column from other columns with hierarchy and names

[DBorG]

I created several custom columns that i use for my comics collection.
Like #letterers, #illustrators, #colorists.
Now I am trying to create column #artists that will contain all those
columns sorted hierarchically by occupation.
Closest I got was with the template:
illustrators.{#illustrators}, colorists.{#colorists}, letterers.{#letterers}
this way it creates hierarchy, but I end up with two problems.

All entries that does not have entry in these columns are still in artists column under illustrators. or colorists. or letterers. How to not include such entries?

Second problem is if my custom columns have more that one name. The #artists column counts all the names as one entry.

Tried several versions of in_list() but can't figure the right formula.

Would appreciate any help I can get.

[chaley]

Given that I don't have the columns you describe, the best I can do is a guess at something that might solve your problem.

program:
	a = list_re(field('#letterers'), '&', '(.*)', 'letterers.\1');
	b = list_re(field('#illustrators'), '&', '(.*)', 'illustrators.\1');
	c = list_re(field('#colorists'), '&', '(.*)', 'colorists.\1');
	t = list_union(a, b, '&')
	list_union(c, t)

There is probably a better way to merge the results of the 3 list_re functions given that they are orthogonal , but I leave that to you. Good luck!