concatenate lines: merge, calculate or slip/slide?

[dlazenby]

Question: 3 (or more)fields on 3 (or more) lines; I would like when I go to print the record (i.e. preview mode) for there to be no blank line:

Example: field 1 on line 1; field 2 on line 2, field 3 on line 3; if field 2 is blank, I would like for field 3 to move up to line 2;

I think a calculation field would work best but I don't know the syntax.

Please advise. Thanks,

Doug Lazenby

[RossP]

As far as I know, merge fields slide horizontally, but will not move up vertically if there is a space above.

Which makes me wonder how to get around this problem, especially in cases where you have much more than three lines/fields. I'd be interested in hearing what other peeps think.

[gmmac]

Hello there

merge fields [<<fieldname>>] do slide up as long as field is absolutely empty (no spaces, nothing--thing to watch for here, is if you have a concatenated field and it leaves a space between, say, a first and last name. If such is case, you must calculate for no spaces if name fields are empty--let me know if you need syntax help).

I have had great success with exactly your situation. Busy right this second, but willing to give you calculation if you need it.

Otherwise is simple:

<<mergefieldname>> (line one)

<<mergefieldname>> (line two)

<<mergefieldname>> (line three)

-Galen

[RossP]

Galen:

What you suggest doesn't seem to work, at least for me.

If i have several merge fields in one text block, verticle spaces remain. (And no, there is no "blank data" in these empty fields, such as spaces, etc.

I'm not sure how you're doing what you're doing.

When you say

"line 1

line 2

line 3"

Are these separate text blocks, or carriage returns in the same text block?

[gmmac]

Oh, yes!

They must be in the same text block for it to work.

Otherwise you can use sliding with field boxes, but that gets more tricky: if any other text blocks with text in them are anywhere else (horizontally, that line or any line above) on the layout, the sliding fields won't work. Also, the box above and the box itself must both be formatted as sliding up.

Does that help??

Galen

[gmmac]

Sorry, just reread your post. Can you attach an example I can look at for you? Don't need much or any data (I could populate fields myself or you could set up one example for me).

Going out but back in a few hours.

G

[RossP]

Dear All:

I'm not sure if Doug will get this, but I think I have a clear and simple answer to his question:

Use normal fields in a layout, go through each field individually, select "Format-->Sliding/printing" and give each field its own printing attributes.

Ps. Merge fields can be