Hello all,
I realized today that Christmas is just over 3 weeks away and I have not even started sending out Christmas cards. Now I know that not everyone celebrates Christmas, but most of us celebrate something around this time of year.
The Software
Luckily for me I have all my addresses in the Names and Addresses Database that is built into Label Designer Plus DLEUXE so I can have my mailing labels, envelopes or post cards printed directly right from my desk in a matter of minutes. For those of you that are not familiar with this process there is a video tutorial available on our support page, titled "Creating a Basic Mailing Label" that walks you through the entire process. It shows you how to print mailing labels, but the process is almost exactly the same for printing directly to envelopes and post card. The only difference is that you select an envelope or post card layout instead of a mailing label layout.
The Paper
I am all set with the software but I still need something to print on. That is why we have started offering label and card stock through our partner CompuLabel. They offer quality stock, good selection, excellent prices and free shipping and all their stock is listed in our software so it is a snap to use. Check out the order page to order today. I think I am going to do a post card with a family picture on one side and the address/return address on the other.
-Chris
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Using Excel as a Database - Not a good idea
Hello all,
I have been researching a problem a customer is having for the past few days and finally found a workaround and a reason not to recommend Excel as a database for your mailing labels.
The Problem
The problem occurs most with ZIP codes. Because Excel was not designed to be used as a database it has to infer the type of values each column contains. It does this by looking at the first dozen or so cells in each column and expects the rest to be the same.
So let's say you have an Excel file that contains the names and addresses of everyone on your mailing list. You want to print them on labels or envelopes so naturally you open Label Designer Plus DELUXE or Print Designer GOLD, you select your label size or envelope type and link it to your xls file. All's good so far. Or maybe not.
It just so happens that the first dozen or so ZIP codes in the xls file begin with a non-zero number (for example 11713). Because of this the Microsoft Jet driver that we (and the rest of the world) uses to pull the data from xls files assumes the ZIP code column is numeric. The problem occurs when the ZIP code for Joe Smith (number 27 on your list) is pulled and is 06543. This is considered non-numeric. The Jet driver will either remove the leading zero and give us 6543 or decide the cell is invalid and give us nothing. Either way, not good for your mailing labels.
The Workaround
There is a workaround for this problem, but it is not very pretty. What you have to do is make sure the first dozen or so (I use 14 to be sure) rows contain all text data. It can be as simple as an "a" in every cell of the first 14 rows. For whatever reason if the Jet driver detects the column is text, it does not care if it is a number, text or something in between, but if it detects the column is numeric, it rejects any text.
When you print you have to start at the 14th record and set the quantity to 14 less than the number of records reported by label designer.
Summary
You can do it, but I do not recommend using Excel to hold your address for mailing labels (or any other use for that matter). You are far better off using the built in Names and Addresses Personal Database built right into all three of our products. If you need more flexibility consider Access.
- Chris
I have been researching a problem a customer is having for the past few days and finally found a workaround and a reason not to recommend Excel as a database for your mailing labels.
The Problem
The problem occurs most with ZIP codes. Because Excel was not designed to be used as a database it has to infer the type of values each column contains. It does this by looking at the first dozen or so cells in each column and expects the rest to be the same.
So let's say you have an Excel file that contains the names and addresses of everyone on your mailing list. You want to print them on labels or envelopes so naturally you open Label Designer Plus DELUXE or Print Designer GOLD, you select your label size or envelope type and link it to your xls file. All's good so far. Or maybe not.
It just so happens that the first dozen or so ZIP codes in the xls file begin with a non-zero number (for example 11713). Because of this the Microsoft Jet driver that we (and the rest of the world) uses to pull the data from xls files assumes the ZIP code column is numeric. The problem occurs when the ZIP code for Joe Smith (number 27 on your list) is pulled and is 06543. This is considered non-numeric. The Jet driver will either remove the leading zero and give us 6543 or decide the cell is invalid and give us nothing. Either way, not good for your mailing labels.
