Conditional inserts in label merge

[MikeB]

I'm doing a label merge (asked a recent question here about it). Now
I'm wondering if it is possible to apply conditions to the merge
process.

For example, if I have a field for last and first names, then I'd like
to merge the first name field into the label, but if the first name is
blank, then I'd like to substitute it with the last name.

In this example, if I have the first name field, then the line might
read.

The game was won by Mike.

If I don't have the first name field and I substitute the last name
field, the line of text should read

The game was won by Black.

Is this possible?

Thanks!

 

[MikeB]

I'm doing a label merge (asked a recent question here about it). Now
I'm wondering if it is possible to apply conditions to the merge
process.

For example, if I have a field for last and first names, then I'd like
to merge the first name field into the label, but if the first name is
blank, then I'd like to substitute it with the last name.

In this example, if I have the first name field, then the line might
read.

The game was won by Mike.

If I don't have the first name field and I substitute the last name
field, the line of text should read

The game was won by Black.

Is this possible?

Thanks!

Actually, let me expand on that a little more.

Can I also vary the text inserted into the label? For instance, if I
have a field for sender and receiver, then if the receiver field is
filled in, the text might read:

Proposed receiver: Mike Black

But if the sender field is filled in, the text in that area might
read:

Transmitted by Joe Gorilla.

So, is either or both of these things possible in label merge
operations?

Thanks!

 

[Graham Mayor]

That would be fairly simple
The game was won by {IF {Mergefield FirstName} <> "" "{Mergefield
Firstname}" "{Mergefield Lastname}"}
Use the correct field names and enter all the bracket pairs with CTRL+F9
--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

I'm doing a label merge (asked a recent question here about it). Now
I'm wondering if it is possible to apply conditions to the merge
process.

For example, if I have a field for last and first names, then I'd like
to merge the first name field into the label, but if the first name is
blank, then I'd like to substitute it with the last name.

In this example, if I have the first name field, then the line might
read.

The game was won by Mike.

If I don't have the first name field and I substitute the last name
field, the line of text should read

The game was won by Black.

Is this possible?

Thanks!

Actually, let me expand on that a little more.

Can I also vary the text inserted into the label? For instance, if I
have a field for sender and receiver, then if the receiver field is
filled in, the text might read:

Proposed receiver: Mike Black

But if the sender field is filled in, the text in that area might
read:

Transmitted by Joe Gorilla.

So, is either or both of these things possible in label merge
operations?

Thanks!

 

[MikeB]

That would be fairly simple
The game was won by {IF {Mergefield FirstName} <> "" "{Mergefield
Firstname}"  "{Mergefield Lastname}"}
Use the correct field names and enter all the bracket pairs with CTRL+F9
--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor -  Word MVP

My web sitewww.gmayor.com
Word MVP web sitehttp://word.mvps.org
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>











Actually, let me expand on that a little more.

Can I also vary the text inserted into the label?  For instance, if I
have a field for sender and receiver, then if the receiver field is
filled in, the text might read:

Proposed receiver: Mike Black

But if the sender field is filled in, the text  in that area might
read:

Transmitted by Joe Gorilla.

So, is either or both of these things possible in label merge
operations?

Thanks!

Graham, thank you for your quick response. Is this in the Help
somewhere? (Have I ever complained how hard I find it to get the right
help section in the new Help system in Office 2007?).

If I look at your example, then a stylized representation seems to be:

{IF {condition "{true_action}" "{false_action}"}

and then to identify "stuff" (for want of a better technical term), I
use the Mergefield identifier to name the data element in the merging
record? Sorry if I'm being vague or imprecise.

If there is a good reference for this could you please point me there?

Thanks.

 

[Graham Mayor]

You could take a look at my web page -
http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm . It should give you some
ideas.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

Graham, thank you for your quick response. Is this in the Help
somewhere? (Have I ever complained how hard I find it to get the right
help section in the new Help system in Office 2007?).

If I look at your example, then a stylized representation seems to be:

{IF {condition "{true_action}" "{false_action}"}

and then to identify "stuff" (for want of a better technical term), I
use the Mergefield identifier to name the data element in the merging
record? Sorry if I'm being vague or imprecise.

 

[MikeB]

You could take a look at my web page -http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm. It should give you some
ideas.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor -  Word MVP

My web sitewww.gmayor.com
Word MVP web sitehttp://word.mvps.org

Thanks.


Now I have a really weird problem. The field I want to insert is in a
table that is imbedded in a cell of a bigger table. (Background: I'm
creating these cards with specific information on them, so I'm doing a
mail merge into each card - rather a label merge)

The condition is in a cell that is on the bottom of the table, so when
I edit the field and all fie field codes are displayed, it pushed the
bits I'm working with o0ut of sight, so I can't easily figure out what
I'm doing since I'm typing blind. Is ther some way I can edit this
text somewhere and then copy/paste it into the field?

 

[Graham Mayor]

Compile the field construction manually in a blank document then paste it
into the cell.

Given the description of your merge document, and to pre-empt your next
question, can I suggest you take a look at the tutorial 'macropod' has
prepared based on the Microsoft support link (below), with working field
codes and a sample Excel data source which you can also download from my
website http://www.gmayor.com/Zips/Catalogue Mailmerge.zip

How to use mail merge to create a list sorted by category -
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=294686

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com

<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>

You could take a look at my web
page -http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm. It should give you
some
ideas.

--
<>>< ><<> ><<> <>>< ><<> <>>< <>><<>
Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web sitewww.gmayor.com
Word MVP web sitehttp://word.mvps.org

Thanks.


Now I have a really weird problem. The field I want to insert is in a
table that is imbedded in a cell of a bigger table. (Background: I'm
creating these cards with specific information on them, so I'm doing a
mail merge into each card - rather a label merge)

The condition is in a cell that is on the bottom of the table, so when
I edit the field and all fie field codes are displayed, it pushed the
bits I'm working with o0ut of sight, so I can't easily figure out what
I'm doing since I'm typing blind. Is ther some way I can edit this
text somewhere and then copy/paste it into the field?