Empty cells in data source

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Shan - 14 Jul 2005 17:05 GMT

I am using Excel as my data source for merge document I created myself. The
document has borders around certain areas.

Problem is, I don't want to fill the Excel empty cells with "NA" if there is
no data (no mobile phone number or email address for example). When I perform
the merge, it "deflates" if you will, the borders I had set up where no data
merged and messes up my formatting (columns). I tried to add a switch (
{Mergefield Mobile_Phone \b" "} ) with no luck.

Plus, this drops my very last bordered item that is currently in a column
(right side of column 2 set up) to page 2. I don't know how to prevent this
from happening.

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Peter Jamieson - 14 Jul 2005 18:18 GMT

Try either of the following:
a. just put a space after the merge field (of course that may screw up the
output where there /is/ a phone number)
b. use a nested IF field, e.g.

{ IF "{ MERGEFIELD Mobile_Phone }" = "" " " "{ MERGEFIELD Mobile_Phone }" }

All the {} need to be the special field codes you can enter using ctrl-F9.

Peter Jamieson

>I am using Excel as my data source for merge document I created myself. The
> document has borders around certain areas.
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
> this
> from happening.

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Shan - 14 Jul 2005 19:22 GMT

Can I still use the nested IF field below if I have already formatted the
mobile phone field to be display as a phone number (555.555.5555) ?

Thanks!

> Try either of the following:
> a. just put a space after the merge field (of course that may screw up the
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> > this
> > from happening.

Reply to this Message

Peter Jamieson - 14 Jul 2005 22:04 GMT

Trying it is usually the best and most reliable way to find out :-)

The only thing that counts is what the value of { MERGEFIELD Mobile_Phone }
is when you have a "blank" number. If it is "", then the IF filed should
work. If it is something like (..), then modify the comparison so you get

{ IF "{ MERGEFIELD Mobile_Phone }" = "(..)" " " "{ MERGEFIELD
Mobile_Phone }" }

Peter Jamieson

> Can I still use the nested IF field below if I have already formatted the
> mobile phone field to be display as a phone number (555.555.5555) ?
[quoted text clipped - 33 lines]
>> > this
>> > from happening.

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