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| Using
alternative return addresses on envelopes from the Envelope/Label Wizard |
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| Note: for Word 2007 users |
The following methods will
work in Word 2007, however Word 2007 has completely altered the use of
autotext entries. Before approaching these methods in Word 2007, you
should make yourself familiar with Quick Parts and the Building Block
Organizer. You will find some examples of creating autotext entries
using the new functions on the Macrobutton
page. |
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When the option to display a return address
on an envelope is chosen, that return address is picked up from the User Information
address panel under tools > options.
You can only enter one address here, but many people use the same copy
of Word to prepare letters (with return addresses) for various organizations, which precludes the use of the envelope wizard to add the
return address - unless you feel the inclination to re-enter the user
information for each envelope printing task
.
Word does, however, include a little-known function
intended for the addition of graphics to an envelope by means of specially named autotext
entries. Autotext entries can be used to place a variety of
information - not merely graphics - so lend themselves to the task of
adding alternative return addresses.
The example shown in Fig.1 places a
formatted return
address across the top of the envelope, with an accompanying graphic.
Fig 2 shows the same technique used to place an airmail stamp and
attention stripes.
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To achieve this, create a
paragraph style for the return text - It
can be any style name other than EnvelopeAddress or EnvelopeReturn. Apply the style to the text,
select and save as autotext entry called EnvelopeExtra1. In
the case of graphics, position the graphic, then select and Press
ALT+F3 to save as an Autotext entry.
This and EnvelopeExtra2 are the reserved names
for this function.

For Word 2007
users, the EnvelopeExtra(1 or 2) should be saved in the document
template as a building blocks entry as follows:

The graphic is floating so that
needs a separate Autotext entry of its own - EnvelopeExtra2. If
the graphic is in line, you can save the text and graphic in the one
autotext entry, but you may not be able to achieve the alignment you
require.
You can save multiple floating
graphics in the same autotext entry.
The
autotext entries and their matching paragraph style need to be stored in
the template with the matching letterhead. So with the template in
question open for editing, open the organizer (format > style >
organizer) and copy the paragraph style and the two autotext entries to
the template.
Delete the entries from normal.dot.
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In Word 2007, Autotext entries are not handled by the Macro Project
Organizer as in earlier versions, but through the Building Blocks
Organizer, and it is a simple matter to save the entry where it is
required from the creation dialog, however the location can be changed
to that of any open template:
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All that remains is to run the envelope wizard from
the template. Make sure that the 'omit' return address box is checked, or you will get the default return address as well as the
autotext. The dialog shown below is from Word 2007, but the dialogs
for all the Word versions are similar. |
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This procedure can be used with each different letter
head template which requires a return address on the envelope.
A slight
variation for Word versions before 2007, would be to save the autotext entries
not in document templates, but in global templates.
Normally a
global template would be installed in the Word startup folder and the
autotext entries it contains would be available, as though they were
stored in normal.dot. Obviously this is not much use if you want to use
alternative return addresses, but there is nothing to stop you from
paging-in global templates as required.
The trick is
to create a folder to contain such paged templates and the obvious place
to create such a folder is as a sub-directory of the Startup folder. In
this example, the startup folder is called Unused Templates. The name is
unimportant.
Create your
templates, using the method above, and save them in this folder with
easily identifiable names. E.g. if you are producing material for Bloggs
& Co - call their add-in template Bloggs.dot.
From Tools >
Templates and Add-ins, add the template(s) and uncheck the box(es).

When Word is
restarted, the entry will remain in the list and as this is not a
startup folder, it will not be checked or installed automatically. In
order to use the autotext entries put a check mark in the box adjacent
to the appropriate template.
This can be
done manually or by macro stored in Normal.dot e.g.
Sub AddInBloggs()
With AddIns("D:\Word Startup\Unused Templates\Bloggs.dot")
.Installed = Not .Installed
End With
End Sub
will toggle
the availability of the Bloggs.dot autotexts.
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| A More Versatile Approach |
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This standard approach is not the end of the
story. If you use several return addresses, a handy trick is to delete the
user information address (Tools > Options > User Information >
Mailing Address).
Remove any existing autotext entry called
EnvelopeExtra1 or 2 created as described in the previous sections.
If on running the envelope/label wizard a return address
still appears in the window, delete it from there and with the omit return
address button unchecked add the envelope to a document. You should
get a prompt asking if you want to save the new return address - you
do!
You should now have no return address.
Type your return address on the envelope you have added to the document,
as you wish it to appear, and save as an autotext entry - you can include
graphics if you wish.
I use this procedure to create airmail logos on
envelopes as illustrated below. The same technique can be used to add any
return addresses and/or graphics to envelopes.
Use a simple name like (in the example) 'Airmail'.
Do NOT use the names
EnvelopeExtra1 or 2 !!!
Repeat for any other address(es) you wish to use.
To use the return addresses. Run the envelope/label wizard. Type the
autotext name you wish to apply to the envelope e.g. 'airmail' in the return
address window (see below) and press F3. Depending on what you saved in the
autotext, you may not see much change. Graphics, for example, will not
appear in the box; but you will see the result when you add the envelope to a document or
print it from the wizard. |
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Whenever you make a change in the return address window,
Word will ask if you wish to save the changes you have made as the default
return address. It is essential that you answer NO to this question.
The
result could be as shown below. For the purpose of illustration, the envelope
with its airmail graphic has been added to a document. It could equally have been sent directly to
the printer. |
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A template
using this airmail envelope layout and automated to interface with
Outlook addresses is available (with others) for
download from the Downloads page. |
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