We had similar problems, and I found the label layout very confusing in filemaker. So, instead we instituted a policy of exporting information and doing a mail merge in Word. It takes slightly longer, but it works out well in the end.
I wrote up a little "how-to" for my staff that I've posted it below. I created a special "label export" button under Exports in Ebase that exports the info needed for the labels.
--Amy
Creating Labels Using Mail Merges from Ebase into Word
First export your file from Ebase. Put it on your desktop, and name it something you'll remember. It will be a "tab-delimited" file, and might look like an Excel file on your desktop.
Mail merges into Word require the first line of the data file to be descriptive (not actual people), or else the first person in the list isn't printed. Follow these steps to open the data file into Excel and change the first line.
1) Open Excel
2) Go to File --> Open, and choose your data file.
3) Choose "delimited" and "tab"
4) Make sure your file looks ok in the bottom half of the pop-up window before hitting OK.
5) Insert a row in the top of the file
6) Type descriptive terms for the columns (First Name, Last Name, etc.)
7) Save file as an Excel file.
Now you need to create the Labels in Word and merge the Excel file with the Word file.
1) Open Word and go to Tools --> Mail Merge
2) A Pop-Up window will appear with three items -- Create, Data Source, and Merge.
3) Under Create, select Mailing Labels and select the Active Window when asked.
4) Under Data Source, select Open Data Source and choose your Export Excel file.
5) A pop-up window will appear that asks you to choose your labels. Standard mailing labels (default) are 5160 Avery labels. You can print any kind of label you'd like, however.
6) A pop-up window will appear that asks you to create your label by merging fields from your data source. Click Insert Merge Fields and create the label the way it should look when printed. Include, for example the comma after the city and the spaces after the state.
7) Under Merge, select Merge.
8) A new document will appear with the merged fields in label format. You can change the font and/or size of the fonts by Selecting All and changing things.
9) Print a test copy first to make sure it looks all right and fits on the labels as expected.
At 12:38 AM 5/15/01 -0400, you wrote:
I cannot find a way to select an Avery label size. I am still at a loss to
make the labels print correctly. I do plan to try the first advice I
received, cut off 1/2 inch at the top of each label form.
I would really like to know HOW to get to a layout situation where I could
choose an Avery (or any other) label format. ------------------
Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to
http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
________________________________________________________
Amy Lesser, Communications Director
Center for Environmental Citizenship fx: 202.547.8572
http://www.envirocitizen.org mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
We've moved! Our new office is located at 200 G St. NE #300,
Washington, DC 20002. Please update your records.
Subscribe to EarthNet News, the largest student environmental
newsletter in the U.S., at http://www.envirocitizen.org/subscribe.html
________________________________________________________ ------------------
Reminder to each recipient: To change your list account preferences, go to
http://email.sparklist.com/scripts/lyris.pl?enter=support and enter the email address you used to subscribe to the ebase support list:: [email protected]
To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
---------------------------------------------------------------------
ebase - Relationship Management for Nonprofits, http://www.ebase.org
---------------------------------------------------------------------
