Resume by Query Preceding Separator Statements

A preceding separator statement in a merge template eliminates any characters or text preceding a field, if the selected field is empty in the database.

When you build a resume by query statement you can include preceding separator statements in query fields that contain functions (also known as formula function fields), such as date formats, currency formats, or the full name state format. You must enter preceding separator statements manually.

Preceding Separator Example

For example, if you create a resume by query that includes [Contract Long Name], [Contract City], [Contract State] and the Contract State field is formatted as Full Name on the Location tab of the Contract Info Center, the merged proposal reads as follows:

Adelphi Medical Research Facility, Adelphi, Maryland

If the Contract State field is blank on the Location tab of the Contract Info Center, the merged proposals reads as follows:

Adelphi Medical Research Facility, Adelphi,

To prevent the comma and space following the city field from appearing in the merged proposal, you must manually type the full name state field in a preceding separator statement.

Building a Preceding Separator Statement

To build a preceding separator statement, select all the fields in the statement, typing the separators between fields that do contain data, but not in front of the field that does not contain data.

[LongName], [City][!FullStateName(State)]

Notice the full name state field was selected right after the city field. No comma and space was typed. Place your cursor inside the opening bracket and type an opening brace ' {', an acute symbol ' `', the separator ( comma space), another acute symbol ' `', and a closing brace ' }' after the state field's close parentheses.

[Long Name], [City][{`, `!FullStateName(State)}]

• The acute symbol " `" is the lower character on the key with the tilde ~ character.
• Characters typed between the two acute symbols will not appear in the merged proposal if the field within the preceding statement is blank in the database.

Example of Preceding Separators in Date functions:

[{`Actual Completion: `!Date(`yyyy`,Actual Completion Date)}]

Example of Preceding Separators in Currency functions:

[{`Total Cost: $`!Currency(Total Project Cost)}]