@gregg_appcoll Thanks, Greg, however I would still find it very helpful to have a syntax for an alternate field, when a first field is blank. As I previously noted, I have several situations where such a syntax would be helpful:
(a) a client-specific USPTO customer number (if the client has one), or the firm's customer number (if the client doesn't have one) (Some of my clients want me to use their customer number, rather than mine. I have templates for responses to Office Actions, etc. that include a customer number in the document headers)
(b) a client-specific USPTO deposit account number (if the client has one), or the firm's deposit account number (if the client doesn't have one). (My template responses include boilerplate language authorizing charges to a deposit account, in case of a missed extension of time.)
(c) actual filing date or official filing date or priority date, depending on what is available. (For example, when calculating due dates for foreign applications.)
Thanks,
George