Mail Merge and Labels

users
#1

I tried to do my labels for Christmas
cards using LO's mail merge. I was able to create the data base and
print without difficulty. Unfortunately, the entire third column was not
properly spaced and printed outside of the label, a couple of spaces to the left. The first two columns were they were supposed to be. I was using standard
configuration for Avery 5160. I finally gave up created the labels
with Excel and Word.

I am not sure where to send an email to
suggest that the matter be looked into so I am sending this
information to this list with the hope the matter will be picked for
investigation. Also, although I suspect it has been suggested
before, it would be nice to be able to do a mail merge directly from
the spreadsheet without creating a database file.

Jeff Hahn

#2

Where you merging to Writer?

#3

Converted Calc to Database and then used Writer with the database file.

Jeff

#4

... it would be nice to be able to do a mail merge directly from the spreadsheet without creating a database file.

I don't know why you think this is not possible. The Mail Merge chapter of the manual says:

LibreOffice can access a wide variety of data sources, including spreadsheets, text files and databases ...

In the Select Address List panel of the Mail Merge Wizard, the Add... button allows you access to and use of a spreadsheet document file.

I trust this helps.

Brian Barker

#5

I agree that the merge can be done from Calc -- I do that frequently.

I also agree, though, that it takes more effort than it should to set up labels. Even using the templates included in the program I've never had the output fit properly on the first pass (but I've learned to print on a plain sheet of paper, then hold it up to the light against label stock, and figure out what adjustment is needed).

Dave Liesse

#6

Hi Jeff

Is the issue that you used lable sheets of the type Avery 5160 and that the preconfiguration for these lables were wrong?
I think that I remember reading some issues with the label functionality (File -> New -> Label) in an earlier version of LibreOffice that might or might not be fixed in newer versions. What version of LibreOffice did you use?

Do you have any specifications for the measurements of these specific labels so I can do a quick review if there seems to be any issues there?

Note also that you can tweak the measurements under the Format tab of the Labels-dialog. Not that you should need to if you use labels that has a preset configuration.

Kind regards,
Niklas Johansson

Jeff Hahn wrote 2013-12-04 16:41:

#7

I think the configuration in the wizard may be wrong. The Avery 5160 has 30 labels on a 8.5" x 11" sheet each measuring 1" x 2 5/8". It is probably one of the most common labels used so I am surprised the issue hasn't previously been raised. As I indicated in my email, I didn't have any problem when I switched to Word so I am reasonably confident the issue is not related to my printer.

Jeff Hahn

#8

So I looked at the configuration in LibreOffice 4.0.6 and LibreOffice 4.2 beta-version and the configuration seems to be correct. I even compared it to the result that I get in Word 2013 for the same label (sorry for not thinking about doing that earlier). So before I put anymore time into this it would be good to know what version of LibreOffice you used when you created the labels?

Niklas Johansson

Jeff Hahn skrev 2013-12-05 17:22:

#9

I just noticed this thread, and I have to chime in that, the last time I tried to create labels, I too noticed that the LO Avery 5160 template alignment was off. I had to adjust the contents of every cell. At that time, I was still using LO 3.5.x. I have not yet tried since upgrading to the 4.x.x range.

At the time, I just installed Apache OO, as its template worked properly.

If I recall correctly, I think there may have been other label templates online as extensions that worked better than LO's label template.

Virgil

#10

I just tried it, using LO 4.0.5.2, and the 5160 template. (I'm also using Windows 7). The result was better than I had seen in the past, but the text on the labels is pushed right up to the left of the label, with absolutely no left margin in the label whatsoever. In setting up the mail merge, one would need to add a space or two before entering the first field on each line. But, at least it's consistent throughout all three columns, whereas before, the right column was much worse than the left.

Virgil

#11

I use LO 4.1.3 and Windows 7. I should repeat that in my case the first 2 columns print properly (although the print starts right at the edge of the label). It is only the third (right) column that is off.

Jeff Hahn

#12

So I tried to look in to this and checked the measurements that I get when I create the labels and they seem to be correct. Of course it is like Virgil said there is no space before the text whereas Word ads 0,07" both to the left and the right of the text. You can easily mimic that distance by modifying the Default Style to add an Indent Before/After text of 0,07".

Could you create a simple label document and mail it to me directly? Just so that I can check if you do not get different measurements the me.

Sorry for not being able to get back to you sooner.

Regards,
Niklas Johansson

Jeff Hahn skrev 2013-12-06 00:37:

#13

I have just done my labels too - only using Avery 8165 (I just happened to
have some in the drawer) It worked find, but I too found the printing
started right on the edge - and I couldn't see any way to change this other
than adding spaces manually. I had to add a blank line at the top for the
same reason. Or is there a way that I have missed?

