Reverse order of the merged data

[CW]

Is there a switch that can be used to reverse the order of merged data,
within a single mergefield?
For example, if a person's name is stored in the data source as Smith John,
but once it is merged you want it be John Smith - can this be switched within
the merge process?
I realise it could be done in various ways OUTside the merge i.e. either
before or after, but in my particular circumstances this would be difficult
so I would like to do it as part of the actual merge.

 

[Deborah Zotian - MOS]

What type of document are you merging to? You should be able to put in the
merge fields in the order you require them using the Insert Merge Fields
function.

 

[CW]

I am merging to a Word doc. Trouble is, though, the data (e.g. the name) is
stored at source (Sequel Server DB) as one field i.e. "Smith John". I realise
that if it was coming in as two separate mergefields I could reverse the
order. But it starts out as ONE field of data. So I need to split it (parse
it, I guess) and then reverse the order of the two pieces of the name so that
they display correctly in Word.
All suggestions WELCOME!!

 

[Deborah Zotian - MOS]

Sorry - that's beyond my scope! Maybe there's a macro that can be created to
reverse them? I hope someone can help you out.

 

[Doug Robbins - Word MVP]

Create a catalog or directory type mailmerge in which you have the
mergefields in the cells of a one row table. When you execute this merge to
a new document, you will get a table with each row containing the data for
each record.

Then you will find information on how to reverse the names in the article
"Finding and replacing characters using wildcards" at:

http://www.word.mvps.org/FAQs/General/UsingWildcards.htm

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

 

[CW]

That sounds good, many thanks Doug. I'll give it a go.