On 02/07/2009 07:33 AM, Joe Smith wrote: > NoOp wrote: >> ... >> I reckon that someone should file a bug. Search in the bug database >> shows some issues back in 2003, but nothing recent that I can find. > > A search of Writer issues with 'label page size' in the summary gave > these (and a few other similar ones): > > Avery Letter Size 5160 Label Results in Wrong Page Dimensions > http://qa.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=96856 > > Incorrect page size for A4 Avery labels. > http://qa.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=91587 > > Label documents don't support page sizes > http://qa.openoffice.org/issues/show_bug.cgi?id=53718 > > However, I don't think this is exactly a bug--as in an error that needs > to be corrected--as much as it is something that needs a new design. > > The problem is that the 'synchronize contents' function is based on > making each label after the first a /section/ that links back to the > first label. This means you get the sync function for free: it's exactly > the same as Tools > Update > Links, but it also means that every label > on the page has to be absolutely identical, and without using any other > layout elements, e.g. tables, or even line breaks. The whole page is > just a string of identical labels; you can think of them as a line of > text, with each label being one character. They break into rows the same > way a long paragraph breaks into lines: because of the page margins. > > The text for each label is contained in a frame. The gaps between the > columns of labels are created by setting the "wrap" properties of the > frame. If the label layout calls for 0.5" between the columns, then the > wrap property is set to require a space on the right of the frame of > 0.5". The space between rows is the same: it's the wrap/bottom spacing. > > Fine so far, but what about the last column of labels? They don't need > the extra spacing--the page break makes it unnecessary--but they still > have it because every label has to be identical. Nothing will ever print > in that space, it's guaranteed to be empty, but the page has to be wide > enough to allow the label, and the space, to fit within the page margins. > > So, OOo just calculates a page size that allows the necessary number of > labels, each with it's spacing, to fit across the page. If the total > width of the labels is 8.55", and the page size is set to "Letter", the > line-breaking algorithm finds that it won't fit. But we know better: the > last column includes 0.13" of guaranteed-empty space, so the actual > content will not overflow an 8.50" piece of paper. The simplest solution > is to just make the page width wide enough to allow the labels, with the > extra space, to fit. > > This all works very well for a relatively simple design: it makes it > easy to create a page layout on the fly from the label layout > parameters, and avoids needing a full template document for hundreds of > label types. > > However, the design also causes problems because of the custom page > sizes, and the strange page layout makes it confusing and difficult for > users to tweak. And, if there are printers (or software) that refuse to > ignore the custom paper size, then I'd say that's a killer for this design. > > I have no better solution to propose; maybe the Format > Page > Columns > workaround could somehow be used to avoid the need for custom page sizes. > > I've made my own table-layout labels, but having to sync them by > cut/paste is a nuisance. I'm sure that could be automated easily, but > needing a separate template document for each label type would be a > bigger problem. Maybe the templates could be downloaded--most people > won't need more than a few. > > <Joe
Ah... thanks for looking those up & that excellent info! I think Brian's comments have good merit as well; I did not have a problem printing to my Canon MP750, PDF etc. Well, actually I do have a problem with the Avery templates on my printer as the label information prints too far to the left so I need to either adjust the label dimensions, or add some blank spaces in front of the address information. But I think that is a printer driver problem, as it's worse if I use a Gutenprint driver instead of my Turboprint driver (I use linux). I quite like the Worldlabel templates, but they are table templates so you miss the 'Sync' feature with the Avery frame templates. Does anyone know which files are used for the Avery frame templates? My guess is that it's just an xml file(s) and can probably be modified by hand. --------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, e-mail: [email protected] For additional commands, e-mail: [email protected]
