WD: How to query for ""?"" and ""*"" in Print Merge IF field (110282)

The information in this article applies to:

This article was previously published under Q110282

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.

Here is a sample data file:

Name    Number
Sue     ?
Dave    4
Ashley  43        3

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

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

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

Sue
Dave
Ashley
No Name

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	8/16/2005
Keywords:	kbfield KB110282