merge fields: how do I get rid of extra space?

[dlazenby]

Merging a name:

Field1: FirstName; Field 2: MiddleName1 Field3: MiddleName2 (some people have 2 middle names); Field4: LastName

In Layout, I use the insert merge field function to put the fields together and I leave a single space between the inner merged fields. However, if the person does not have a middle name(s) I am left with extra spaces that make it look askew.

Example: John Jacob Jinglehimer Smith would have the appropriate blank space behind Jacob and Jinglehimer. However, if his name is John Smith with no middle names it will come out John Smith with 3 blank spaces between John and Smith.

I guess I could put no spaces between the merge fields and try to figure out a way so that the individual fields automatically have a blank character space at the end. (Is that feasible?)

Should I do this with a calculation field (I don't know how). For example, Name= Field1 + Field2 + Field3 + Field4.

Please advise.

Doug Lazenby

BTW, in this post I tried to put John Smith with 3 blank spaces between John and Smith but the sofware automatically closed that gap to a single space.

[andygaunt]

Most of the time we create a calc for the full name to display in merge format.

Something along the lines of

First Name &

If ( IsEmpty (Middle Name 1);""; " " & Middle Name 1 ) &

If ( IsEmpty (Middle Name 2);""; " " & Middle Name 2 ) &

If ( IsEmpty (Last Name);""; " " & Last Name )

Make sure your result is text

HTH