Public Class Form1
    Dim author() As String
    Dim authors() As String
    Dim autNum() As String
    Dim editor() As String
    Dim translator() As String
    Dim publisher() As String
    Dim pubPlace As String
    Dim pubDate As Date
    Dim accDate As Date
    Dim mainTitle As String
    Dim subTitle As String
    Dim pages As String
    Dim volNumber As String
    Dim hyperlink As String
    Dim other As String



    Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
        'split author box into each person and get last name formatting
        If TextBox1.Text.IndexOf(";") > -1 Then 'if the name has any splits
            authors = TextBox1.Text.Split(";")
            If TextBox12.Text.Length > 0 Then 'if there are formatting options
                If TextBox12.Text.IndexOf(";") > -1 Then 'check if options are split
                    autNum = TextBox12.Text.Split(";")
                End If
            End If
        Else 'if the name doesnt have any split
            If TextBox12.Text.Length > 0 Then 'if there are formatting options
                authors = TextBox1.Text.Split(" ")
                Dim lastgrp As Byte = authors.Length - TextBox12.Text 'get total number of words and subtract last name grouping
                Dim last As Byte = TextBox12.Text
                For x = 0 To lastgrp - 1 Step 1 ' loop for amount of first and middle names
                    author(x) = authors(x) 'copy names
                    If x = (lastgrp - 1) Then 'is this is the last loop
                        For y = 0 To last - 1 Step 1 'loop through the last name group and combine into last name
                            author(x + 1) = authors(x + y + 1)
                        Next
                    End If
                Next

            Else
                author = TextBox1.Text.Split(" ")
            End If
        End If
    End Sub

End Class