Arthur,
Perhaps you could use a Word table to create your address book and use that as your data source for your mail merge. I've done that with older editons of MS Word when I didn't want to bother with a separate program for my mailing list. I would think that the method would still work with the current versions of Word.
Lydia

Lydia,

Thanks for your reply.  I want a "presentation" similar  to that from MS Works.  At the computer, I prefer the convenient List view.  But when I print, I want a label-type printout.  I don't think I can accomplish this with Word (or at least I don't know how to do it). 

I suspect the right program for me is available as shareware.

Arthur.

Arthur,

I did some searching for you and found a program that might do what you need it to. Unfortunately, it is shareware. I've personally never used this so I can't vouch for it or give my opinion, but it claims to do label printing.

Xeletrix A-Book - http://www.xeletrix.com/abook/

Sorry I couldn't find you any freeware.

Best of luck!

Message Edited by Jarad on 07-01-2004 01:57 AM

Jarad,

I  briefly visited the Xeletrix website and A-Book looks like it will do the job.  I have to check that it will print the label output in the fashion I want (if necessary, I'll email them).

The only disconcerting thing is the company location, Russia!  I know the Russians are good at software, but I've never used Russian software.  The price is okay, since I plan to use the program for a long time.

How you found the item so fast is impressive.  I had fiddled with Google (too many returns?), CNet, ZDNet, PC World, Kim Komando--all disappointing.

Many thanks for your work.

Arthur

Arthur,

If you don't find a freeware program you like, you might go back to the idea of using Word. After digging around Help in Word, I found a way to create mailing labels that you can print out for a mailing list (as opposed to a page of the same label or just a single label). It's easier than it might look. I tried it and it does work. For my database, I used a Word table set up as a data file (cloumns headed FirstName, LastName, Address1, City/state/zip, etc.)

Create mailing labels by merging an address list
Step 1: Create the main document
Click New Blank Document on the Standard toolbar.

On the Tools menu, click Mail Merge.

Under Main document, click Create, and then click Mailing Labels.

Click Active Window.
The active document becomes the main document.

Step 2: Open or create the data source
In the Mail Merge Helper dialog box, do one of the following:
Create a new data source. Use this method if you haven't already stored names, addresses, and other data in a data source, and you want to store the data in a Microsoft Word table.

Use data in an existing data source. Under Data source, click Get Data, and then click Open Data Source. Select a Word document, or a worksheet, database, or other list, and then click Open. Click Set Up Main Document.

Use addresses from an electronic address book. Under Data source, click Get Data, and then click Use Address Book. Select an address book, and then click OK. Click Set Up Main Document.
Step 3: Select the label type and insert merge fields
If you don't see the Label Options dialog box, click anywhere in the main document, and then click Mail Merge on the Tools menu. Under Main document, click Setup.

Select the type of printer and labels you want to use, and then click OK.
If the type of labels that you want to use is not listed in the Product number box, you might be able to use one of the listed labels, or you can create your own custom labels.

In the Create Labels dialog box, insert merge fields where you want to merge addresses from the data source. To insert a merge field, click Insert Merge Field, and then click the field name you want.
See tips on inserting merge fields.

If you want to include POSTNET bar codes on mailing labels, click Insert Postal Bar Code. Specify the merge fields that contain the ZIP Code and street address, and then click OK.
Learn about POSTNET bar codes.

Click OK.
Step 4: Merge the data into the main document
If you want to specify the order in which data is merged, or merge only part of the data, you can sort and select data records to merge.

If you want to see how the merged data will appear, you can preview the merged documents.

In the Mail Merge Helper dialog box, click Merge under Merge the data with the document.

If you want to check the data source for errors before you merge, click Check Errors. Choose an option, and then click OK.

Do one of the following:
Send the merged labels directly to a printer. Click Printer in the Merge to box, and then click Merge.

Store the merged labels in a new document, so you can review, edit, and print them later.

Lydia,

Thanks for the procedure which would enable me to use Word for printing an address book in label format.  I do hope that the suggested shareware (A-book) does the job for me.  I am making a copy of your procedure in the event that the shareware is a flop.

Arthur