A fallback chain lets a variable try several columns in order, using the first one that has a value. It prevents blank plates where the source data is incomplete.
Syntax
Segments are separated by ||, and are tried left to right.
{Award||Team Name} uses Award when present, and Team Name when it is not.
Ending with fixed text
The final segment can be literal text rather than a column. Literals are written in double quotes.
{Award||Team Name||"Participant"} falls back to the word Participant when both columns are empty.
Ending a chain with a literal guarantees that every plate carries something, which is the reason to use one.
When to use this
Optional fields are the common case: a middle name, a title, a second address line, or data merged from two sources with different column names.
Building it visually
The chain does not need typing by hand. The visual syntax editor in the Plate Editor adds columns, reorders lines, and inserts literal text. Preview Mode in the left toolbar shows how a chain resolves, using the longest value in each column.