Need Help with TRIM command

[rbfarley]

I have four fields (First_Name, MI, Last_Name, Suffix) that I am trying to trim so that they will appear without spaces on a report. When I do a combined string (=RTrim([First_Name])+" "+[MI]+" "+Trim([Last_Name])+" "+[Suffix]) I run into problems when any one of the fields is blank. Nothing will print. As long as all four fields contain data it will print. Problem is that only a few records have data in all four fields.

When I separate out the fields into four separate controls on the report, I cant get the TRIM function to work and there are spaces between the conrols.

Any idea? I think I am missing somehting simple here.

Thanks
Rob

[mastromb]

Your function is erroring out because one of the fields is null. I can't say that I exactly know how to fix it because I have never used the trim function but I believe that is you problem.

[rbfarley]

I am aware of the null string. I need help dealing with the TRIM command with occasional null strings. Middle Initial is always one character so I don't use the TRIM command with this control, but when I add it to another control with the TRIM command such as First_Name I get a blank result when Middle Initial is not present. Unfortunately, not everyone has a middle initial or a suffix (Jr. Sr. etc.), but I have to include it in the name on this report if it is present.

[rbfarley]

I am all set now. Got a reply on a different forum. The key to this problem was to remove the TRIM command and change the operators from '+' to '&". I am not sure why it works, but it works and I am on my way. Thanks for everyone's help.

Rob