Merged documents prints "(Blank)"

[kojaks43]

Using Excel data I have Address1 and Address2. Frequently Address2 is blank.
When I merge the document address2 shows as (Blank).

All that I have read leads me to believe Word 2003 automatically suppresses
blank fields, but not so much in mine.

What am I doing wrong?

Your guidance is appreciated.

 

[Graham Mayor]

The simplest approach which works for all versions is to use a conditional
field to insert the field only when it has content ie

{Mergefield Address1}{If{Mergefield Address2} <> "" "
{Mergefield Address2}


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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[kojaks43]

This is what I did: ( inserted the data fields from my Excel file, I then
added the IF statement and this is what it looked like:

«Prefix» «First_Name» «Last_Name»
«Provider»
«Address1»
{IF (MERGEFIELD Address2 < >â€â€}«Address2»
«City», «State» «Zip»

This was the result:
Ms. Paula Funez
Baptist Echocardiography
P.O. Box 970252
{IF (MERGEFIELD Address2 < >â€â€}(blank)
Miami, FL 33197
As you can see, it not only continues to print (Blank) now it includes the
IF statement.

I think this could give me another heart attack!

What have I done wrong here?

 

[Graham Mayor]

That is not what I advocated!

If you toggle the display (ALT+F9)

you want

{Mergefield Prefix} {Mergefield First_Name} {Mergefield Last_Name}
{Mergefield Provider}
{Mergefield Address1}{IF {Mergefield Address2} <> "" "
{Mergefield Address2}"}
{Mergefield City}, {Mergefield State} {Mergefield Zip}

which would be the equivalent of

«Prefix» «First_Name» «Last_Name»
«Provider»
«Address1» {IF «Address2» <>"" "
«Address2»"}
«City», «State» «Zip»

Pairs of field brackets are each inserted with CTRL+F9
You can insert the mergefields from the toolbar or better still enter them
manually.
When you have finished, toggle the display again (ALT+F9)

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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[kojaks43]

Thanks, Mr Mayor:
This was hard as it was the first time I tried the mergefield business. It
took me a few tries to understand I needed to do Ctrl F9 for each set of
braces. I did it once and then typed subsequent braces. When it dawned on
me I was getting a non-bold brace and curley quotes, I realized my error.
It works fine for me now.
Again thanks for the guidance and patience.
k

 

[Graham Mayor]

You are welcome

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Graham Mayor - Word MVP


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