If you datasource is a table in a Word document, open that file and run the
following macro:
' Macro to assign numbers to data source so that it can be sorted to cause
labels to print down columns
Dim Message, Title, Default, labelrows, labelcolumns, i As Integer, j As
Integer, k As Integer
Message = "Enter the number of labels in a row" ' Set prompt.
Title = "Labels per Row" ' Set title.
Default = "3" ' Set default.
' Display message, title, and default value.
labelcolumns = InputBox(Message, Title, Default)
Message = "Enter the number of labels in a column" ' Set prompt.
Title = "Labels per column" ' Set title.
Default = "5" ' Set default.
labelrows = InputBox(Message, Title, Default)
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns.Add
BeforeColumn:=ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns(1)
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows(1).Range.Cut
k = 1
For i = 1 To ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows.Count - labelcolumns
For j = 1 To labelrows
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Cell(i, 1).Range.InsertBefore k + (j - 1) *
labelcolumns
i = i + 1
Next j
k = k + 1
i = i - 1
If k Mod labelcolumns = 1 Then k = k - labelcolumns + labelcolumns *
labelrows
Next i
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Sort FieldNumber:="Column 1"
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows(1).Select
Selection.Paste
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns(1).Delete
It will re-arrange the records so that they are in the order necessary for
the records as they were originally sorted to print down then across, rather
than across then down.
If the data is in some other source, first use a catalog or directory type
mail merge main document in which you have the merge fields in the cells of
a one row table, with nothing else in the document. Executing that merge to
a new document will give you a document containing a table with a row of
data for each record in the original data source. Insert a row at the top
of that table and into the cells of that row, type in the names of the
mergefields. Then run the macro on that document and use it as the data
source for your merge.
Another way to achieve the same result is to start with a catalog or
directory type mail merge main document that is formatted for as many
columns as your labels with the column dimensions and space between them
matching the width and horizontal spacing of the labels. The margins of the
document will need to match those of the label sheet. Then in the first
column, insert a one cell table with the height of the cell equal to the
height of a label (plus the vertical space between the labels. Then attach
the original data source to the document and insert the mergefields in the
configuration that you want them into the cell. Then execute the merge to a
new document. If you got the setup correct, you should then get a document
that resembles the label sheets with the labels in the order that you want.
--
Hope this helps.
Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.
Doug Robbins - Word MVP
