Andy,
If you continue to have problems using catalogue merge, here is a
alternative approach I use for a similar challenge with Pub 2000 which does
not have catalogue merge.
First create a small text box that is equal to the size of the space you
want between your listings. In my case I made one a quarter inch by a
quarter inch. I then filled it with a color so it would be easy to see. Then
drag it off into your scratch area to use later.
Then go to each of your listings, and draw a rectangle around both the
thumbnail and the text, and group them. After you draw the rectangle you
will see a little icon appear that looks somewhat like two boxes. Click it
to group the objects you have selected...click it again to ungroup. Now you
can drag both the images and the text together.
Then when you want to insert a new listing, draw a rectangle around all the
listings below the one where you want to insert the new listing and group
those, just like you did with the individual listings. You might want to
zoom out to about 50% so you can see more of the whole of your page, but
that isn't necessary. Just click to the upper left of your first listing,
drag your mouse to the right until it is beyond all the content, and then
drag down until you get to the bottom...and group all of them before you
click on anything else.
Now, click once on that new group of listings you just grouped to select it,
hold down your shift key and drag the whole group down to make room for the
new listing. Holding the shift key down while you drag the group maintains
the vertical alignment on your page. Give yourself plenty of room to insert
your new listing.
Now I would right click one the single listings you grouped above the space
where you want to insert the new listing, drag it down to that space, let go
and choose copy here. Then change your image and text to the new listing.
Now go grab that spacer text box you created, and drag it to the bottom of
the listing above, and let it 'snap to' that group/listing. Then go to your
new listing group, and drag it up, and let it 'snap to' the spacer box.
Then move your spacer box to the bottom of your new listing group, let it
'snap to' the bottom. Then go down to all your other listings, drag them up
as a group to 'snap to' your spacer box. Don't forget to use your shift key
to keep things aligned. Ungroup the that group of listings. Drag your spacer
box over to the scratch area for the next time, and you are done.
This may seem like a lot of work, but once you get it set up and use it a
couple times, it goes quickly.
DavidF
