How do I combine multiple related text fields?

[guardian]

I need to create a parent text field [Parent Table] that combines the first names of all of the related children [student Table] for use as a Merge Field in letters.

Example: Dear Mrs. Smith, <> have been doing very well in school.

I've always wanted to know how to combine fields from multiple related records but have never figured out how. Any help???

[bcooney]

The easiest way is the List ( ) function. You can either grab the related fields directly, or more commonly, create a calc field in the child that concantenates a nice string, and then use List to bring that into the parent.

[guardian]

I've created a list field to combine the related names but I need to be able to use it as a merge field item in letters so I have to change format from:

John

Mary

Joseph

to:

John, Mary, Joseph

Ant ideas on a calc for a new field to help me format this?

[bruceR]

I've created a list field to combine the related names but I need to be able to use it as a merge field item in letters so I have to change format from:

John

Mary

Joseph

to:

John, Mary, Joseph

Ant ideas on a calc for a new field to help me format this?

Substitute( List( relation::field; "¶"; ", "))

[guardian]

Thanks Bruce! I appreciate all the help.

[Daniel T.]

Thanks for the solution, although I had to modify the code a little to get it to work:

Substitute( List( relation::field ); "¶"; ", ")