Making a string 1

[FoxKid]

Hi All,
Assume that I am having 5 variable i.e. a,b,c,d,e, all are strings.
a='abc'
b='def'
c=' '
d='klm'
e=''

Now, I want it to be saved in a single string variable xtot. i.e
xtot='abc def klm'

There is all the posibilities of having any of these 5 strings to be blank except a. But in the xtot string, the gap between two string should not be greater that one space.
I know to do it with long procedure with <if> or <case>.
Is there any other way to do it.
Please suggest....

thanks and regards

 

[StewartUK]

You mention using IF - I assume you don't mean IIF() which is what I'd use:

xtot = a + iif(empty(b),[], b+[ ]) + iif(empty(c),[], c+[ ]) + iif(empty(d),[], d+[ ]) + iif(empty(e),[], e+[ ])

My example assumes that the variables are either empty or have 3 characters in them. If that's not the case, the IIF gets more complicated

I'd also check the help for how to use IIF().

Hope that helps,

Stewart

 

[StewartUK]

Sorry, my example should have started a + [ ] + iif(.......

Stewart

 

[FoxKid]

Thanks Stewart,
My problem is solved by your suggestion.
thanks a lot