software

I have an Excel file of about 3000 names, addresses, zip codes, etc. This
is used for a mailer database for addressing. Most of the records have a
first and/or last name field completed. However...as the xls file is
updated...there are occasionally records with no FirstName or LastName
available....only the street address...etc.

Is there a way that I can automatically have Excel fill in a text string if
and when my xls file contains records without a first name and last name.

In other words...if both the FirstName field and the LastName field are
empty in a record (row)...can I have Excel automatically enter a text string
(say quot;Current Residentquot;) into the blank FirstName field...and how do I go
about this ?

Thanks in advance...

Tim R
Hi TimR,
One way is to copy all the data then paste it somewhere else on the
sheet, but not an ordinary paste, do Paste Specialgt;Paste All then click
the Paste Links button.
Then with the pasted column of Names select the top name and type in
the following formula (I have assumed that the original top name is in
A2)...

=IF(A2=quot;quot;,quot;Current Residentquot;,A2)

Fill this formula down to the bottom of the pasted data to replace the
pasted link formula and you should get the desired result.

Hope this helps

Ken JohnsonThanks ken...Worked good...Now..Is there a way to save the new values in the
copied rows...So I can delete the original rows in order not to confuse my
mailing/address /sorting program ?

Tim

quot;Ken Johnsonquot; gt; wrote in message ups.com...
gt; Hi TimR,
gt; One way is to copy all the data then paste it somewhere else on the
gt; sheet, but not an ordinary paste, do Paste Specialgt;Paste All then click
gt; the Paste Links button.
gt; Then with the pasted column of Names select the top name and type in
gt; the following formula (I have assumed that the original top name is in
gt; A2)...
gt;
gt; =IF(A2=quot;quot;,quot;Current Residentquot;,A2)
gt;
gt; Fill this formula down to the bottom of the pasted data to replace the
gt; pasted link formula and you should get the desired result.
gt;
gt; Hope this helps
gt;
gt; Ken Johnson
gt;
Hi Tim,

1. Select all of the pasted data then copy it.
2. If your original data starts in A2 then click in A2 then go Paste
Specialgt; select quot;Valuesquot; on the Paste Special dialoggt;OK.

This will get you back to your original data position and previously
blank FirstName cells will now show quot;Current Residentquot;.

3. You can then delete the copy of your original data that was used to
generate the quot;Current Residentquot; entries.

Hope this helps.

Ken Johnson