WD: How to query for ""?"" and ""*"" in Print Merge IF field

ID: Q110282

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.1a, 2.0, 2.0a, 2.0a-CD, 2.0b, 2.0c, 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0
Microsoft Word 97 for Windows

SUMMARY

The "?" and the "*" are wildcard characters in a print merge. If you want to query for a "?" or an "*" in a field, use the following syntax:

   {IF "?" = {mergefield} "truetext" "falsetext"}

   -or-

   {IF "*" = {mergefield} "truetext" "falsetext"}

Reversing the query in the IF statement allows Word to view the "?" and the "*" as literal text, rather than as wildcards.

MORE INFORMATION

Here is a sample data file:

Name    Number
Sue     ?
Dave    4
Ashley  43        3

Question Mark

If the Number field is a "?", print "no number", otherwise print the number.

{IF "?" = {mergefield number} "No number to print" "{mergefield number}"}

Form Letter Example:

Sue      No Number
Dave     4
Ashley   43         3

Asterisks

If the name is an *, print "No name", otherwise print the name.

{IF "*" = {mergefield name} "No name" "{mergefield name}"}

Sue Dave Ashley No Name

KBCategory: kbusage kbhowto KBSubcategory: kbfield Additional query words: winword2 1.0 1.10 1.10a 2.0 2.0a 2.0a-CD winword 7.0 word95 word7 word6 2.0b 2.0c 6.0 print merge wrong wild card word97

Keywords          : kbfield 
Version           : 1.x 2.x 6.0 6.0a 6.0c 7.0 97
Platform          : WINDOWS

Last Reviewed: February 6, 1998