Label Mail Merge problem.

[simsy]

Folks,

I'm trying to create mailing labels via a mail merge.
I think I've followed the steps correctly, but after clicking "Yes" to the question about a form letter the box I'm presented with is half empty.
See here; http://www.simsy.plus.com/OOffice/MailMergeProblem.gif
I'm sure the top half of the box should have some sort of merge controls, but as you can see it's empty!
The database source is a calc spreadsheet, and it appears to be recognised, as it lets me enter the fields in the previosu stage.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in anticipation.

Regards,

Simsy

[foxcole]

Please provide this information:
Basic information needed

[simsy]

My apologies...
Win Xp home
OpenOffice 2.3.1

Regards,

Simsy

[simsy]

Thank you for the link...
But I'm still struggling...

In the .pdf file, as per your link, it give quick advice on page 175, (page 209 of the pdf).
It says;

1. Register an address data source in OpenOffice.org, if not done previously.
Instructions may be found with the search term “address book” in Help.

... so I go there and find the following instruction;

Address Data Source Wizard
To call the Address Data Source wizard, choose File - Wizards - Address Data Source.

But I don't have "Addresss Data Source" as a choice under "File - Wizards", (or anywhere else that I can see!)

So I look to do it manually as per the next paragraph in the help file;

Registering An Existing Address Book Manually
1.Choose File - Templates - Address Book Source. The Templates: Address Book Assignment dialog appears.

But I don't have "Addresss Data Source" as a choice under "File - Templates" (or anywhere else that I can see!)


Now I guess I'm doing something wrong... but I'm really stuck. I 'd realy appreciate any helpful guidance to put me back on course.

Thanks in anticpation,

Regards,

Simsy

[JohnV]

Do you find File > New > Database? If so bullet Connect to Existing Database, specify the type of file in the drop down menu and complete the wizard. This will register the file as and OOo data source.

I think I've followed the steps correctly, but after clicking "Yes" to the question about a form letter the box I'm presented with is half empty.

OOo comes with one registered data source, i.e, the Bibliography database and its biblio table. Try using that for labels and see if your box (dialog) is still half empty.

[simsy]

Thank you for your interest...

I seem to have found the cause...
When I installed OOffice I only, (deliberately), installed Writer and Calc.
It seems, perhaps surprisingly, (perhaps not?!), that installation of Base is needed as well.
having now installed Base I can make it work.

I don't understand everything... but that's my failing not the software!

Now I have it working can anyone advise if there is the equivalent of the "suppress blank lines" option that is available in "Word"?
Some addresses have 3 lines, some only 2. If the "middle" line is blank then a blank line appears on the address label. With MS Word the "suppress" option closes these lines up.

Thanks in anticipation.

Regards,

Simsy

[DiGro]

I could type over the answer but Solveig Haugland has an excellent blog on OpenOffice.

I can recommend that.

Please see Solveig's : http://openoffice.blogs.com/openoffice/ ... g_bla.html