> .bb '&SALUTATION' = ''
> Dear &FIRST_NAME; &LAST_NAME;,
> .else
> Dear &SALUTATION; &FIRST_NAME; &LAST_NAME;,
> .eb

This is exactly what I tried, only without the quotes:

  .bb &SALUTATION = ''

This test failed when the column was NULL, and it always output
"&SALUTATION;".

I tried the above (with the quotes) and the test never succeeds.

I'll just assume this will be working in 1.8e.

--
Dave