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From: jpl1@ra.MsState.Edu (Gamma-Ray Burst)
Newsgroups: comp.text.tex
Subject: MID$(string,i,n)
Summary: How to split up a string variable? help?
Keywords: openin, read
Message-ID: <jpl1.669787293@Ra.MsState.Edu>
Date: 24 Mar 91 04:01:33 GMT
Lines: 18

I have a list of names and addresses that I am trying to read into 
my TeX formletter.  So far I havethe following:
\openin 9=address.dat
\read 9 to\student
Dear \student,
blah, blah, blah...

The problem is that the variable \student contains his last name, first
name, and social security number.  How do i strip out the first name
to print only that?
thanks,
I will post any interesting answers in one summary.

-- 
John Patrick Lestrade, PhD
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Mississippi State University, MS 39762
Voice: (601) 325-2806  Fax: (601) 325-8898