WD: How to Use Quotation Marks in a Conditional Merge Result

• Microsoft Word for Windows, versions 6.0, 6.0a, 6.0c
• Microsoft Word for the Macintosh, versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 6.0.1a
• Microsoft Word for Windows NT, version 6.0
• Microsoft Word for Windows 95, version 7.0, 7.0a

SUMMARY

This article describes how to define a conditional mergefield for a result that includes quotation marks. Normally, a conditional {IF} field takes the following syntax:

   {IF {MERGEFIELD name} = "John Doe" "true condition" "false condition"}

For example, if you want to print "Now is the time...," (with the quotation marks) in your document when the true condition is met, you must place a backslash before each quotation mark. The conditional statement should look similar to the following:

   {IF {MERGEFIELD name} = "John Doe" "\"Now is the time...\"" "false
   condition"}

MORE INFORMATION

The comma also has a special use inside the {IF} field. Therefore, use the backslash before a comma as well as before the quotation mark.

In addition, the backslash has a special use inside the {IF} field. Therefore, use a backslash before a backslash. In other words, use two backslashes if you want one to appear in the merged document.

For example to have the result "John said, "The file was on f:\harddrive\ my documents"", the {IF} field would have a format similar to this:

   {IF {MERGEFIELD name} = "John Doe" "John said, \"The file was on
   f:\\harddrive\\my documents\"" "false condition"}

   ARTICLE-ID: Q134998
   TITLE     : WD: Certain Characters Do Not Display in Field Result