Catalog Merge templates do not line up when printed

[Brett]

It appears the "next record" logic in the Publisher mail merge logic is
missing when attempting to print any document that has more than 1 copy per
sheet? Publisher will only print data from one record per physical page and
not move to next record for each postcard on the page. ie) 8.5" x 11" paper,
8.5" x 5.5" post card, 1 column per page, 2 cards per page


But has anyone, in the MVP community, created a workaround? Being a long
time user of MS tools, we always had to hack around the MS shortcomings. I'm
not a Publisher expert and need to get a fix faster than I can write it.

Do you know of a work around for mail merging into postcards?

Using a Cataloge merge doesn't work as the "template" (assuming you even try
to set it up for 2 down by 1 accross when printing on 8.5" x 11" portrait)
doesn't like to line up right on the page, be it in design or when it prints.
In trying to lay out 2 cards per page, 8.5x5.5 inch when printed portrait,
it should allow for an even split of the page at 5.5" on an 11" page. Giving
2 cards per page. It doesn't. If the bottom of the catalog merge template
is lower than the 5" mark and it drops to a 1 card per page print. Move the
bottom of the template above the 5.5" mark on the page and the top card ends
up 5" tall with the bottom card over 6" deep and the content (from the
template) in the bottom card being top justified.

It acts as if it has padding in design mode but drops the padding when
printing...

What gives???

Brett

 

[Ed Bennett]

Publisher will only print data from one record per
physical page and not move to next record for each postcard on the
page. ie) 8.5" x 11" paper,
8.5" x 5.5" post card, 1 column per page, 2 cards per page

Have you set this up using a 8.5×5.5" page size, 8.5×11 paper size?

Are you looking at the print preview or the final copy? The print preview
will not show the second record in the second postcard; the final printout
will. This is a known issue.

 

[Brett]

Ed,

Yes, I realize preview doesn't actually run the query and only pulls the
first record. Basically for layout examination. I've been running the merge
"to a new publication."
And I've printed it.

I've run this so many times in so may different ways, I no longer know if
I'm coming or going.

8.5" x 11" page setting - template will not allow for top card to be larger
than 5"

8.5 x 11" page setting - looks good... lays out in page fine, not record
advance. Only when I print 1 per page. I need 2 per page as that is how the
front of my cards print.

 

[Ed Bennett]

Yes, I realize preview doesn't actually run the query and only pulls
the first record. Basically for layout examination. I've been
running the merge "to a new publication."
And I've printed it.

Merging to a new publication will not work, as Publisher will not print two
different pages of one long publication on the same page; it will only print
two copies of the same page. You need to merge to the printer directly.

8.5" x 11" page setting - template will not allow for top card to be
larger than 5"

This is with Catalog Merge, not Mail Merge, correct?

8.5 x 11" page setting - looks good... lays out in page fine, not
record advance. Only when I print 1 per page. I need 2 per page as
that is how the front of my cards print.

8.5×11" page setting? It you lay out two records on your screen, Publisher
will print two copies of the same record.

Or did you mean 8.5×5.5" page setting? That is what you need.