While I can’t speak for anyone else, I find it extremely useful to know how to create a sheet of blank labels in a word processing program like Writer.
I’m forever wanting something that isn’t actually for a mailing… I’m just looking to have a document that is set up as a sheet of labels that are already broken into the correct size. They’re ready for me to put information in them, and they will print perfectly onto the sheet of labels I have available to me.
In other programs I would usually find the place to create the file in the Tools menu or maybe under something about mailings, but that’s not where to find the setting in OpenOffice.org Writer…
So if I’m not going to find what I need in either of those locations, where exactly is it?
Good question and I’ve got a super simple answer…
You’ll find it under the File menu. Yeah, I know, not exactly where we think to look first, but that’s where they put it, so we’re off to the File menu.
Once there, you need the New sub-menu, Label choice.
The Labels dialog box will open looking like this:
The box at the top will let you input information that will be placed on every label in the sheet, or you can leave it blank to create a blank page of them for individual use.
At the bottom of the Labels tab is where all the good stuff is found.
The first time you look through this list, you’ll realize that the original authors of the program were German, but stick with it, I’m sure you’ll find what you need.
You have a drop-down list of label brands to choose from, as well as one for the type of label.
Choose the brand and label type and click the New Document button. (Before you click the New Document button you might want to verify that you have the correct label size with the information that will pop up on the bottom of the dialog box.)
Voila! A brand new file with a blank sheet of labels all set up and ready to go.
~ April
I have tried this many times, but have not been able to set the size labels I have. I also have not been able to link to the data base file I created in OObase. I usually end up converting the base file to an Excel spreadsheet and using MS Word. It is much more forward and easy to create labels and do a merge. I wish I could do the same in OOo
I agree with Mr Seidemann. I have to go back to MS Word to make my Xmas mailing labels using mail merge. Trying to do it in OpenOffice is totally frustrating.
Using the Avery label wizard with MS Word is simple, I can do my Xmas labels in a few minutes, including printing them out. It also handles mixed 3 and 4 line address labels automatically. I wish the Avery wizard would work with OpenOffice.
I hope this situation will be addressed soon,
Thank You,
Richard Chabot
I would love to have the Avery Wizard compatible and supported by OpenSource Writer. It really is a snap to use with MS Word. It is particularly helpful when typing inserts for plastic tags on Pendaflex files. I use the Avery Label 11137. You can print about 20 tags on one sheet, and they are laser cut for easy separation and insertion into the plastic gizmos.
It is possible to produce a set of mailing labels from an Open Office database, but it’s not easy. Having set up the database, open Writer and go to the File/Labels item mentioned in April’s original post. The window that comes up enables selection of a database and the setting up of address labels by inserting the appropriate field names as used in the database. Instructions are in Open Office Help (under Labels;creating and synchronising, then follow the link to Printing address labels) but they are not very good and it took me hours to do the job at Christmas. I agree that it’s easier in Word.
What a pain. Very limited Avery templates. With the Avery wizard in Word I can do this in less than five minutes. I’ve been fiddling over 30 minutes and still do not have a set of properly formatted labels.