# Using array columns as part of IF Then Else
**URL:** https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467
**Category:** Ask for Help
**Created:** [July 14, 2020, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467 "2020-07-14T12:23:19Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Phil\_Jackson](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Phil_Jackson)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/1 "2020-07-14T12:23:19Z")
Hi,
Hopefully a simple one - I have an array - The Client Choice PIN in this example, and I’m trying to use this array in a IF Then Else column but it only provides is empty or is not empty options whereas I’m after a contains option. Is there a way of getting around this?
What I am trying to accomplish is to compare a user entered PIN with the array to provide a true/false column that I can then use to filter on. E.g. If Client Choice PIN contains Entered user PIN then true.
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 12:26pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/2 "2020-07-14T12:26:50Z")
I’ve wanted this for a couple of use cases as well. Doesn’t exist at the moment.
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### Author:  [@Phil\_Jackson](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Phil_Jackson)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 12:32pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/3 "2020-07-14T12:32:43Z")
Thanks Robert. I have tried doing it by creating a template column which ‘converts’ the array into a text string and this works but doesn’t allow for dynamic updates for adding options as you would need to go into the Template column and update it.
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 12:34pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/4 "2020-07-14T12:34:23Z")
Makes sense. Nice workaround for now, though!
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### Author:  [@Phil\_Jackson](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Phil_Jackson)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 12:39pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/5 "2020-07-14T12:39:04Z")
You taught me the Template trick 😉
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### Author:  [@Robert\_Petitto](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Robert_Petitto)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 12:41pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/6 "2020-07-14T12:41:00Z")
Nice job, me! 🙃
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### Author:  [@Jeff\_Hager](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Jeff_Hager)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/7 "2020-07-14T16:59:00Z")
I’m not sure where your user entered pin comes from, but what if you create a relation that would link the user entered pin to the pin column in whatever sheet contains the pins. Then create an if/then column or simply use the condition if the relation is empty or not to control what you need?
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### Author:  [@Phil\_Jackson](https://community.glideapps.com/u/Phil_Jackson)
#### Post date: [July 14, 2020, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.glideapps.com/t/using-array-columns-as-part-of-if-then-else/12467/8 "2020-07-14T20:00:22Z")
Thanks Jeff but I’m not sure that’ll work in this case - I’ll give it a go