What happens if you leave off the "WhilePrintingRecords"?

>Here's my code in my formula. I don't see why I am getting blanks in my report for this formula.
>
>

>WhilePrintingRecords;
>If {master.shock_agcy} startswith "FD ALS" then
>"ALS";
>If {master.shock_agcy} startswith "FD BLS" then
>"BLS";
>If {master.shock_agcy} startswith "AMB" then
>"AMB"
>

>
>I also tried If left({master.shock_agcy},6) = "FD ALS" then ...
>and so on. I don't think the compare is working, but I don't see why not. The field in the table is capital letters. Help please and thank you.