Jason Aller Floppy Collection/83.img/3MLABEL.ZIP/README

Text File | 1989-06-25 | 21KB | 660 lines

                        WELCOME TO LASER-READY LABELS



    Laser-Ready Labels is an all-in-one combination of software, fonts and
    templates for printing great-looking labels on laser, DeskJet and dot-
    matrix printers.

    This README file contains information not included in the Laser-Ready
    Labels manual.  In particular, it explains how to choose label sizes;
    describes how to type labels "from scratch" and import label
    information from other PC programs; introduces searching, copying,
    sorting, printing and saving; and lists the files contained on the
    Laser-Ready Labels disk.

    Use DOS's TYPE command to view README on your PC's screen - just type
    Ctrl-S periodically to "freeze" each screen as you read it.  Or use
    DOS's PRINT command to output README on your printer.



    CHOOSING LABEL SIZES

    Laser-Ready Labels supports 11 different sizes of labels.  Which size
    you should use depends on what kind of label you want to print, what
    printer you are using, and the label information you'll be printing.

    You can print three kinds of labels with Laser-Ready Labels:


    1. Mailing Labels.  Six sizes (33, 30, 24, 21, 20 and 14-up) are for
       envelopes, postcards and all smaller addressing jobs.

    2. Shipping Labels.  If you need both a "To:" and a "From:" address,
       use shipping labels.  8-up and 6-up sizes are for boxes, large
       envelopes and any parcel requiring a return address.

    3. General Purpose Labels.  Four sizes of general purpose labels (12,
       10, 9 and 6-up) fit your "miscellaneous" labeling jobs.


    There are at least two sizes of labels available for each application.
    Choose a larger label size (i.e. 14-up instead of 30-up, 6-up
    instead of 8-up, etc.) if:


    -  You have a lot of information to type on each label

    -  You are using a dot-matrix printer

    -  You are using a laser printer and LR-Elite font, or a DeskJet
       printer and Courier font.






    Once you have chosen the size of label for a list, you can reset the
    size as often as you like.  However, since Laser-Ready Labels lets you
    fill as much of the label as possible with text, when you change to
    smaller labels you must allow Laser-Ready Labels to "truncate" the
    contents of each label.

    Truncation means characters that would extend beyond the right edge
    of the new label size are dropped, or lines that would extend below
    the bottom edge of the new label size are dropped, or both.

    Truncation happens not only when you move a list to smaller labels,
    but also if you print a list on a printer that prints fewer characters
    across the width of a page than your original printer.  In this case,
    Laser-Ready Labels truncates the extra characters at the right edge
    of each line.



    TYPING A LIST

    There are a variety of ways to make lists in Laser-Ready Labels.  The
    simplest is to type labels using the keyboard.  First choose the type
    of label you want.  Then, in the menu that follows the opening menu,
    choose "Create a New List of Labels."

    The Laser-Ready Labels manual contains complete step-by-step
    instructions for typing a variety of mailing, shipping and general
    purpose labels.  It explains how to choose label sizes and fonts, and
    how to move through the list typing one label at a time.

    Please make the following corrections in your manual:


    - Where the step-by-step instructions say, "When you finish typing a
    label, press Enter on its last line to move to the next label"
    they should say "When you finish typing a label, press PgDn to move
    to the next label."

    - Where the step-by-step instructions say, "Press F10 to save", they
    should say "Press F9 to save".


    When typing labels, there are two "shortcuts" you can take advantage
    of.  If you need a number of identical labels, type the first label,
    then copy it to make duplicates.  To create lists with a high degree
    of similarity between labels, first type one label, copy it to make
    the remaining labels, then edit each label to type the unique
    information.












    IMPORTING LISTS FROM DISK FILES

    A second way to make a Laser-Ready Labels list is to import label
    information from disk files.  To be imported, a disk file should
    contain ASCII text in the following format:


       1st column
           v
                                            Name, company and address
           Dr. Fred J. Smith    <---------- on separate lines
           123 Broadway
           Suite 1200
           New York, NY  10010
                                <---------- Blank line between
           Ms. Annalyn Turner               each label
           987 Sunset
           Apartment 12
           Knoxville, TN  23911


    Included on your Laser-Ready Labels disk is a sample import file,
    SAMPLE.IMP, that illustrates the correct format.

    Import files should omit all formatting or special characters.  A
    quick way to test a file to see if it is in the proper format is to
    use DOS's TYPE command.  As the file scrolls across your screen, each
    label should look very much like it will when it is printed.  In
    particular, there should be one line on your screen for each line on
    the finished label, and there should be no extra characters.

    Once you've verified your import file is in the proper format, start
    Laser-Ready Labels and choose the type of label you want:  Mailing,
    Shipping or General Purpose.  Then select "Import Label Information",
    type the name of the file to be imported, name the list, choose a
    label size and (if asked) font, and you'll soon have a new list -
    without typing!



    BUILDING IMPORT FILES USING WORDPERFECT

    In WordPerfect, label information is stored in two ways:  as
    "documents", or standard WordPerfect text files, and as "secondary
    merge files", which are special files used for mailing lists,
    telephone lists, etc.

