This article describes in detail the steps needed to create custom mailing labels for all versions of ClarisWorks software. The ClarisWorks User's Guide/ Handbook and Help also contain instructions for creating label layouts. In addition, newer versions of ClarisWorks software include Assistants that greatly simplify the label-making process.
Before you can create mailing labels, your information must be entered into a database. If you don't yet have a database with your names and addresses in it and you are using ClarisWorks 5.0 or ClarisWorks 4.0, you can use an assistant to create your database:
ClarisWorks 5.0:
Select New from the File menu. Click the "Use Assistant or Stationery" radio button, then select "All Assistants" for the Category. Choose Address List, then click OK and follow the instructions in the assistant. Once done, delete the example people in the Address List and add your own contacts.
ClarisWorks 4.0:
Select New from the File menu. Click the Use Assistants checkbox, then select the All Assistants category. Select "Name and Address List" and open it. Follow the instructions; when done, delete the examples and add your own contacts.
If you are using ClarisWorks 5.0 or ClarisWorks 4.0, you can use an assistant to create your labels and skip the rest of the steps in this article:
ClarisWorks 5.0:
In your Address List database, go to the Help menu and choose ClarisWorks Assistants. Click on Create Labels Assistant, click OK, and follow the instructions.
ClarisWorks 4.0:
Open your database. While in Browse mode, select ClarisWorks Assistants from the Help (?) menu and choose Create Labels. Follow the instructions as they appear.
If you are using ClarisWorks 3.0 or earlier or would like to create a label layout without using an assistant:
Step #1: Setting Document Margins
Select the Document command from the Format menu. Set the document margins to match the labels:
Label Sheets: Set the top margin to match the distance from the top of the label sheet to the top of the first label. For 1-inch labels, this is usually 0.5 inches. Likewise, set the left, right, and bottom margins to match the label sheet. If the labels extend all the way to the edge of the sheet, set the margins to the smallest allowed by your printer, usually between .25 and .5 inches. Click OK to exit the Document Dialog. If printing to a LaserWriter or other Postscript printer, select Page Setup; click Options, then set the "Larger Print Area" so it's checked. Click OK twice to exit Page Setup.
Note: This Larger Print Area is needed for many, but not all labels. However, it's OK to turn this option on whether it's needed or not.
These example settings for the following Avery labels should work with most LaserWriters:
Label No. Top/Bottom Margin
5160 0.5/0.5
5196 1.75/0.25
5197 1.0/1.0
Tractor Feed Labels: Set the top and bottom margin to zero. Set the left and right margins to the minimum supported by your printer (usually 1/4"). Click OK to exit the Document Dialog. Then select Page Setup. Set the "No Gaps Between Pages" option so that it's checked.
- To print labels that are 1" high, choose US Letter for the Paper Size.
- To print labels that are 2", 3", or 4" high, choose International Fanfold Paper Size (it's a 12" paper height, so it's an even multiple of 2", 3" and 4").
- To print labels that are 3.5" high, choose US Legal Paper Size.
Step #2: Creating a Label Layout
Choose New Layout... from the Layout menu
ClarisWorks 1.0 / ClarisWorks for Performa: Click on "Label" for the layout type. Click OK. Go to Step #3 below.
Other versions: Click on "Label" for the layout type. Click the "Custom" pop up menu, then select your label model number (e.g., Avery 5160). Click OK and skip to Step #4 below. Or, to set your own label size, choose Custom, click OK, and go to Step #3.
Step #3: Setting Label Size
In the Label Layout dialog, set the correct dimensions according to the following guidelines. Click OK.
- -Label size means the distance from edge to edge of two adjacent labels. For instance, a label's height is 1.0 inches if the distance between its top edge and the top edge of the next label is 1.0 inches, even if the label's specifications say that they're 15/16" labels.
These settings for the following Avery labels should work with most LaserWriters:
Label No. Label Width Label Height
5160 2.75 1.0
5196 2.75 3.0
5197 4.19 1.5
Note: you cannot get back into this screen after the layout is created. If you set this information incorrectly, make a new layout starting with step #1 above.
Step #4: Choosing the Fields
Double-click on each field you want on the label. When done, click OK. You will now be looking at the label layout. All the fields will be in a single column and will be the full width of the label.
Step #5: Positioning the fields
You'll need to adjust the width and position of the fields. For example, to get FirstName and LastName fields on the same line, first make the field boxes shorter. To do this:
- You must be in the Layout mode (select Layout from the Layout menu).
- Click once on a field box to select it.
- Click the selection handle at the bottom right corner and continue to hold down the mouse button, then drag left to resize it so it's shorter. Release the mouse button when the field is the desired size.
-When the fields are resized, click inside the field box (not on the handles) and drag it into position.
- You'll need to place all the fields ABOVE the Body line and to the left of the vertical column line so that they'll print correctly.
Step #6: Positioning fields for sliding objects
The sliding objects feature is automatically turned on when you create a label layout. Sliding objects will, for example, close up extra space between the FirstName and LastName fields when you print. In order for sliding objects to work correctly:
- To slide up or left, fields cannot touch or overlap. You can verify this by increasing the window zoom level to 200% (lower left corner of the screen) , then moving fields apart if necessary.
- To slide left, all the fields in a row need to have their tops perfectly aligned. The easiest way to do this is to select all the fields in a row (hold the shift key, then click on each field), then choose Align Objects from the Arrange menu. Choose Align top edges; Left-to-Right: none.
- To slide left, objects must be of equal height or shorter than the object to their left. In other words, now that you've got the tops of the fields in a row aligned, the fields need to be sized so that the bottoms of the fields are aligned. If you have a row of fields such as "City", "State", "ZIP", then "State" can't be taller than "City" and "ZIP" can't be taller than "State". You can verify the size of the fields by increasing the window zoom level to 200%. Sliding up is not affected by field width.
Note: Objects slide only for printing, not on screen. To see if sliding is working, either print the document, or use the Preview option if your printer driver offers it (DeskWriter does, for example).
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If a label layout does not print correctly on your labels, it's usually easier to start over and make a new layout than it is to fix an existing layout.