Re: Printing envelopes

Greetings "Bart Mathias&quot; < mathias%40hawaii.edu">mathiashawaii.edu>
On 27/02/2008 at 02:38 you wrote concerning
[PageStreamSupport] Re: Printing envelopes

Hello Bart,

<<snip>>
BM>>; How is the paper defined in PageStream versus how are you feeding it
BM>;> into the printer? If you are feeding the envelope into the printer with
BM&gt;> the short edge leading then I would recommend:
BM>&gt;
BM>&gt; Defining a custom size (printer setup) having width 3.7" and page
BM&gt;> height 6.5", portrait -- this matches the orientation you are feeding
BM>> it into the printer.

BM> Yes, yes, yes! Only a year or so deeper into senility, and I didn't even
BM&gt; think of redoing printer setup! (I wonder if I'll even know how to turn
BM&gt; the computer on, next year.)

Bart! If yee keep on writing like that, we will start believing thee one of
theese days. Enough Already!

<<snip>;>

BM> I will need to try that step by step, and see what happens, if I can figure
BM> out what you mean (at the moment the notion of a "master page" totally
BM> eludes me). Unfortunately I use PageStream almost exclusively to print
BM> photos, which doesn't force me to learn how to use all the valuable looking
BM> features.

Every page of every document that you create with PageStream is based on a
"master page". If you do not specify the details for the controlling "master
page&quot; then a "Default master page" is in effect. Do:

+ Open PageStream

+ When the PageStream Navigator window opens, click 'New'

+ When the "New Document&quot; window opens, you will see a bunch of settings that
will apply to the current "master page"

+ Click on the rightward pointing triangle |> to the right of "Page Size". Your
default is more than likely "US letter&quot; but the click will reveal a host of
options including "#10 Envelope&quot;.

+ If you were to choose the "#10 Envelope&quot; option, they you will find that the
associated dimensions are:
Width = 9.5" Height = 4.125";
which is probably NOT to your liking.

+ So choose the "Custom" option for "Page Size" which will allow you to set
'Width' and 'Height' fields to your liking. You should end up with something
like:
Page Size = Custom
Width = 6.5" Height = 3.7"
in the "New Document&quot; window.

+ I would NOT check the "Landscape" option assuming that you would feed your
envelopes in using the long edge as the leading edge.

+ As to "Margin Guides&quot; they are probably set to 0.5" all around, so, if
necessary, reset them to what ever values you choose.

+ Set the number of columns to 1 and click OK.

PageStream now reveals a 6.5"x3.7" page in portrait view, although it looks more
like a landscape page because of its dimensions.

Now, near the bottom left on the screen, find the "Go to page" icon and click on
it. The "Go to Page" window opens and therein depress the |> guy to the right
of the "Chapter" field and select
Chapter |> Default Master Page
then click OK.

At this point your "Default Master Page" will open and will probably look
exactly the same as your page 1. The only things that will show are the "margin
guides". Put some graphic object on the RM (Right Master) page, a filled
rectangle, an ellipse, anything that will show up clearly. Once created use the
&quot;Go to Page" icon and select
Chapter |> Untitled
and then click OK.

You are returned to page 1 of your document. Magically the graphic that you
placed on the "Default Master Page" appears and will remain there. You cannot
remove it while you are working on page 1 or any subsequent pages. Move to page
2, and there again you will find your graphic.

Why would you want a graphic? Or, a text message? Well, you've decided that
along with each address you want to place a small photo of the Bart one happily
walking along some trail or maybe display the logo of your walking club, etc.
Clearly, you dinnah want a mere address!!!

If you want to change your graphic, you must return to your "Default Master
Page" and make the change there. Elements of your master page appear on every
page that is created from that master page. You can have as many "master pages";
as you wish within a single document, but if you have more that one, then you
will have to choose a new name for the 'second' master page. Your "Default
Master Page" can be renamed to any new name that you choose. The easiest way to
do that is select
Layout -> Master Page Setup...
and when the "Master Page Setup"; window appears, change to the new name therein.

Now to create the textual material for the addresses!!! I've never done this so
I'm guessing, and there probably is a more efficient way of proceeding which
one of the gurus will immediately explain. However, ....

