what i am trying to do is build a database where i enter a name in a layout that is like a table. then that name is applied to a generated letter on another layout. but what i am trying to do is make it so that after the name there is a comma. so it would be like:

Dear Anyone,

what i would like to know is how can i get that comma there without having to type it myself so that the comma is there automatically? any help with this would be great. thanks in advance.

you could create a text block in layout mode and then insert a merge field (bottom of the insert menu) just type the rest of your text around it as normal. I have attached a file

You can also use the other method in my file, create a calculation field that includes the field values and text that you want to use.

LetterMerge.fp7.zip

Merge field <<Name>>,... [rest of letter] should work best, but if you're trying to do something different from this, you could create a calculation field that concatenates Name & ",".