If statements dleo 10/27/2008 9:11:00 PM Is there a way to use IF statements within a mail merge? I'm using an excel file as my data source. I have the prefix merge field, but about half of the data entries have none. So when I merge in Word, the prefix field is skipped (as it should), but I still get that space in between where the prefix would go and the person's first name. Is there some sort of IF field where I could basically say "if there IS a prefix put in the space, but if there isn't, don't put a space." I hope that makes sense.

Re: If statements "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" <dkr[ at ]REMOVECAPSmvps.org> 10/27/2008 9:23:47 PM Use the follwing field construction { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD FirstName }" "{ MERGEFIELD FirstName } } You may need to change the Prefix and FirstName to the actual names of your fields. You must use Ctrl+F9 to insert each pair of field delimiters { } and you use Alt+F9 to toggle off their display. -- Hope this helps. Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my services on a paid consulting basis. Doug Robbins - Word MVP "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:A9F2741D-2BD6-4184-AFA8-391DEF2976B9[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > Is there a way to use IF statements within a mail merge? I'm using an > excel > file as my data source. I have the prefix merge field, but about half of > the > data entries have none. So when I merge in Word, the prefix field is > skipped > (as it should), but I still get that space in between where the prefix > would > go and the person's first name. Is there some sort of IF field where I > could > basically say "if there IS a prefix put in the space, but if there isn't, > don't put a space." > > I hope that makes sense.

Re: If statements dleo 10/27/2008 9:48:00 PM It didn't work. Well, the data merges successfully, but there is no space in front of the first name no matter if there is a prefix or not. Also, my first name field is 2 words (FIRST NAME) so maybe that has something to do with it. "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Use the follwing field construction > > { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD > FirstName }" "{ MERGEFIELD FirstName } } > > You may need to change the Prefix and FirstName to the actual names of your > fields. > > You must use Ctrl+F9 to insert each pair of field delimiters { } and you use > Alt+F9 to toggle off their display. > > -- > Hope this helps. > > Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my > services on a paid consulting basis. > > Doug Robbins - Word MVP > > "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:A9F2741D-2BD6-4184-AFA8-391DEF2976B9[ at ]microsoft.com... > > Is there a way to use IF statements within a mail merge? I'm using an > > excel > > file as my data source. I have the prefix merge field, but about half of > > the > > data entries have none. So when I merge in Word, the prefix field is > > skipped > > (as it should), but I still get that space in between where the prefix > > would > > go and the person's first name. Is there some sort of IF field where I > > could > > basically say "if there IS a prefix put in the space, but if there isn't, > > don't put a space." > > > > I hope that makes sense. > > >

Re: If statements "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" <dkr[ at ]REMOVECAPSmvps.org> 10/28/2008 12:11:59 AM I missed a closing quote when typing the construction { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD "First_Name" }" "{ MERGEFIELD "First_Name" }" } If the name of the field that contains the first name is two words,. use the construction as shown above. -- Hope this helps. Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my services on a paid consulting basis. Doug Robbins - Word MVP "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9AF0355B-B36B-40F9-93FC-6E3286413ADD[ at ]microsoft.com... [Quoted Text] > > It didn't work. Well, the data merges successfully, but there is no space > in > front of the first name no matter if there is a prefix or not. Also, my > first > name field is 2 words (FIRST NAME) so maybe that has something to do with > it. > > > > "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote: > >> Use the follwing field construction >> >> { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD >> FirstName }" "{ MERGEFIELD FirstName } } >> >> You may need to change the Prefix and FirstName to the actual names of >> your >> fields. >> >> You must use Ctrl+F9 to insert each pair of field delimiters { } and you >> use >> Alt+F9 to toggle off their display. >> >> -- >> Hope this helps. >> >> Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my >> services on a paid consulting basis. >> >> Doug Robbins - Word MVP >> >> "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >> news:A9F2741D-2BD6-4184-AFA8-391DEF2976B9[ at ]microsoft.com... >> > Is there a way to use IF statements within a mail merge? I'm using an >> > excel >> > file as my data source. I have the prefix merge field, but about half >> > of >> > the >> > data entries have none. So when I merge in Word, the prefix field is >> > skipped >> > (as it should), but I still get that space in between where the prefix >> > would >> > go and the person's first name. Is there some sort of IF field where I >> > could >> > basically say "if there IS a prefix put in the space, but if there >> > isn't, >> > don't put a space." >> > >> > I hope that makes sense. >> >> >>

