so you are really grouping first by name then be birthdate and italicizing the second-nth occurance of a name.
the grouping is now simple, italicizing is only slightly more complex.
I would use a variable in a formula.
GH:
shared booleanvar disp:=false;
""//to hide the false
I would create a second detail section and suppress it, I would place this formula in it
Details b:
shared booleanvar disp:=true;
in the format section of the name cell, font tab, for the style, I would place in the 'x-1' button:
shared booleanvar disp;
if disp then
crItalics //I think, the formula will tell you
else
crNormal //again reference the formula
all done. Should work
HTH