On Fri, 2005-01-28 at 00:55 -0500, Matt Needles wrote: > Carolyn Orchant wrote: > > As a new user of Open Office and an inexperienced user of windows, can > > you direct me as to how to set up labels for a mail merge. > > many thanks. > Yes. I'm doing one right now, in fact.
Gee, Isn't this covered in http://documentation.openoffice.org/HOW_TO/word_processing/writer2_EN.pdf or the html version. The only difference is using a calc spreadsheet as datasource versus using a real database. Using and setting up a datasource is also available. Help is not too bad either. I suggest the OP should take advantage of the existing documentation, such as the manuals and HOW-TOs from the documentation project. > > First, make your datasource and register it in OOo. (see Help if you > need to) > > Second, create the labels document this way: > 1. File->New->Labels > 2. On the first tab, set the proper paper size and label type. Select > the registered database and the proper table (this might be a > spreadsheet), then transfer the fields into the label on the left, > inserting spaces, line breaks, and commas as necessary. You'll refine > the formatting later; just try to get the right fields on the right > lines now. > 3. on the second tab, make sure the dimensions of the labels and their > margins and gutters match your label stock. > 4. on the third tab, select "Entire Page" and "Synchronize content" then > click New Document > > Third, format the master label (first label on the page), using styles > or "hard" formatting for typeface, size, color, etc. > > Note here: I just had a mysterious problem that was caused by my line > breaks being only Returns, not Paragraph breaks. This seems to be a bug > in the Labels dialog. Turn on Nonprinting Characters to see if this is > so for you, and correct if necessary. > > If you have fields (lines) that do not occur in every record, like a > second address line, e.g., you will want to precede them with a Hidden > Text or Hidden Paragraph field (See Functions tab of Insert->Fields->Other). > > It sometimes helps in this process to turn on the display of field names > (View->Field Names). > > Finally in the formatting process, turn off the display of field names > and click the floating "Synchronize Labels" button to make all the > labels on the page the same as the master label. > > Next, turn on the DataSources Explorer (F4), and navigate to the source > used in your labels. Select several records that will test your layout > well, and click the Data to Fields icon on the Database Toolbar (top of > the Explorer, about three icons from the right side). This will fill > several labels with real data, so you can see what it will look like > when printed. > > When you are satisfied with the layout, do File->Print, and answer the > prompt about Mail Merge fields with "Yes". A Mail Merge dialog will > appear, from which you can select which records to print. There is a bug > in the database preview in that it does not initially show all the > records available in the data source. You MUST click the Goto Last > Record button to fill it completely, then you can either select records > or print them all. When you print, OOo will fill as many pages as > necessary to print all the selected records. You will see the last page > printed on your screen when it finishes. > > If you have any more questions about this, I'll be back tomorrow. > > Matt Needles > OOo Coach > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------- > To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -- Documentation Co-Lead PLEASE - keep list traffic on the list. Email sent directly to me may be ignored utterly. "Dinna meddle wi' things ye ken nuthin' aboot!" J.Herriot --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For additional commands, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