Re: If statements "macropod" <macropod[ at ]invalid.invalid> 10/28/2008 3:33:58 AM Hi Doug, I'd be inclined to use a simpler construction: {IF{MERGEFIELD Prefix}<> "" "{MERGEFIELD Prefix} "}{MERGEFIELD "First_Name"} For the OP, the steps to reproduce this would be: .. copy your «Prefix» field and paste it into your document ahead of the «First_Name» field, thus - «Prefix»«Prefix»«First_Name»; .. select the two «Prefix» fields and press Ctrl-F9 to enclose them in a new field, thus - {«Prefix»«Prefix»}«First_Name»; .. fill in around the new field braces thus, paying careful attention to the spacing - {IF«Prefix»<> "" "«Prefix» "}«First_Name»; .. position the cursor anywhere in this field and press F9 to update it; .. run the mailmerge. -- Cheers macropod [MVP - Microsoft Word] "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" <dkr[ at ]REMOVECAPSmvps.org> wrote in message news:uUNoPHJOJHA.240[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... [Quoted Text] >I missed a closing quote when typing the construction > > { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD > "First_Name" }" "{ MERGEFIELD "First_Name" }" } > > If the name of the field that contains the first name is two words,. use the construction as shown above. > > > -- > Hope this helps. > > Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my > services on a paid consulting basis. > > Doug Robbins - Word MVP > > "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9AF0355B-B36B-40F9-93FC-6E3286413ADD[ at ]microsoft.com... >> >> It didn't work. Well, the data merges successfully, but there is no space in >> front of the first name no matter if there is a prefix or not. Also, my first >> name field is 2 words (FIRST NAME) so maybe that has something to do with it. >> >> >> >> "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote: >> >>> Use the follwing field construction >>> >>> { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD >>> FirstName }" "{ MERGEFIELD FirstName } } >>> >>> You may need to change the Prefix and FirstName to the actual names of your >>> fields. >>> >>> You must use Ctrl+F9 to insert each pair of field delimiters { } and you use >>> Alt+F9 to toggle off their display. >>> >>> -- >>> Hope this helps. >>> >>> Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my >>> services on a paid consulting basis. >>> >>> Doug Robbins - Word MVP >>> >>> "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message >>> news:A9F2741D-2BD6-4184-AFA8-391DEF2976B9[ at ]microsoft.com... >>> > Is there a way to use IF statements within a mail merge? I'm using an >>> > excel >>> > file as my data source. I have the prefix merge field, but about half of >>> > the >>> > data entries have none. So when I merge in Word, the prefix field is >>> > skipped >>> > (as it should), but I still get that space in between where the prefix >>> > would >>> > go and the person's first name. Is there some sort of IF field where I >>> > could >>> > basically say "if there IS a prefix put in the space, but if there isn't, >>> > don't put a space." >>> > >>> > I hope that makes sense. >>> >>> >>> > >

Re: If statements dleo 10/28/2008 3:53:01 PM Thank you macropod, your method is a lot easier. It works great! Thanks again, dleo "macropod" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Hi Doug, > > I'd be inclined to use a simpler construction: > {IF{MERGEFIELD Prefix}<> "" "{MERGEFIELD Prefix} "}{MERGEFIELD "First_Name"} > > For the OP, the steps to reproduce this would be: > .. copy your «Prefix» field and paste it into your document ahead of the «First_Name» field, thus - > «Prefix»«Prefix»«First_Name»; > .. select the two «Prefix» fields and press Ctrl-F9 to enclose them in a new field, thus - > {«Prefix»«Prefix»}«First_Name»; > .. fill in around the new field braces thus, paying careful attention to the spacing - > {IF«Prefix»<> "" "«Prefix» "}«First_Name»; > .. position the cursor anywhere in this field and press F9 to update it; > .. run the mailmerge. > > -- > Cheers > macropod > [MVP - Microsoft Word] > > > "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" <dkr[ at ]REMOVECAPSmvps.org> wrote in message news:uUNoPHJOJHA.240[ at ]TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl... > >I missed a closing quote when typing the construction > > > > { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD > > "First_Name" }" "{ MERGEFIELD "First_Name" }" } > > > > If the name of the field that contains the first name is two words,. use the construction as shown above. > > > > > > -- > > Hope this helps. > > > > Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my > > services on a paid consulting basis. > > > > Doug Robbins - Word MVP > > > > "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9AF0355B-B36B-40F9-93FC-6E3286413ADD[ at ]microsoft.com... > >> > >> It didn't work. Well, the data merges successfully, but there is no space in > >> front of the first name no matter if there is a prefix or not. Also, my first > >> name field is 2 words (FIRST NAME) so maybe that has something to do with it. > >> > >> > >> > >> "Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote: > >> > >>> Use the follwing field construction > >>> > >>> { IF { MERGEFIELD Prefix } <> "" "{ MERGEFIELD Prefix } { MERGEFIELD > >>> FirstName }" "{ MERGEFIELD FirstName } } > >>> > >>> You may need to change the Prefix and FirstName to the actual names of your > >>> fields. > >>> > >>> You must use Ctrl+F9 to insert each pair of field delimiters { } and you use > >>> Alt+F9 to toggle off their display. > >>> > >>> -- > >>> Hope this helps. > >>> > >>> Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my > >>> services on a paid consulting basis. > >>> > >>> Doug Robbins - Word MVP > >>> > >>> "dleo" <dleo[ at ]discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > >>> news:A9F2741D-2BD6-4184-AFA8-391DEF2976B9[ at ]microsoft.com... > >>> > Is there a way to use IF statements within a mail merge? I'm using an > >>> > excel > >>> > file as my data source. I have the prefix merge field, but about half of > >>> > the > >>> > data entries have none. So when I merge in Word, the prefix field is > >>> > skipped > >>> > (as it should), but I still get that space in between where the prefix > >>> > would > >>> > go and the person's first name. Is there some sort of IF field where I > >>> > could > >>> > basically say "if there IS a prefix put in the space, but if there isn't, > >>> > don't put a space." > >>> > > >>> > I hope that makes sense. > >>> > >>> > >>> > > > > > >