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Solution needed: Kinda hard to explain
https://forums.plasmasky.com/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1962
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Author:  derf [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 3:36 am ]
Post subject:  Solution needed: Kinda hard to explain

Okay...

I need to automate a business process. At the moment, the business process is rather simple and consists of copying and pasting the name and address of a customer on a recorded mail sticker. At the moment, we do this by opening up a list of addresses on a web page, and copy, paste, print one at a time on a word processor template that prints the text exactly where it needs to be on the label. There are only about 10 to do each day, but its an annoying process.

If I were to acquire a daily CSV of the customer names and addresses, is there some way I can automate this with a wordprocessor or some other kind of program?

What I was thinking was maybe defining fields in a word-processor, and then somehow importing the csv fields as data on multiple pages so all i need to do is hit "print". But i dont know a damn thing about this stuff nor have i ever done it in a word processor.

Any ideas?

Author:  RB [ Sun Aug 27, 2006 8:39 pm ]
Post subject: 

You'd rather use software than to fill 20 fields per day? Ok..
Personally, I do such things by myself rather, to make sure they're well done.

If I got right, you receive names per some web page.
I didn't get how do you enter the data into "word processor template"..

If you write an text-file which is used by a program in order to generate mail sticker, the thing is easy. If you need to put the data into forms of some GUI program it isn't that easy. If that program is web-based, it is a bit easier than the last. etc

Basically, you can make program that will download list from web (or you'll download it and save on the place where program will use it), parse it, get needed data and export them in a data file, send them through web or enter them in forms in the way you would have to.

Author:  Pig [ Mon Aug 28, 2006 7:25 am ]
Post subject: 

Microsoft word can do this. It's called a mail-merge.

Author:  derf [ Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:21 am ]
Post subject: 

Why do i feel embarrassed? :oops:

Author:  RB [ Tue Aug 29, 2006 1:46 pm ]
Post subject: 

And I still do not get what you were trying to do... gah, it must be simple if MS Word can solve it.

Author:  derf [ Tue Aug 29, 2006 2:26 pm ]
Post subject: 

For once GFree failed to understand me, rather than the other way round. WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?!!??! :o

Author:  derf [ Tue Aug 29, 2006 6:01 pm ]
Post subject: 

Anyway, thanks Pig, it's doing exactly what I wanted it to do.

However...

When i open up the document linked to the CSV, and hit "Print", only the last record gets printed. If on the other hand I do:

Tools >>> Letter and Mailings >>> Mail Merge >>> Next...Next...Next >>> Print (Merge to printer)

Then all of the records get printed. This is a tad gay, I would like to print as soon as the document is opened, without farting around with: "Tools >>> Letter and Mailings >>> Mail Merge......."

Get me?

Any ideas?

Author:  Pig [ Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:03 pm ]
Post subject: 

First off, I take offense when the word "gay" is used in a derogatory way. It is a biggoted use of the word. It's just as bad saying, "that's so Jewish", or "that's so Mexican". If you want my help, I suggest you make an effort to curb the prejudiced language.

As for your question, I do not use mail merge much, so I don't know if there is anyway to make it do this automatically. You can put a mail merge shortcut button on the tool bar, which would make it somewhat faster.

Author:  Satis [ Tue Aug 29, 2006 8:52 pm ]
Post subject: 

Pig, you're such a caucasian sometimes.

to be mildly productive, you might want to try:

Mail Merge to Printer ALT+SHIFT+M

http://support.microsoft.com/default.as ... -us;290938

Author:  derf [ Wed Aug 30, 2006 3:12 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks, problems solved. (And my apologies).

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