Checking for - or ' in a name field

[DSwanich8]

Has any one out there used a custom coded workflow to check for an - or ' in their first name, and to capitalise the first letter proceeding the - or '.

We've used the native data format action in a workflow to change all first names and last names to title case. But that's caused issues for the names that contain an - or '.

We can't find anything online to help troubleshoot this. Would be amazing if this use case was added to the Programmable Automation Use Cases ppage. 

[MSaye]

Hi Teun,

I've been looking for a solution like this. I do have a question relating to it. 

What would you do for last name suffixes? For example, "Johnson II" 

If they were a junior (Jr) or senior (Sr), that can be changed with your previous code.

Thanks!

[Teun · Accepted solution]

Hi @DSwanich8 ,

I think the following code could work:

exports.main = async (event, callback) => {
  // Pass firstname as a property to include in the code
  let firstname = event.inputFields['firstname'];
  
  // This will turn Lily-mae in Lily-Mae
  if (firstname.includes('-')) {
	const parts = firstname.split('-')
    const firstPart = parts[0]
    let secondPart = parts[1]
    secondPart = secondPart.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + secondPart.slice(1);
    
    firstname = firstPart + secondPart
  } 
  
  // This will turn O'neil into O'Neil
  if (firstname.includes("'")) {
    const parts = firstname.split("'")
    const firstPart = parts[0]
    let secondPart = parts[1]
    secondPart = secondPart.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + secondPart.slice(1);
    
    firstname = firstPart + secondPart
  }

  // Define firstname as an output at the bottom to be able to use the 'copy to property action and save the firstname'
  callback({
    outputFields: {
      firstname: firstname,
    }
  });
}

If you set 'firstname' as an output, you can use the copy to property action to store the firstname for this contact. I did not test this tho, so let me know if you run into any issues.