That would not preclude you from using a query in Access. You can have the
Child1Forename field in the query as well as any number of conditional
fields that may return the Child1Forename field if the condition is met.

I cannot replicate your problem here when using and If...then...Else field
in a mailmerge main document.

If you want to send me your document, I will take a look at if for you.

--
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
"jameseyryan" wrote in message
...
I can't do a query in access to manipulate the data first as the fild
"Child1Forename" is entered into the document more than once. It is needed
in
one place but may not in the place I am having this problem with.

As for using CTRL + F9 for the delimiters, I did that too but no luck
either.