Or if the alternative is not in the data file you could test the missing
field as suggested by Cindy and insert the following construction:

Dear {IF{Mergefield name} "" "{Mergefield Name}" "Colleague" }

Use CTRL+F9 to insert the field boundaries {}

You may find http://www.gmayor.com/formatting_word_fields.htm useful.

--

Graham Mayor - Word MVP

My web site www.gmayor.com
Word MVP web site http://word.mvps.org



Cindy M -WordMVP- wrote:
Hi ?B?RHJUb21pblJJ?=,

I am using an access DB to create a merged word Document, sending
letters to other colleagues. I have it set up fine if I know the
recipeints last name and company, but if the name field is blank I
would like it to automatically insert another word. e.g if it is to
Mr smith, at Mountainview Business Ctr it should say "Dear Mr
Smith". But if it is to some one unknown at Bayview Business Ctr it
should say "Dear Colleague"

I have the Insert before or after if not blank thing down, but the
preformed wizard that comes up with the genereic greeting line
is not what I want

Is this alternate form of address something you have stored in a
look-up table, and can bring into the data source via a query? If
yes, then you can set up an IF field in the mail merge that looks
something like

Dear { IF { Mergefield Name } = "" "{ Mergefield AltAddress }" "{
Mergefield Name }" }

Cindy Meister
INTER-Solutions, Switzerland
http://homepage.swissonline.ch/cindymeister (last update Jun 8 2004)
http://www.word.mvps.org

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