First name, last name, Full name field frustrations

[nurjml]

I have a lookup table that includes the names of faculty members. They are currently listed as 'lastname, firstname middleinitial' in a field called FullName. I use a combo field in the queries (and subsequent forms and reports) to allow the user to pull the name of faculty member they need. If the faculty member's name is not listed, the user has the option to enter the name into a field that will add the name to the lookup table for future use. I would like to have the user enter the name into 3 different fields (Lastname; FirstName, MiddleInitial) and then have Access automatically combine the fields into a single FullName field for the combo box lookup.

Also, having both formats of name would make some of the reports easier to generate but I just cannot figure out how to automate the splitting of the single FullName field (or combining the three fields into a single field).

I found some directions online that talk about using a calculated field in the table but my Access 2010 just refuses to allow me access to the expression builder option (it is grayed out and I cannot figure out how to un-gray it).

:banghead:

 

[RainLover]

In a Query

FullName:[LastName]& " " & [FirstName] & " " & [MiddleInitial]

Hope this helps.

 

[JANR]

I would do this to avoid a trailing space after the firstname if someone do not have a middleinitial:

Fullname: [LastName] & ", " & [FirstName] & (" "+[MiddleInitial])

JR

 

[nurjml]

Thank you both. I will go back and tweak the end of the code... Will make things much better when I eventually want to print out the manuscript information in very specific reference list formats.

I knew it was something easy, I was just having a major brain block.

 

[RainLover]

If you simply don't know all you can is ask.

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