Print Front to Back Using Mail Merge in Publisher 2007

[Realtor]

Hi. Is there anyway to be able to print 2-up postcards, front to back
(two-sided), and use mail merge and have mail merge work properly???
I have read through everything I can find in Publisher Help, but with no
solution to print two-sided and use mail merge and have it print properly.
Publisher 2003 never had a problem with this and I just updated to Publisher
2007. When I went to print our 2-up postcard/two-sided like I do every 3
weeks, I found that mail merge was printing the same name on both postcards,
then the next name would print on the next 2-up postcards, etc. I read the
blogs and no it wasn't just a problem of looking at the Print Preview and
seeing this, it was actually happening when I printed too.
I found the info in the blogs and went in, made sure I was set up to see
just one postcard on the screen, then clicked print and told it to print
Multiple Pages per sheet, Number of Copies 1, set my printer preferences to
print two-sided, and the results are the same...I still get both 2-up
postcards printing the same name, etc.
The only way it works is if I do it as a single sided document. However,
this is the problem. I print 2,000 postcards and now have to just print one
side at a time. Is there anyway to be able to print 2-up postcards, front to
back (two-sided), and use mail merge and have mail merge work properly??? Am
I making an sense at all??? Totally frustrated with Publisher 2007.

 

[Mary Sauer]

I don't think you could print back to back 2 up postcards in 2003 with mail
merge. You would get a message "Publisher cannot merge with this number of
pages. Some publications require a certain number of pages in order to merge
information--for example, labels must have only one page, tent cards two, and
greeting cards four. To merge information into this publication, you must delete
pages.

I have found if you select a postcard setup from one of the templates, such as
Office Depot 916-732 your merge will work correctly, albeit one side only.

 

[Realtor]

Hi Mary,
Thanks for the response. Though not what I was hoping, I do appreciate it.
It seems a bit of a waste that I have a printer that can print two sided, but
I have a brand new program that won't allow it to work right.
By the way, my mistake...I use to use Publisher version 2002. And, it did
print two-sided mail merged files just fine. I'm considering going back to
using it. Would I just un-install the 2007 and then re-install the 2002?
Thanks again for your knowledge and quick response. I've spent hours
fidling with it.

 

[Mary Sauer]

You receive the same message as stated with 2003 when you try to print double
sided with Publisher 2002, it cannot be done.

With 2007 when you invoke duplex, it will print double sided, the merge will be
the top postcard and the back of the card will be the bottom card.

 

[Realtor]

If you choose in the print dialog box print Multiple Copies Per Sheet you get
the scenario you are speaking about in your second paragraph. If you choose
print Multiple Pages Per Sheet you get it printing properly...as long as it's
only a one sided document.

As for Publisher 2002...I didn't ever use the Publisher print dialog box to
set up my two-sided printing, I used my Properties (or sometimes called
Preferences) box to tell my printer how I wanted things printed. And, by
doing that I was able to print two-sided perfectly mail-merged documents. I
never did receive any such message as you stated.

 

[handlin]

Just to clarify, I have used every version of Publisher since the original.
I KNOW that Publisher 2003 printed merged postcards correctly on a duplex
printer. I can go to one of the not-yet-upgraded computers in my office and
do it. The new version will do it as well, but not correctly. It insists on
printing the front and back of the first and second pages and the front and
back of the third and fourth on the back. The output is correct of both
sides are not personalized.

But if they are personalized the mailing address of "Joe" may have a
greeting to "Jane" on the other side. And if the last printed page does not
have 4 records on it, some will be printed not duplexed.

Doing the same job the same way in Publisher 2003 works perfectly.

 

[Realtor]

You are absolutely right, handlin. I've tried it ever conceivable way, and
the outcome is as you state it. The Publisher 2003 version works, but the
2007 does not print front to back properly. I have just decided to give in
and print the front sides...then turn them all over and then print the back
sides. Oh well.