Can I make FM7 move the first word from one field into a blank field?

[Campus Club]

I am working with a database that has been imported into FM7 and I have a first and last name field. Unfortunately many of the names are in the last name field only instead of being split between the two fields. What command can I use in a script to select the first word the 'last name' field and then move it into the blank 'first name' field?

[Maarten Witberg]

Hi,

 

set field["first_name", "LeftWords(last_name;1)"]

 

should do it.

 

kjoe

[Campus Club]

Yes, that moved the first name to the first name field, but it also left it behind in the last name field. How do I set it to delete the first name after that?

[Maarten Witberg]

oh yes.

 

set field["last_name","RightWords(last_name;1"]

 

assuming you have no names like "John Stuart Mill, jr"

 

kjoe

[Campus Club]

Ooh, that's the thing, I do have a lot of 3 or 4 part names. Is there anyway to just select that first word and then clear it or cut it?

[Maarten Witberg]

set field["your_field", "Substitute(your_field;leftwords(your_field;1;"")"]

 

kjoe

[Inky Phil]

Kjoe

is the substitute function above avaiable in FM5?

Phil

[Maarten Witberg]

Hi Phil, I don't have 5.0, just 5.5, it is available in 5.5.

 

kjoe

[Inky Phil]

I'll have a look

Many Thanks

Phil