I had to create a field which uses PageRef to a bookmark in it's calculation formula. Everything works the way I need it to, but in the off chance that the bookmark is deleted or renamed by the end user, I'd like the calculation to use 0 in the formula instead of showing a Syntax Error.

How do I check in a formula if a bookmark exists, or if there is an error?

Without seeing the filed code in question, it's difficult to advise. Can you attach a document to a post with the field code and bookmark (delete anything sensitive)? You do this via the paperclip symbol on the 'Go Advanced' tab.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Sorry, here's the basic calculation I am using (I need to tell how many pages exist from a certain point to the end of the document):

{= {NUMPAGES} - {PAGEREF FirstSectionBreak }}

If the bookmark 'FirstSectionBreak ' is renamed, or missing, I have seen either a syntax error, or some other error. I'd like to do something like this (pseudocode):

{= {NUMPAGES} - (IF bookmarkExists{FirstSectionBreak }, {PAGEREF FirstSectionBreak }, 0 ) }

Try:
{IF{PAGEREF FirstSectionBreak}= "Error!*" 0 {={NUMPAGES}-{PAGEREF FirstSectionBreak}}}

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks, I didn't quite have luck with that just yet, not sure if I am entering it correctly or not. I'm a bit of a novice using the fields & formulas in word, and I haven't qute gotten the hang of it yet.

This has just become an academic exercise for me; after spending a couple hours or so getting the parts that I have working, they just decided to remove the calculations I spent so much time working on.

Did you use Ctrl-F9 for all the field braces (i.e. { }) - you can't simply type them or copy & paste them from this forum. Also, the spaces indicated in the code I posted are all essential.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Yes, that was one of my first mistakes earlier today when I was trying to figure out how to do the simpler formulas. Getting the nested fields was an initial issue, but I was using Ctrl-F9 when I tested the updated formula. It's perhaps the 'IF' clause I was doing incorrectly. I will experiment with just that on Monday to see if I was entering it wrong.

And, now the client has done another 180, and decided to reinsert the calculations, so it's back to being a necessity. I swear, they act more like politicians than clients sometimes.

I appreciate your assistance on this.

Thanks, I was able to finally get it working. I had to spend a few minutes working on just 'If' statement, got that working correctly, then rebuilt each part of the field one at a time.

Much appreciated!