[Hidden-tech] help populating mailing label template from spreadsheet(?) with names & addresses using OpenOffice

Frank Aronson fsaronson at gmail.com
Thu Dec 10 10:16:28 EST 2009


I don't know what version of OpenOffice.org you're using, but there is a
mail merge "wizard" available under the Tools menu.  I played around with it
and it's less a wizard than it is a wizard's intern, I'm afraid.  It takes
some getting used to and, because OpenOffice.org is an international
endeavor, it won't include the state in the address line as a default.
 You'll have to play around with it.  I didn't see what other options it
included, because I didn't have that much time to play with it, however you
will be able to map certain fields to the address block feature.  As for
other merge items, I'd have to play with it a bit more.  Also, because it's
not a truly robust piece of this package, it expects to see certain things
in your spreadsheet.  For instance, you should have a Title column (this is
not where you put Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., etc.  This is where you would put
"Owner" or some such nonsense), as well as some sort of column indicating
the sex of the person (this is how the address block feature determines Mr.
or Ms.).  Furthermore it expects to see the specific heading of Address Line
1 (as opposed to Address1, Address 1, Addr1, etc) for the first address
line.  It's quirky, to say the least.

But I would play with the wizard and see where you can go from there.

Frank Aronson

On Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 1:09 PM, Robert Heller <heller at deepsoft.com> wrote:

>   ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's area.
>   ** If you did, we all thank you.
>
>
> At Wed, 9 Dec 2009 09:54:20 -0500 andrew bellak <andrew at bellak.name>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >    ** Be sure to fill out the survey/skills inventory in the member's
> area.
> >    ** If you did, we all thank you.
> >
> >
> > Dear H-T,
> >
> > Happy snow day to one and all!
> >
> > This is for a personal project  that has business use as well.  The
> > missus suggested we create mailing labels for holiday cards this year
> > to save time in years to come . . .
> >
> > Getting a 'Word' template from Avery Labels that has appropriate
> > tables for the size of the labels/sheets was no problem.
> >
> > Finding the instructions for how to get the spreadsheet / database
> > fields to the correct location within the 'Word' table has proved not
> > so easy to find.
> >
> > If someone could tell us step-by-step instructions and/or find a
> > guide, that would be appreciated.
> >
> > CAVEAT - we're using OpenOffice NOT MS Word/Excel, however, we can
> > save files as MS Word XP and Excel XP.
> >
> > One article I found says that using a database file instead of a calc
> > (excel) file works better in OpenOffice.
> > http://www.freesoftwaremagazine.com/articles/mail_merge_openoffice_org
> >
> > My attempts with the Mail Merge Wizard did not work well so far.
> >
> > Gracias!
>
> Visit:
>
> http://www.deepsoft.com/home/oddsandends/
>
> and download DirectMailTk.
>
> Using oowriter / oocalc (or MS Word/Excel) for this purpose is like
> using an hammer and a cold chisel to screw(?) in screws.  Yes, it
> works, but it is really the wrong set of tools...
>
> >
> > Andrew
>
> --
> Robert Heller             -- 978-544-6933
> Deepwoods Software        -- Download the Model Railroad System
> http://www.deepsoft.com/  -- Binaries for Linux and MS-Windows
> heller at deepsoft.com       -- http://www.deepsoft.com/ModelRailroadSystem/
>
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-- 
The Computer Mensch
"When not just ANY geek will do!"
Cell: (413) 537-5238
Work: (413) 835-9721
fsaronson at comcast.net
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