calling office admin whizzes, boring question about Microsoft Word address labelling

[Countingthegreyhairs]

I'll weep with gratitude if some kind person can help me with this one please ...

At present, as part of my job, I have to create quite a few single printed address labels for envelopes. So when I am in the letter I have created in Microsoft Word, I go to "mailings" then "labels" and proceed in the usual way for a single label.

The problem is (despite using the right size Avery labels) the address never prints out right on the label. It's either too high or there's no border to the left of the address and it looks, well, sort of amateurish.

Also, I waste an inordinate amount of time feeding single sheets of labels in to the printer by hand and it getting stuck. And then if it doesn't print out right the first time, you have to start the process all over again. ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!

Is there a better/more efficient way of doing this (excluding hand-writing addresses on envelopes which we can't do as end result has to look v. professional)??

Thanks a million to any really kind soul who's been kind enough to trawl through this post!!!

Create a new full page of labels. Type an address in the top corner and then play around with it until its in the right spot (using blank paper).
Save this as your template and overtype it whenever you need a new label.

As for labels getting stuck are you using laser labels with an inkjet printer (or vice versa)? They can get stuck if you use the wrong paper type.

Are you attempting to reuse the same sheet of labels? It's a bad idea - we used to do this at a previous office, as the manager was quite "careful" with expense. Then one of them came off the sheet and buggered damaged the roller in the printer, costing a lot of money for a replacement...

Will it always be 'one-offs' or is there any point creating whole pages per name? Expanding on fresh princess, you can make a series of templates, one for each label position. Let me know if that doesn't make sense as I can CAT you and email you an example. I only use 14 labels per sheet at the moment, though.

Thanks for all your very helpful replies.

Freshprincess - that sounds a very good tip about creating a template. I'll try it tomorrow (back at home now as only work school hrs) - thanks very much

A Mum in Scotland - yes we are attempting to re-use the same sheet of labels - for example today I had to print 32 labels - all different - probably won't ever be sending mail to the same place ever again and it seems extravagant therefore to use 32 sheets in that case. Thanks for the warning about them getting stuck though. I guess I'll have to chance it!!

Thanks Lio and for your kind offer. It's both really. Today it was one-offs but sometimes I do sheets and sheets for the same client. I'll try making the template and if that doesn't work I'll post again if I may!

Thanks all!