#14

About 5 or 6 years ago when using OpenOffice to print Christmas labels, I ran across an article about using table style labels in OpenOffice instead of the type which come with Word, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice. It is far easier to adjust the table style labels. To adjust the top spacing, simply adjust the top margin for the page. To adjust the column width, simply drag the column borders and the entire column is adjusted. At one time OpenOffice had these label templates available as an extension. I don't know if they still do or not. But they are available from World Label here:
http://www.worldlabel.com/Pages/openoffice-template.htm
They can be downloaded individually, or all together as a pdf.

I've found them much easier to use and adjust, and have never used any other label templates since then. Also, when you enter the text or fields in them, the text is starts with being paced in the center of the label between the top and the bottom, and then as additional lines are added, the text of fields are automatically centered within the label itself, top to bottom. I've never used the standard templates with OpenOffice or LibreOffice since finding these. Nor have I wasted any sheets of labels because they didn't print properly.

Don

#15

Don,

Thank you for this. I knew I had seen something like that before.

LO uses a frame based label template. I agree that a table based template makes far more sense.

Virgil

#16

Hi Virgil,

They have really worked well for me. With the frame based templates, I always had trouble with the spacing on the labels changing as you would get into the bottom third of the label sheet. The frame based templates print out perfectly from top to bottom, and they are so easy to adjust. I've left similar posts when people have had issues before, but it seems very few are willing to try the table based formats. Maybe they try to use the wizard, which is not the way to set up a table based template.

Don

#17

** Reply to message from "Don C. Myers" <donmyers@myersfarm.com> on Mon, 16
Dec 2013 20:48:12 -0500

Don,

Thanks for the link to the templates, but, pardon my ignorance, what is the
proper way to setup a table based template?

The wizard is useful, but, as already discussed, the built-in templates often
don't work well. If the built in ones could be replaced with these table
based ones and still have the wizard work it would be the best of both worlds.

Cliff

Hi Virgil,

They have really worked well for me. With the frame based templates, I
always had trouble with the spacing on the labels changing as you would
get into the bottom third of the label sheet. The frame based templates
print out perfectly from top to bottom, and they are so easy to adjust.
I've left similar posts when people have had issues before, but it seems
very few are willing to try the table based formats. Maybe they try to
use the wizard, which is not the way to set up a table based template.

Don

> Don,
>
> Thank you for this. I knew I had seen something like that before.
>
> LO uses a frame based label template. I agree that a table based
> template makes far more sense.
>
> Virgil
>
> Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 7:34 PM
> To: users@global.libreoffice.org
> Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] Mail Merge and Labels
>
> About 5 or 6 years ago when using OpenOffice to print Christmas labels,
> I ran across an article about using table style labels in OpenOffice
> instead of the type which come with Word, OpenOffice, and LibreOffice.
> It is far easier to adjust the table style labels. To adjust the top
> spacing, simply adjust the top margin for the page. To adjust the column
> width, simply drag the column borders and the entire column is adjusted.
> At one time OpenOffice had these label templates available as an
> extension. I don't know if they still do or not. But they are available
> from World Label here:
> http://www.worldlabel.com/Pages/openoffice-template.htm
> They can be downloaded individually, or all together as a pdf.
>
> I've found them much easier to use and adjust, and have never used any
> other label templates since then. Also, when you enter the text or
> fields in them, the text is starts with being paced in the center of the
> label between the top and the bottom, and then as additional lines are
> added, the text of fields are automatically centered within the label
> itself, top to bottom. I've never used the standard templates with
> OpenOffice or LibreOffice since finding these. Nor have I wasted any
> sheets of labels because they didn't print properly.
>
> Don

---Extra trimmed---

#18

[cut]

It was in 2006 that I created a set of table-based label templates plus a short tutorial. The templates are in a variety of Avery style sizes and both A4 and American Letter sizes. I engaged in a little rant on this list about the illogicality of basing label templates on frames, raised an issue and noted a deafening silence in response - probably NIH syndrome.

Anyway, the templates are still here and available to anyone who asks.

Peter HB

#19

Hi Cliff,

Are you using fields from a data base, or do you simply want something like return labels where every label is the same?

Don

#20

** Reply to message from "Don C. Myers" <donmyers@myersfarm.com> on Tue, 17
Dec 2013 10:53:17 -0500

Don,

Initially I just want a sheet with all the labels the same. Being able to
fill a sheet with addresses from a database or even directly print envelopes
may be in the future.

For now I can obviously copy/paste to each label, but the wizard's way of
entering data for one then propagating it to all is handy for like a set of
return address labels.

Cliff