You create a text frame on page 1 which is large enough to hold a single
address. Somewhere you've got an Ascii file with a long list of addresses, say
50 of them.

Use the "File -> Inset text...&quot; guy to dump the text into the text frame on page
1. This frame will undoubtedly overflow. Now use

Layout -> Create text frames...

to create the same text frame from page 2 to page 50, and be sure to activate
the "Link Frames&quot; option. Now link the text frame on page 1 to the text frame
on page 2, and you're almost in business. Well ..... you will have 50 pages with
one text frame on each, but whether those text frames are 'properly' filled is
another matter. For example, the text which is part of the second address might
slide onto the text frame on page 3, etc. It could be an unholy mess! It will
all depend on the original Ascii text and the size of your text frames.

You may have to go through each page and insert a "page break"; or add some
blank lines in order that the addresses on pages 2.3,...,49,50 appear
'properly'.
Eventually, you will modify your Ascii file so that when it is inserted the
addresses flow onto the various pages perfectly.

Finally, you print the 50 pages, perhaps only 20 at a time, or 10 at a time. For
starters, I suspect 2 at a time would be best.

It is the latter description which I'll bet can be done automatically by
PageStream, but someone else will have to clue you in on that more efficient
system.

May your envelopes be beautiful.

<&lt;snip>>
BM&gt; Very grateful for the instruction.

Be more doubtful please! The above may not work.

Cheers Don (Green Dragon)
--

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.

Don:

> ...Do:
&gt;
> + Open PageStream
>
&gt; + When the PageStream Navigator window opens, click 'New...
>
> ...
>
> + Set the number of columns to 1 and click OK....
&gt;

Before clicking "OK,&quot; he should replace "untitled" in the "Name"
dialogue with an appropriate name and select "Remember" at the bottom of
the dialog. That way he can call it up in the future and reuse the settings.

> PageStream now reveals a 6.5"x3.7" page in portrait view, although it looks more
>; like a landscape page because of its dimensions....
>;

It's the "Landscape" versus "Portrait" dichotomy that confuses so many
of us, and not just in PageStream. Here in the New Document dialog it
refers to the way the printer feeds the paper or envelope into the
printer (usually portrait). If my memory banks are still working, during
normal editing it refers to how the page will look to the reader. If I'm
using tabloid paper I might want a poster that reads with the short side
at the top whereas, if I'm creating a newsletter-like document I might
want two 8-1/2 "pages" side by side and therefore want the long side at
the top. Either way, it will feed the printer in portrait mode. I
vaguely remember altering the master page specification for one or the
other in some situations and then setting it back before printing, but
it's been a long time. Maybe I was mixing orientations within the same
document. Don't know.

> ...Now to create the textual material for the addresses!!! I've never done this so
> I'm guessing, and there probably is a more efficient way of proceeding which
&gt; one of the gurus will immediately explain. However, ....
>;

Well, yes, you would frequently be doing mail merge here. PageStream can
do this, but I have always just printed the blank envelopes from
PageStream and done the mail merge from a program I'm more familiar
with. In my case that would be Word or even Excel because I'm on
Windows. On the Amiga, Final Writer should be able to do the job just
fine. It may take a little tweaking to get the right settings in the
Word Processor so the addresses are placed where wanted. I used to do
this with my newsletter because I could have Word make alterations based
on information in the data file. During renewal campaigns, if a member
owed us dues, it would add a line of oversized red text to the effect
that it was time to renew. If the member had recently renewed they'd see
a line of green text thanking them.

The difficulty with envelopes is they're often a problem to handle in
many printers. With my Epson I have to feed just a few at a time and
stand over the printer in case there's a misfeed. If you have enough of
them to print, it might be better to look up the instructions for mail
merge with PageStream. At least that way you only have to baby-sit the
process once.

HB

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.

Hello Don

On 02/27/2008, you wrote:

> [...]
&gt; Every page of every document that you create with PageStream is based
&gt; on a "master page". If you do not specify the details for the
> controlling "master page" then a "Default master page" is in effect.
> Do:
>
> + Open PageStream
>
&gt; + When the PageStream Navigator window opens, click 'New'
&gt;
> + When the "New Document&quot; window opens, you will see a bunch of
> settings that will apply to the current "master page"
>
&gt; + Click on the rightward pointing triangle |> to the right of "Page
> Size". Your default is more than likely "US letter&quot; but the click will
>; reveal a host of options including "#10 Envelope&quot;.
>;
> + If you were to choose the "#10 Envelope&quot; option, they you will find
>; that the associated dimensions are:
>; Width = 9.5" Height = 4.125";
> which is probably NOT to your liking.

