Tech: Word and Envelopes

Subject: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: John Hardly
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 01:45 PM

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I've used Microsoft Word for six or seven year now. Ever since I got my new computer last year, I am unable to print my envelopes with the current version of Word.

My stationery requires that I move the address over far to the right of the envelope (my letterhead and return address is big on the envelope so the address has to be on the far right of the envelope.

I always used to got to tools>envelopes>options then I'd set the address to the far right and click "OK"

Once I clicked on "OK" the address was, just as I set it in the "options" box, to the far right. Then I click "print" and the envelope would print as I set it -- on the far right.

Now what happens is that I go to tools>envelopes>options and I set the address for the far right of the envelope and then click "OK".

When I click "OK" now the address is still right smack dab in the middle of the envelope. I cannot make it move over to the right no matter what I do.

I've even tried to figure out a way to "fake" the computer out by picking a diffent size envelope from the options. It still won't move the address from the middle.

Any ideas?

I mean besides cursing (I've covered that ground adequately).

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: Amos
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 02:29 PM

Is the address in a separate text box? If so, can you right-click to "Format Text Box" or similar choice? If it is treating the container as a centered object, this would outsmart it, but it sounds like this is not likely to be an option.

A

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 02:32 PM

Word includes several templates for things like envelopes, and your printer may also have settings for envelopes. You may be just running into a fight between Word envelope presets and Printer envelope settings.

My usual solution is just to ignore the fancy stuff and set up what I want in a plain page. At File|Page Setup, you can set a custom page size that matches your envelope. If your printer wants envelopes fed lengthwise or otherwise, just flip the page between "portrait" and "landscape" in File|Page Setup to get your printer to point it in the right direction.

You can indent to where you want quite easily using Format|Paragraph, but the really easy way is just to hit a Control-M to move everything to the right. Ctl-Shift-M moves back to the left.

If you don't have tabs set, the whole paragraph will move as a block in 5 character increments (the default Tab setting). If you have tabs set, the first Ctl-M should move the whole paragraph to the first tab.

Word calls the shift in position of the whole paragraph the "indent." If you want the first line pushed in different than the rest of the paragraph, use Ctl-T (and/or Ctl-Shift-T) to "hang" the first line different than the rest of the paragraph. Ctl-T pushes everything but the first line to the right. Ctl-Shift-T pushes everything but the first line to the left (but can't go left past the margin).

If you use an Enter at the end of each line, each line will be a separate paragraph; but if you use a Shift-Enter you'll get a "soft break" that makes the new line part of the same paragraph. This lets you break a line before you get to the margin without losing the "hang" setting.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 02:56 PM

In my Word 2002, the maximum Options setting for the destination address is 5.5 inches from the left. That's the center of a "business" envelope. That appears to be what you get if you just accept the "auto" setting that's the default, so in effect the Wizard lets you move the destination address to the left from the standard setting, but not to the right.

I can add spaces at the start of each line to shove things over, but the destination address only allows 28 characters, so it limits how far you can push things, and you have to "eyeball" the alignment.

Templates, and the "built-in" helps, almost never do what I want, so I generally just don't use them. I suppose in an office where everyone's supposed to think alike they might be handy, but ...

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: John Hardly
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 03:25 PM

Thanks for looking into it. That's kind of what I figured out. Last fall I figured out another way to fake it out but I don't remember what I did (I didn't make myself a note). The joy of it is that when it DID work, teh envelope was all ready to go and the address was automatically transfered from the letter.

oh well.

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 03:51 PM

Well, you could always use the label printer Wizard and stick the label where you want it. That way your recipients will think it's junk mail and you won't be bothered by nearly so many replies.

John

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 04:04 PM

Once you finally get an envelope/address setup which prints corectly save it as a named "Dummy Addressed Envelope" with an address on it in a standard format :-

Name
House
Street
State
ZIP etc...

Once you get one which prints out the way you want, just open the file for any new letter on same size envelope. Save it with a new name, if you want to print it at some later date. Replace the Dummy Address with the real one and print.

I would ignore anything Word does automatically - set your document as a new blank document with the dimensions of the envelope. Put text boxes or margins where YOU want them, not where Bill Gates wants them. Save it and keep it as your own template.

Quack!
Geoff.

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 04:25 PM

Use window envelopes. Saves having to go through all that rigmorole.

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: Tootler
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 06:33 PM

Window envelopes are worse. You have to align the address in the letter with the window which can

a) take a long time
b) cause you waste paper and ink printing trial copies

The custom page size or use of labels seems the best bet. With custom page size you can use print preview to check everything looks OK.

I gave up on window envelopes a long time ago.

Subject: RE: Tech: Word and Envelopes
From: Rasener
Date: 12 Feb 07 - 06:39 PM

Notif you have a master template