Pathagoras can dis-assemble a name (e.g., "John Q. Doeberg, III"), into its component parts for use in various sections of your document. For example, you may wish to start the letter with 'Dear John' or 'Dear Mr. Doeberg' as needed without having to create a new variable.This done simply by appending an appropriate 'argument' to the base name variable. Here are the steps.
•Type a base' name variable. Typically this would appear in a title or the first line of an address block. E.g., [Client Name]
•In a second location, perhaps in a complimentary opening, or as friendly text in the body of the document, repeat the base variable, but add the argument "(first)" (or other appropriate argument) immediately after the end of the variable name.E.g., Dear [Client Name(first)]
•That's all there is to it!
When you scan the document with Instant Database, only the base variable will appear on the IDB screen. (We don't want you to type more than you have to.) Provide the desired value for the variable in he adjacent text block on the IDB screen.
After completing any remaining variables, press the Next button. The variable [Client Name] will of course be replaced with the desired value. But behind the screens, Pathagoras will automatically parse out and replace [Client Name(first)], [Client Name(last)], etc., with the appropriately separate part of the 'real' name you provided.
Fuller example:
Variable: Replace with:
[Name of Client] = John Quincy Doeberg, III
Acceptable arguments (shown in bold, but emphasis not required):
o[Name of Client(first)] = John
o[Name of Client(last)] = Doeberg
o[Name of Client(middle)] = Quincy
o[Name of Client(mi)] = Q
o[Name of Client(suff)] = III
Pathagoras can also cull out multiple first names that appear in replacement text. Let's assume this:
[Name of Client] = John and Mary Doeberg
Using the first argument (i.e., [Name of Client(first)], Pathagoras will return "John and Mary"
Notes:
•There should be no space after the last character of the 'real' variable and the 'argument.'
•The word 'Name' must appear somewhere in the variable. It can, however appear in upper, lower or mixed case ('NAME OF CLIENT', 'Client Name', 'Full Name of Client', etc.), appropriate to the case and emphasis you want the variable to appear in the final document. (In the right column of the Instant Database screen, you should always type in 'normal' style (typically upper and lower case).