I'm pretty used to everything up to this point, including setting up a
custom page size.

> + So choose the "Custom" option for "Page Size" which will allow you to
> set 'Width' and 'Height' fields to your liking. You should end up with
>; something like:
&gt; Page Size = Custom
&gt; Width = 6.5" Height = 3.7"
> in the "New Document&quot; window.
>
> + I would NOT check the "Landscape" option assuming that you would feed
>; your envelopes in using the long edge as the leading edge.

Now feeding long edge is something that never occurred to me! I wonder if
there's not more danger of a misfeed? In fact, after typing that I decided
to check the manual. It says I should feed short edge first. So this part
I won't change.

> + As to "Margin Guides&quot; they are probably set to 0.5" all around, so,
> if necessary, reset them to what ever values you choose.
>
> + Set the number of columns to 1 and click OK.
>
> PageStream now reveals a 6.5"x3.7" page in portrait view, although it
> looks more like a landscape page because of its dimensions.
>
> Now, near the bottom left on the screen, find the "Go to page" icon and
> click on it. The "Go to Page" window opens and therein depress the |>
&gt; guy to the right of the "Chapter" field and select
&gt; Chapter |> Default Master Page
>; then click OK.

I trust this applies only to the *current* new document, and won't be PgS's
real default master page.

> [...]
&gt; You create a text frame on page 1 which is large enough to hold a
> single address. Somewhere you've got an Ascii file with a long list of
> addresses, say 50 of them.

I'll certainly keep this in mind, but the only envelope I need to print is
the one to pay my rent each month--until I started printing them, they
apparently got lost in the mail and my landlord would complain.

>[...]
> May your envelopes be beautiful.

Your post is now marked with a light bulb and will reside forever (i.e.,
until my A1 dies) in YAM (It's to set up a PageStream folder) for reference
when needed. Shucks, maybe I won't have to RTFM after all!

Bart

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On Wednesday 27 February 2008, Henry G Belot wrote:
[snip]
>; It's the "Landscape" versus "Portrait" dichotomy that confuses so many
>; of us, and not just in PageStream. Here in the New Document dialog it
> refers to the way the printer feeds the paper or envelope into the
> printer (usually portrait). If my memory banks are still working, during
&gt; normal editing it refers to how the page will look to the reader.

to be more specific, if the page is 8.5" wide by 11" tall, but landscape, then
it will *display* as 8.5" tall by 11" wide. However, if you have a page size
defined as 6" wide by 4" tall, then 'landscape' it you end up with 4" wide
and 6" tall.

I have even seen a printer loaded with US Letter with long edge feed instead
of short edge. That would properly be printed by specifying "landscape" in
the print setup. If you wanted it to look "normal" then you would select US
Letter portrait for your master page. The difference between the two (master
page portrait, print setup landscape) causes the page to be rotated 90
degrees when printed.

You are certainly right about the confusion...

Tim Doty

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Tim:

> ...I have even seen a printer loaded with US Letter with long edge feed instead
> of short edge. That would properly be printed by specifying "landscape" in
> the print setup.

This probably wouldn't help an Amiga user, but most printers these days
include a preview function in the driver software. If, for example,
you're printing a #10 envelope and your setup is correct, the preview
will show a letter-size page with the envelope at the bottom (or top, I
suppose, in some cases). This reflects what the printer is actually
seeing. Your envelopes will be loaded on the appropriate edge of the
print tray and nothing but that area actually gets any ink or toner. The
printer preview has helped me unravel the occasional confusion without
wasting paper. And it was a big help when I designed a default template
for printing directly on CDs. But in that case, I had to include a white
mask in the template to prevent ink from being sprayed on the CD tray
when images spilled out to the edge of the design or into the center
hole. In fact, there's a set of different-size holes to accommodate
different brands of CDs. I just click the right ones to the front or
wrong ones to the back of the stack.

HB

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