The Workaround
There is a workaround for this problem, but it is not very pretty. What you have to do is make sure the first dozen or so (I use 14 to be sure) rows contain all text data. It can be as simple as an "a" in every cell of the first 14 rows. For whatever reason if the Jet driver detects the column is text, it does not care if it is a number, text or something in between, but if it detects the column is numeric, it rejects any text.
When you print you have to start at the 14th record and set the quantity to 14 less than the number of records reported by label designer.
Summary
You can do it, but I do not recommend using Excel to hold your address for mailing labels (or any other use for that matter). You are far better off using the built in Names and Addresses Personal Database built right into all three of our products. If you need more flexibility consider Access.
- Chris
Monday, September 29, 2008
Introduction
Hello all,
Chris here. I am the founder of CAM Development, which was officially started in 1994. Today I run the company, do some development and handle most of the support (because I like to stay close to all my great customers).
It all started back when I was in high school, about 20 years ago. I kept a diary in a marble notebook which I hid in my bedroom closet. One day I had my girlfriend and her friend (an ex of mine at the time) and they somehow managed to swipe my diary. I found out later that day and rushed to their houses to get it back before any more damage was done.
I was too late. They both read the entire thing and I was mortified! I decided right then and there what I was going to come up with a more secure way of keeping my diary. My Personal Diary for Windows 3.1 was born!
I made the program available as Shareware on BBS' and mail order software houses. Over the next few years while I attended college the program started selling and I kept making improvements based on what my customers wanted.
It was now just about graduation and I wanted to get more serious about selling my software. I had developed a few other programs and had the confidence I needed. One thing I did not have however, was business cards.
I wanted cards that were really nice, but at the time the standard was one color raised ink cards you get from a local print shop. I looked around the Internet (which was a baby still) and found a program called Rockford that let you design a primitive business card and print it out yourself. It was OK, but I wanted something better. I created Business Card Designer Plus and CAM Development was open for business!
Since then My Personal Diary has been renamed Alpha Journal and is available on our sister site, AlphaRealms.com. Business Card Designer Plus has been updated numerous times and expanded greatly. There are now three "Designer Family" products: Business Card Designer Plus, Label Designer Plus DELUXE and Print Designer GOLD which together handle all business cards and labeling needs.
I intend to use this blog for product announcements, tips and trick, special offering and more on a regular basis. If you want to stay up to date please subscribe and visit often.
- Chris
Chris here. I am the founder of CAM Development, which was officially started in 1994. Today I run the company, do some development and handle most of the support (because I like to stay close to all my great customers).
It all started back when I was in high school, about 20 years ago. I kept a diary in a marble notebook which I hid in my bedroom closet. One day I had my girlfriend and her friend (an ex of mine at the time) and they somehow managed to swipe my diary. I found out later that day and rushed to their houses to get it back before any more damage was done.
I was too late. They both read the entire thing and I was mortified! I decided right then and there what I was going to come up with a more secure way of keeping my diary. My Personal Diary for Windows 3.1 was born!
I made the program available as Shareware on BBS' and mail order software houses. Over the next few years while I attended college the program started selling and I kept making improvements based on what my customers wanted.
It was now just about graduation and I wanted to get more serious about selling my software. I had developed a few other programs and had the confidence I needed. One thing I did not have however, was business cards.
I wanted cards that were really nice, but at the time the standard was one color raised ink cards you get from a local print shop. I looked around the Internet (which was a baby still) and found a program called Rockford that let you design a primitive business card and print it out yourself. It was OK, but I wanted something better. I created Business Card Designer Plus and CAM Development was open for business!
Since then My Personal Diary has been renamed Alpha Journal and is available on our sister site, AlphaRealms.com. Business Card Designer Plus has been updated numerous times and expanded greatly. There are now three "Designer Family" products: Business Card Designer Plus, Label Designer Plus DELUXE and Print Designer GOLD which together handle all business cards and labeling needs.
I intend to use this blog for product announcements, tips and trick, special offering and more on a regular basis. If you want to stay up to date please subscribe and visit often.
- Chris
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