Format text to show only first word?

[wattmhite]

I have a field that typically has a customers first and last name together in this field. I'd like to display just the customers first name or the first word in the field. What is the best way to do this?

Show 1st word <<customer_name>> 

Thanks

[comment]

You cannot do this by formatting - you need to use a calculation:
http://www.filemaker.com/help/13/fmp/en/html/func_ref3.33.70.html#1048873

Edited April 29, 2015 by comment

[LaRetta]

It works best to use two fields (nameFirst and nameLast) which is the 'one fact per field' concept.  You can use LeftWords() to set the data in the nameFirst field and RightWords() for nameLast.  Once the data has been split, it is easier down the road to put them together again in various merge configurations.

The initial split, when dealing with people's names, works best if you create calculations and review the data.  The data may need to be adjusted; for example, Mary Anne might be the person's first name or Anne might be their middle.  Or d'Angelo, if using RightWords (combinedName ; 1 ) will improperly give you Angelo.

Viewing all the data as calculations first will save you many headaches.  You may wish to keep the 'combined-name' field until you are sure they are all correct.

[comment]

It works best to use two fields (nameFirst and nameLast) which is the 'one fact per field' concept.

​Indeed it does (and I should have mentioned this).