I manipulated the FileAs field in a similar way to make it useful for my project. I used the following VB Script code. By approaching the problem this way you can keep names only the FullName field and just manipulate the FileAs field. This code is pretty flexible and can be modified to suit your individual needs. I also wrote a script to step through all of my existing contacts and perform this routine.

--Mort O'Sullivan
(tarwater@brew-master.com)

When placed in the VB Script Code portion of a Contact form, the following code will change the FileAs field whenever the contact's name or company name is changed. The formatting of the FileAs field follows thefollowing rules:

1. If there is a company name, first name, and last name, then FileAs =Company Name (Last Name, First Name)
2. If there is only a company name, then FileAs = Company Name
3. If there is no company name, then FileAs = Last Name, First Name
4. If there is only one name given (either First or Last), then a comma will not be used to separate the FirstName and LastName fields
5. The middle name or initial will never be used in the FileAs field

This code is pretty flexible and can be modified to suit your individual needs. I also wrote a script to step through all of my existing contacts and perform this routine.

'***************************************************************************

'* Procedure: item_propertychange(name)
'* Description: Formats FileAs field when company or name field is changed

'***************************************************************************

Sub Item_PropertyChange(Name)
select case Name
case "CompanyName" ,"LastNameAndFirstName" ,"LastName" ,"FirstName" ,"CompanyAndFullName" ,"FullNameAndCompany" ,"MiddleName"
setfileas item
'msgbox item.parent.items.count
case else
'msgbox name 'debugging line
end select
End Sub

Sub SetFileAs(theItem)
dim sFileAs
sFileAs=FormatName(theitem.FirstName, theitem.LastName)
if theitem.companyname <>"" then
if sfileas <>"" then
sfileAs=theitem.companyname & " (" & sfileas & ")"
else
sfileas=theitem.companyname
end if
end if
theitem.fileas=sfileas
end sub

function FormatName (First, Last)
formatname=Last
if Last<>"" and first<>"" then formatname=formatname & ", "
formatname=formatname & first
end function