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Preparing Mailing Labels Using Microsoft Word 2016

Anonymous
2017-07-15T15:19:27+00:00

For years I have been preparing mailing labels using an Avery add on when using Word 2007.  It was easy to use and provided options for positioning the address anywhere on the label.  It does not work with Word 2016.

So I am back to the old way of creating labels using Mail Merge.  I use the step by step guide.  After I have matched my fields and am in the preview mode and have one complete name and address showing I know how to change font size and adjust up and down by changing the spacing using the Paragraph dialog box.  What I am not able to do is to move the contents on the label to the right.  The address prints tight to the left edge of the label. I have tied spacing the name and lines of the address to the right.  This looks good on the preview label but messes up all the other labels.  Also, changing the spacing between the address lines looks good on the preview address but messes up the other label contents. Any ideas???

Also, does anyone know of a good label software that gives complete control when using Avery Labels and works with Excel 2016 as the data source for the labels?

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  1. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 322.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-07-16T21:57:58+00:00

    It would probably be best to use the Table Tools>Layout>Alignment>Align Center Left to align the address vertically in the center of each label.  Make sure however that the paragraph is not formatted to have space after it.

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  2. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 322.9K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2017-07-15T22:41:45+00:00

    I would not bother with the Wizard.  Instead:

    1. From the Start Mail Merge dropdown in the Start Mail Merge section of the Mailings tab of the ribbon, select Labels and then in the Label Options dialog that opens, select the type of label that you will be using.
    2. Then, click on the Select Recipients button in the Start Mail Merge section of the Mailings tab of the ribbon and navigate to and select the data source.
    3. Insert the merge fields in the configuration that you want on the first label of the sheet.  If you want to control the horizontal position, change the indent Before text in the Format Paragraph dialog.
    4. When you have the first label set up the way that you want it, click on the Update Labels button in the Write & Insert fields section of the Mailings tab of the ribbon to replicate that set up to the other labels on the sheet.
    5. At this point, it is probably a good idea to save the document.
    6. Then, you can preview the result by using the Preview Results facility
    7. HOWEVER, to actually produce the labels, you need to select the destination from the Finish & Merge dropdown in the Finish section of the Mailings tab of the ribbon.

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-07-16T17:36:23+00:00

    I am a lot closer to a solution with the help so far.  Here is where I am stuck.  I am using an Avery Label 8160 and I have a 4 line address on most of my labels.  Name, Building & Apt #, Mailing Address, and C/S/Zip.

    The standard setup (using Mail Merge) places the Name (First and Last Name) extremely close to the top edge of the label so I want to increase the spacing before the name so that all four lines will be printed lower on the label sheet.  I tried using 8pt.  The actual number does not matter in this discussion.  This looked like it might work but what happened is that the spacing before the next three lines also went to 8pt and that caused the bottom line (C/S/Zip) to be partly off the label.  So, the question is, how do I set the spacing for the first line of the label different from the next three lines or is this not possible to do? Or, is there another way to cause the first line on the label to print a little lower?

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  4. Jay Freedman 207.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2017-07-15T21:21:40+00:00
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