Printing folder labels in Word... everything after page 1 is misaligned! ARG!

First thing, I got a job! yay! Today is my first day. Something they’re having a problem with right now, which is now my problem, is that they’ve got this word file that is supposed to print labels… it does great for page 1. Pages 2 - x are not aligned properly on the labels. I could give you more details but I don’t know what details you would need… help?

Is there an extra space at the top of Page 2 that needs to be deleted?

You can also go to Page 2 and adjust the top margin by grabbing the lines of the table and pulling it up. (You will need to make sure you can see the grid lines in order to do this.)

Depends a lot on what type of misalignment you’re talking about. It could be a printer problem instead of a Word problem.

What version of Word are you using? What labels (the Avery number is a good start)?

Is the wording on the labels tilted? Running off the side? Starting down too low or high? Is it the same for every page after one or does it change with each new page? Did you trying running it on plain paper to see whether it comes out misaligned?

Did you do the preview of the labels first? Did they align correctly on screen? Have you done any manual editing of the labels?

Details, details.

If anything there is too little space at the top of page 2. I will have to look again when I’m at work tomorrow, to check the versions and labels and so on, and better describe the misalignment.

(I haven’t done any editing of the file at all, it was done by my boss)

Here’s a suggestion, if your employer will accept it. I gave up on trying to print labels years ago. It just doesn’t work, even if the software that came with your printer has the Avery templates written into the software, which has been the case with at least a couple of printers that I’ve owned. Something always goes wrong, and although the first couple of labels or even the entire first page prints OK, things start slipping and the text starts not lining up real fast. Or worse, the label comes off the paper while it’s going through the printer, and then you’re really hating life. Now I just make the labels with a thermal label maker and stick them on the Avery labels. With a little practice, they line up perfectly, and the text is very bold, dark, and easy to read.

How is that for making lots of labels at once? Like 300 or so?

I make probably 500 or more Avery labels per month, on several different printers, computers, and OS, and have never, ever had problems in the past 10 years. That’s because I know how to use the software. Not trying to be snippy, but after years of showing people how to make the labels correctly, and showing them how they are doing it wrong (which they could have avoided had they read the directions), I say in 99% of cases it’s human error, not software or printer or computer problems. Just my experience.

I wouldn’t recommend a label printer for 300 labels. It’s going to take a looooong time to print them and is not convenient for large projects.

Washoe, why do you bother sticking the thermal labels on top of Avery labels? Why not just stick the labels wherever they are supposed to go?

I have to agree. I use a variety of labels - both Avery and the cheaper store brands - and I don’t have any problems with them.

I did have some misalignment problems with my former thirteen year old printer, but that was obviously a printer problem and not a software problem. I use the same labels now and no longer have a problem. Both were laser printers, BTW.

The labels never come off. That would definitely be a printer problem.

I’d say that any software problems will be detected with preview. Always preview. Just like here. :slight_smile:

I am 99% sure it’s human error, but I didn’t set up the file so I’m not sure exactly what that error might be. I’m home for lunch at the moment, I’ll try to come back and answer specific questions when I get back to work.

Just to make it look neater. The only labels I’ve tried are diskette labels and VHS labels. I failed miserably no matter what I tried and went through several boxes before I gave up entirely. Putting the thermal label on top of the Avery label just makes it look more like the label that should be on thing in question. If it’s on a VHS cassette, for example, it fills the entire label space and makes it look like a VHS label instead of a narrow strip.