How can I place <<Next Record>> mark-up in Publisher 2003?

[Mahdi_Raen]

When doing a mail merge in Word, you can use the <<Next Record>> mark-up to
print the next record in the database even though you have not moved to the
next page in your document. This same behaviour seems to be absent in
Publisher.

I am creating a birth announcement in Publisher 2003 (Professional Edition)
to print on Avery 3381 Postcards/Index cards. These print 4 to a page. When
I include my data source of addresses and print, I get 4 post cards to the
same address per page instead of 4 different addresses per page.

Any assistance would be appreciated (even a statement that this is not
possible in Publisher is helpful).

Thanks,

Randy

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

Have you actually printed them or just used the Print Preview feature? This
is a known issue/feature/whatever.

 

[Mary Sauer]

Are they printing out with the same address on each card?
Otherwise as JoAnn pointed out, in print preview they will appear all the same.
If it is the former, you must have only one card on your screen for the merge to
perform correctly.

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

I find that a bit confusing as well. I haven't decided if it's a flaw or a
feature. (My money's on flaw.)

 

[Brian Kvalheim [MSFT MVP]]

In Microsoft terms, "it's not a good customer experience". They are looking
at addressing this possibly for future versions of Publisher.
--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Publisher MVP
http://www.publishermvps.com

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.

I find that a bit confusing as well. I haven't decided if it's a flaw or a
feature. (My money's on flaw.)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Indeed I was looking at the print preview under the false impression that
what I saw would be actually printed. Once I took Jo Anne's suggestion
and actually printed the cards, I saw the merge happened correctly.
Thanks all for your help.

Randy

 

[JoAnn Paules [MSFT MVP]]

Politically correct terms are funny. And I'm glad to hear they are at least
aware that it's confusing.

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

In Microsoft terms, "it's not a good customer experience". They are
looking at addressing this possibly for future versions of Publisher.
--
Brian Kvalheim
Microsoft Publisher MVP
http://www.publishermvps.com

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and
confers no rights.

I find that a bit confusing as well. I haven't decided if it's a flaw or a
feature. (My money's on flaw.)

--

JoAnn Paules
MVP Microsoft [Publisher]

Indeed I was looking at the print preview under the false impression
that what I saw would be actually printed. Once I took Jo Anne's
suggestion and actually printed the cards, I saw the merge happened
correctly. Thanks all for your help.

Randy


Are they printing out with the same address on each card?
Otherwise as JoAnn pointed out, in print preview they will appear all
the same.
If it is the former, you must have only one card on your screen for the
merge to perform correctly.

--
Mary Sauer MSFT MVP
http://office.microsoft.com/
http://msauer.mvps.org/
news://msnews.microsoft.com
When doing a mail merge in Word, you can use the <<Next Record>>
mark-up to
print the next record in the database even though you have not moved
to the
next page in your document. This same behaviour seems to be absent in
Publisher.

I am creating a birth announcement in Publisher 2003 (Professional
Edition)
to print on Avery 3381 Postcards/Index cards. These print 4 to a
page. When
I include my data source of addresses and print, I get 4 post cards to
the
same address per page instead of 4 different addresses per page.

Any assistance would be appreciated (even a statement that this is not
possible in Publisher is helpful).

Thanks,

Randy

 

[Janette]

I'm having the same trouble-4 duplicate cards per page rather than 4
addresses per page. Mine doesn't fix itself when I print as it seems to have
done for everyone else. I'm using Publisher 2003, and have used Publisher
templates. Can anyone help me?

Thanks.

 

[Mary Sauer]

The postcard template will not work correctly with a merge unless you setup the page
first. In page setup, click change copies per sheet, select the Print multiple copies
per sheet button, Publisher should default to four cards per sheet. You need to have
two publications, one for the merge and the other for page two unless you have a
duplex unit.
Open a new instance of Publisher, copy/paste the un-merged side of the card into the
new postcard publication. Delete the second page in the original publication.

 

[Janette]

Mary:

My unit duplexes, so I shouldn't have to set up a new file. I'm not sure I
understand your directions. I've set up the page for multiple copies per
page. If I select one copy per page, I get one postcard smack dab in the
middle of the page. If I select multiple copies per page, I get 4 postcards,
but they print 4 copies of the same address rather than 4 different addresses
per page. How can I get it to scroll through the addresses rather than
creating a page per address?

Thanks,

Janette

 

[Mary Sauer]

Are they printing the same address or are you looking at print preview? In print
preview all the cards will be the same, it is a program bug.
Open the Mail and Catalog Merge, follow the steps outlined.
What are you using for your database?
Are you certain you only have one card on your screen? Don't convert your merge to a
publication.

There is lots of help here.
Troubleshoot mail merge in Publisher
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HP030662451033.aspx

 

[Janette]

Mary:

Yes, I'm actually, physically printing, and they are printing 4 copies of
the same address per page. I followed all the steps for the mail merge, and
am using an Excel file for my address database. Yes, I only have 1 card on
the screen. What do you mean, don't convert the merge into a publication? I
have over 300 addresses, and I'm not going to blindly tell it to print if I
can't be sure that it will work correctly.

Thanks so much for all of your help,

Janette

 

[PatZ]

I'm having the same problem in WORD. It worked fine in previous versions. Now
I can't insert NEXT without getting an error message when I try to merge.

 

[Heetbrink]

Same problem her in Publsher 2007. The 4-up mail merge does NOT work for me,
despite having read all postings that seem to pertain to this.

The selection for "Multiple copies per sheet" vs "Multiple pages per sheet"
and the "Number of copies" are adding to the confusion.

And lastly, if I have front and Back pages and activate the 2-sided print
option, does that affect this in any way?

 

[Mary Sauer]

Merge doesn't always work the way it should when you have are editing two cards
in the same publication.
Setup two separate publications for the front and back.
When you merge you want to use the "multiple pages per sheet."

I have found using a pre-formatted Avery postcard seems to work better than
manual setup. 3263 works well.

 

[Heetbrink]

Mary:

Cool, that worked. Is the following the procedure? Feel free to edit and
repost.

When creating 4-up postcards with mailmerge in Publisher 2006, this is the
best procedure:

- Start with the Avery 3263 template
- Create the back of your postcard as a 1-page card (and create the front in
another Publisher file using the same template)
- Do the mailmerge thing and format and position the mailing label, if needed
- In the mail merge wizard section select "Print", DO NOT select "Print to
new publication" or "Add to excisting publication..."
- In the printing options, make sure you select "Multiple Pages per sheet"
- Make sure you keep the number of copies to 1
- Don't pay attention to the preview screen, it wll show the wrong thing
- Flip (or turn) your paper as needed for your printer, open the Publisher
file for the front side and print that.
- Rejoice!

Thanks

 

[Mary Sauer]

Looks like you got the job done! Good for you. Thanks for the update, it is
appreciated. I think you are doing it okay. If it works then it has to be the
correct method.