Problems Printing Mailing Labels...

[Grim Reaper]

I print mailing labels out of Access 2000 databases about 3 to 4 times a
week. I have been having problems with one thing since I have been printing
mailing labels.

I print mailing labels by using a report I created and then printing them on
a continuous-feed dot matrix printer. I used the Label Wizard, chose the
query I created, picked the 'Avery USA 4146' (1 7/16" x 4") - 3 across,
paper size: 'Fanfold 358mm x 12 in', and Printer: 'Epson EX-100' -
continuous feed.

Now that I have given the specs of the report, my problem is that when I
print the labels, the top edge creeps up every line. For instance, the top
row the first line will start at 20 mm, the next line will start at 15 mm,
the next line will start at 10 mm, and so on. So that near the bottom of the
page, the labels are overlapping each other. The only way that I have been
able to fix this, is by starting the top line like at 40 mm, and the bottom
row of labels will just be at exactly the top of the label.

Please help me, this is a problem that not only I have had at this company,
but others before me could not fix it.

If you need anymore specific information, just ask. I really need this to be
fixed because we are starting to get a heavier volume of labels, and it is
really starting to be a pain in the but to deal with.

Thanks for any and all help,
Grim Reaper

 

[Wayne Morgan]

MS Word shows this label as one across. It also shows the height of the
label as 1.44", 1 7/16"=1.4375". This would be enough to cause creep
(0.0025" = 0.0635 mm), but not as much as you're seeing. Access also shows
the 4146 as one across, but uses the 1 7/16" measurement. Since the labels
you are using are 3 across, they probably aren't quite the same and may be
off a little on the size. To allow for this, you will need to adjust the
height of the label. Since it creeps upward, you need to increase the height
of the label or, if the labels don't touch each other, adjust the spacing
between labels. This would be done by adjusting the "vertical pitch", which
is the distance from the top of one label to the top of the next label. The
easiest way to do this would be to increase the height of the detail section
slightly, just remember not to put any controls there if there is spacing
between the labels or you'll print on the backing paper instead of the
label. If you are getting 5 mm creep, the adjustment in inches would be
0.19685", round this off as close as you can to what Access will allow for
size increments.

 

[Larry Daugherty]

Your problem doesn't sound like an Access problem unless an identical setup
to the same printer using the same labels works perfectly from a different
application, such as Word - you didn't say that was true.

The problem as you have communicated it seems to be one of registration
between what the software (at some level) has been told is true of the
labels and what is actually out there. In short, a registration problem.
Not having all of the facts, I can only guess but the software may believe
that there's a 5 mm gap between label rows. Is there a gap between rows of
labels on the actual sheet? How big? Does the Avery 4146 setup have a gap
between labels? How big? Could it be that the problem you're experiencing
is simply that of using an English dimensioned report to print to Metric
dimensioned labels? It would have been more amazing if the registration
remained true.

While it isn't an Access problem, you can solve it there. You can design
your own label in Access to fit the labels you're using. I recommend
staying within one measurement system rather than designing labels to the
English system and printing them on labels dimensioned in the metric system.

HTH

 

[Grim Reaper]

Thank you so much for your help. I did exactly what you had suggested (using
a ruler to make EXACT measurements). Now, it finally worked!!!!!

The company that I am working for said that they could not get it to work
for more than a year!!!

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it,
Grim Reaper