/text/swriter/01/04090200.xhp logical expressions formulating conditions conditions; in fields and sections fields;defining conditions sections;defining conditions variables; in conditions user data;in conditions databases;in conditions hiding; database fields Defining Conditions Conditions are logical expressions that you can use to control the display of fields and sections in your document. Although the following examples apply to fields, they also apply to sections. You can define conditions for the following field types: Conditional text: displays text A if the condition is true, or text B if the condition is false. Hidden text: hides the contents of the field if the condition is true. Hidden paragraph: hides the paragraph if the condition is true. Any record and next record: controls the access to database records. The simplest way to define a condition is to type the logical expression directly in a Condition box using the following values: TRUE The condition is always met. You can also enter any value not equal to 0 as the conditional text. FALSE The condition is not met. You can also enter the value 0. If you leave the Condition box empty, the condition is interpreted as not being met. When you define a condition, use the same elements for defining a formula, namely comparative operators, mathematical and statistical functions, number formats, variables and constants. You can use the following types of variables when you define a condition: Predefined $[officename] variables that use statistics on document properties Custom variables, that are a created with the "Set variable" field Variables based on user data Variables based on the contents of database fields You cannot use internal variables, such as page and chapter numbers, in condition expression. Conditions and Variables The following examples use a variable called "x": x == 1 or x EQ 1 The condition is true if "x" is equal to 1. x != 1 or x NEQ 1 The condition is true if "x" does not equal 1. sinx == 0 The condition is true if "x" is a multiple of pi. To use comparative operators with strings, the operands must be bounded by double quotation marks: x == "ABC" or x EQ "ABC" Checks if variable "x" contains (true) the "ABC" string, or not (false). x == "" or x EQ "" or !x or NOT x Checks if the variable "x" contains an empty string. The "equal" comparative operator must be represented by two equal signs (==) in a condition. For example, if you define a variable "x" with the value of 1, you can enter the condition as x==1. User Data You can include user data when you define conditions. To change your user data, choose %PRODUCTNAME - PreferencesTools - Options - $[officename] - User data. User data must be entered in the form of strings. You can query the user data with "==" (EQ), "!=" (NEQ), or "!"(NOT). The following table lists user data variables and their meanings: Variable Meaning user_firstname First name user_lastname Last name user_initials Initials user_company Company user_street Street user_country Country user_zipcode Zip code user_city City user_title Title user_position Position user_tel_work Business telephone number user_tel_home Home telephone number user_fax Fax number user_email E-mail address user_state State (not in all $[officename] versions) For example, to hide a paragraph, text, or a section from a user with a specific initial, such as "LM", enter the condition: user_initials=="LM". Conditions and Database Fields You can define conditions for accessing databases, or database fields. For example, you can check the contents of a database field from a condition, or use database fields in logical expressions. The following table lists a few more examples of using databases in conditions: Example Meaning Database.Table.Company Database.Table.Company NEQ "" Database.Table.Company != "" The condition is true if the COMPANY field is not empty. (In the first example, no operator is required.) !Database.Table.Company NOT Database.Table.Company Database.Table.Company EQ "" Database.Table.Company =="" Returns TRUE if the COMPANY field is empty. Database.Table.Company !="Sun" Database.Table.Company NEQ "Sun" Returns TRUE if the current entry in the COMPANY field is not "Sun". (Exclamation sign represents a logical NOT.) Database.Table.Firstname AND Database.Table.Name Returns TRUE if the record contains the first and the last name. Note the difference between the boolean NOT "!" and the comparative operator not equal "!=" (NEQ). When you refer to a database field in a condition, use the form Databasename.Tablename.Fieldname. If one of the names contains a character that is an operator, such as a minus sign (-), enclose the name in square brackets, for example, Databasename.[Table-name].Fieldname. Never use spaces inside field names.UFI: fixes bug #i25781# - but see #i25983#. Fixes also #i19571# Example: Hiding an Empty Database Field You may want to create a condition that hides an empty field, for example, if the COMPANY field is empty for some of the data records. Select the Hidden Paragraph list entry, and type the following condition: Addressbook.Addresses.Company EQ "" or type the following NOT Addressbook.Addresses.Company If the COMPANY database field is empty, the condition is true and the paragraph is hidden. To display hidden paragraphs on the screen, you can choose %PRODUCTNAME - PreferencesTools - Options - %PRODUCTNAME Writer - Formatting Aids, and clear the Fields: Hidden paragraphs check box. Examples of Conditions in Fields The following examples use the Conditional text field, although they can be applied to any fields that can be linked to a condition. The syntax used for conditions is also used for the Hidden text, Hidden paragraph, Any record or Next record fields. To display conditional text based on the number of pages: Choose Insert - Fields - More Fields, and then click the Functions tab. In the Type list, click "Conditional text". In the Condition box, type "page == 1". In the Then box, type "There is only one page". In the Or box, type "There are several pages". Click Insert, and then click Close. To display conditional text based on a user-defined Variable Choose Insert - Fields - More Fields, and then click the Variables tab. In the Type list, click "Set Variable". In the Name box, type "Profit". In the Value box, type "5000". Click Insert. Click the Functions tab, and click "Conditional text" in the Type list. In the Condition box, type "Profit < 5000". In the Then box, type "Target is not met". In the Or box, type "Target is met". Click Insert. To edit the contents of the "Profit" variable, double-click the variable field. To display conditional text based on the contents of a database field: The first part of this example inserts a space between the "First Name" and "Last Name" fields in a document, and the second part inserts text based on the contents of a field. This example requires that an address data source is registered with $[officename]. Choose Insert - Fields - More Fields, and then click the Database tab. In the Type list, click "Mail merge fields". In the Database selection box, double-click an address book, click "First Name", and then click Insert. Repeat for "Last Name". In the document, place the cursor between the two fields, press Space, and then return to the Fields dialog: Click the Functions tab, and then click "Conditional text" in the Type list. In the Condition box, type: "Addressbook.addresses.firstname". In the Then box, type a space and leave the Or box blank. You can now use a condition to insert text based on the contents of the First Name field. In the Fields dialog, click the Functions tab. In the Type box, click "Conditional text". In the Condition box, type: Addressbook.addresses.firstname == "Michael" In the Then box, type "Dear". In the Else box, type "Hello". Click Insert.