asked on

How to split last, first and middle name from Name field?

Hi,
In my table I have a field called "Name" and the field look like this:

Name
Lamphere, Justin C
Vazquez Cortez, Fernando
Thompson, Chennea S
Her, Mai

Is it possible to separate them and create 3 columns, one for last, one for first and the other for middle name.

The output table will look like this:
Name last first middle
Lamphere, Justin C Lamphere Justin C
Vazquez Cortez, Fernando Vazquez Cortez Fernando
Thompson, Chennea S Thompson Chennea S
Her, Mai Her Mai

I there a way to separate this field to 3 columns above. Thanks.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

tdkeller

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thorkyl

yes you will need some code

public function tkb_SPLIT_NAME()
dim db as database
dim rs as dao.recordset
dim sLAST as string
dim sFIRST as string
dim sMI as string
dim sNAME as string
set db = currentdb
set rs = db.openrecordset("SELECT [NAME] FROM TBL_NAMES")
while not rs.eof
sNAME = rs!NAME
sLAST = left(sNAME,instr(1,sNAME,",")-1) 'get the last name
sNAME = trim(right(sNAME,len(sNAME)-1) 'drop the comma and the space
if instr(1,trim(sNAME)," ")>0 then 'we have a MI
sFIRST = left(sNAME,instr(1,sNAME," ") 'get the first name
sNAME = trim(right(sNAME,len(sNAME)) 'drop the space
sMI = sNAME
else
sFIRST = Trim(sNAME) 'No MI
sMI=""
end if
rs.edit
rs!LNAME = trim(sLAST)
rs!FNAME = trim(sFIRST)
rs!MNAME = trim(sMI)
rs.update
rs.movenext
wend
end function

Should do it for you

sgrahman

ASKER

hi thorkyl,
Where exactly am i supposed to be adding this code to? I inserted this code to module but it is not working. thx.

tdkeller

use the expressions in my previous response in an update query. Add FName, LName, MI to the table so they can be updated from Name.

fantasy1001

Ok, I will stick to the query type solution:

step:
1. Create a table with field: Names, First, Middle, Last (in table 1)
2. Paste your data into Names
3. Create a new query in design mode
4. Add table1 to the query
5. From menu query, select update query
Now, we will create the query for first name
6. in the input grid, select field->First
7. in the Update To clause->Right(Trim([Names]),Len(Trim([Names]))-InStr(1,[Names]," "))
8. Save and run the query, accept all the warning and continue to finish,
9. Your result is shown in the column [first] of table1

Continue to other fields with Update To:
Refer here for update to clause
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;286238

~ fantasy ~

thorkyl

If you place the code in a module
then just run the code ( F5 key )

You will need to change the line

set rs = db.openrecordset("SELECT [NAME] FROM TBL_NAMES")

TO

set rs = db.openrecordset("SELECT * FROM TBL_NAMES")

My sample taks the presumption that you added the new fields to the existing table