column3) || column3 == ''))

[cwentz]

thanks @AlexT however, as you can see in the sample data the First-Time Freshman or Incoming Transfer is not always in Col 1. I apologize for not mentioning that. Each Col represents a term for both continuing and new. If the have the First-Time Freshman or Incoming Transfer that term is their first and I want to know if they are still here. 

EX: The second row they began in 15/FA and continued. In the 11th row they began 16/FA but are absent two full terms, yet, returned.

What I want to capture are the ones that began but don't continue. On average a student would have 8 terms from beginning to end  and it would be marked with their beginning population First-Time Freshman or Incoming Transfer and retained thereafter even if 1 or more is blank such as the case in the 11th row. 

Maybe there is a better way to approach the solution. Such as 'if col == First-Time Freshman or Incoming Transfer and the 8th column isnotblank.

Sorry if I have made it more confusing.