Using skip record as well as if, then, else

[azza]

I have two requirements for my merge:

1. I want to skip null records
2. I want to include text in non-null records.

e.g. field "Boy4" is a number from a spreadsheet. If the field is null, I want to skip the record (to save space on my tickets) but if it's a number, I need to include text in front of the field like "Boys Aged Four: {MERGEFIELD Boy4}".



I seem to be able to do one or the other but not both - I'm not sure where I'm going wrong and I'd appreciate any help.

[macropod]

If 0 isn't a valid result, you could code the SKIPIF field along the lines of:
{SKIPIF {MERGEFIELD Boy4}= 0}
or:
{SKIPIF «Boy4»= 0}

Otherwise, you would probably need to code the SKIPIF field along the lines of:
{SKIPIF {MERGEFIELD Boy4}<> {={MERGEFIELD Boy4}}}
or:
{SKIPIF «Boy4}<> {=«Boy4»}}

Note: The field brace pairs (i.e. '{ }') for the above example are all created in the document itself, via Ctrl-F9 (Cmd-F9 on a Mac); you can't simply type them or copy & paste them from this message. Nor is it practicable to add them via any of the standard Word dialogues. Likewise, you can't type or copy & paste the chevrons (i.e. '« »') - they're part of the actual mergefields, which you can insert from the mailmerge toolbar. The spaces represented in the field construction are all required.

[azza]

Many thanks.

I'm close now (especially thanks to your tip about the spaces being vital).

The fields are now invisible if null but there is still a carriage return when the field is null (or zero).

The code I've got is:

{SKIPIF { MERGEFIELD Boy4 }=""  }{ IF {MERGEFIELD Boy4 }<>""Boy Aged 4: {MERGEFIELD Boy4 }" "" }

Maybe I need to take the carriage returns out of the document and into the fields somehow.

[azza]

A ha!

It seems I just need to put a carriage return in the code:

{SKIPIF { MERGEFIELD Boy4 }=""  }{ IF {MERGEFIELD Boy4 }<>""Boy Aged 4: {MERGEFIELD Boy4 }" 
"" }

Thank you again for your help!

[macropod]

Since you already have the SKIPIF test, I can't see the point of the further IF test. After all, the record will never appear if { MERGEFIELD Boy4 } is empty.

I also can't follow your IF field's syntax; it's spacing and quote characters are all over the place - you either have too many or too few quotes and too few spaces. It should be something like:
{ IF {MERGEFIELD Boy4 }<> "" "Boy Aged 4: {MERGEFIELD Boy4 }" "" }
or, at an absolute minimum:
{IF{MERGEFIELD Boy4}<> "" "Boy Aged 4: {MERGEFIELD Boy4}"}

[azza]

Oh, okay. I may've over-engineered the "solution".

I was just trying to ensure that if a field has no value (null) then it doesn't take up a line in the merge - it's not enough for it just not to appear.

But yes, you're right - I had another go with just the "if, then" test and it works as I require.

Thank you again for your patience.