    If your label information is stored as a WordPerfect document, use
    WordPerfect's Text In/Out command create an import file for Laser-
    Ready Labels.  Follow these steps:










    1. Press Ctrl-F5 to begin the Text In/Out command.

    2. Choose 1-DOS Text to tell WordPerfect that you want the contents
       of the document written to a DOS-Text file.

    3. Choose 1-Save and enter a filename for the new file.  We suggest
       naming it with the suffix ".IMP" to identify this as an import
       file for Laser-Ready Labels.


    After you exit WordPerfect, the ".IMP" file is ready for importing
    into Laser-Ready Labels.

    If your label information is stored as a secondary merge file, it
    will look something like this:


    Column 1
    v

    Dr.^R              <---- Ctrl-R separating each field
    Fred J. ^R
    Smith^R
    123 Broadway^R
    Suite 1200^R
    New York^R
    NY^R
    10010^R
    ^E                  <---- Ctrl-E separating each label
    Ms.^R
    Annalyn^R
    Turner^R
    987 Sunset^R
    Apartment 12^R
    Knoxville^R
    TN^R
    23911^R
    ^E
       :
       :



    To create an import file for Laser-Ready Labels from the secondary
    merge file, follow these steps:


    1. Create a new primary merge file that arranges label information
       in the right format for Laser-Ready Labels to import.  For the
       example above, the primary merge file is:


       ^F1^ ^F2^ ^F3^
       ^F4^
       ^F5^
       ^F6^, ^F7^ ^F8^
                          <---- Blank line at the end of the file



       The ^F1^ tells WordPerfect to place the contents of the first
       field, "Mr.", at the beginning of the first line.  ^F2^ says to
       place the contents of the second field, "Fred J. ", immediately
       after it on the same line.  The blank between ^F1^ and ^F2^ tells
       WordPerfect to separate the two fields with a blank.  Enter each
       merge code by pressing Shift-F9, then F-field, then 1 for the
       first field, 2 for the second field, and so on.

    2. Merge the primary and secondary merge files by pressing Ctrl-F9,
       then 1-Merge.  Identify your primary merge file, then identify
       your secondary merge file.  If all has gone well, you'll see the
       message:

                          * merging *


       at the bottom of your screen.

    3. After merging is complete, press Ctrl-F5 to begin a Text In/Out
       command, choose 1-DOS Text, and then select 1-Save.  Enter a
       filename ending in ".IMP" for the new import file.


    After you exit WordPerfect, the ".IMP" file is ready for importing
    into Laser-Ready Labels.



    BUILDING IMPORT FILES USING MICROSOFT WORD

    In Microsoft Word, label information is stored in two ways:  as
    documents, or standard Word text files, and as "data documents",
    which are special documents used for mailing lists, telephone lists,
    etc.

    If your label information is stored as a Microsoft Word document,
    print it to a file as follows:


    1. Start Microsoft Word and load the document containing label
       information.

    2. Press Esc to enter a command, P for Print and F for File.

    3. Before typing the name of the file, press Tab to move to the
       Formatted choice.  Press N to choose No.

    4. Type a filename that ends in ".IMP".  Microsoft Word will print
       your label information to a file.


    After you exit Word, the ".IMP" file is ready for importing into
    Laser-Ready Labels.







    If your label information is stored as a data document, it will look
    something like this:


    honorific,first,last,address1,address2,city,state,zip
    Dr.,Fred J.,Smith,123 Broadway,Suite 1200,New York,NY,10010
    Ms.,Annalyn,Turner,987 Sunset,Apartment 12,Knoxville,TN,23911
                                     :
                                     :


    The first line is a header containing a list of field names.
    Remaining lines contain data in the order specified by the header.

    To create an import file for Laser-Ready Labels from the data
    document, follow these steps:


    1. Create a main document that writes the list information in the
       right format for Laser-Ready Labels to import.  For the example
       above, the main document is:


       <<DATA list.doc>>                 <---- Identifies data document
                                         <---- Blank line
       <<honorific>> <<first>> <<last>>
       <<address1>>
       <<address2>>
       <<city>>, <<state>>  <<zip>>


       Note:  The << and >> characters represent "chevrons", entered from
       the keyboard as Ctrl-[ and Ctrl-].

       The <<honorific>> tells Word to place the contents of the first
       field, "Mr.", at the beginning of the second line.  <<first>>
       says to place the contents of the second field, "Fred J.",
       immediately after it on the same line.  The blank between
       <<honorific>> and <<first>> tells Word to separate the two fields
       with a blank.

    2. Print Merge Document the main and data documents by pressing
       Esc P M D.  Then type a name for the merged document.

    3. Print File the resulting document by pressing Esc P F, then
       press Tab to move to the Formatted choice.  Press N to choose No.

    4. Type a filename that ends in ".IMP", then press Enter.  Word will
       print your label information to that file.


    After you exit Word, the ".IMP" file is ready for importing into
    Laser-Ready Labels.







    BUILDING IMPORT FILES USING WORDSTAR

    In WordStar, label information is stored in two ways:  as
    "documents", or standard WordStar text files, and as "data files",
    which are special files used for mailing lists, telephone lists, etc.

    If your label information is stored as a WordStar document, print it
    to disk as follows:


    1. Start WordStar and press P to print a document.

    2. In the Print dialog box, type the name of the file containing
       label information.

    3. Under Printer Name, select "ASCII" from the directory.

    4. Next to "Redirect output to", type a name that ends in ".IMP".

    5. Begin printing.


    After you exit WordStar, the ".IMP" file is ready for importing into
    Laser-Ready Labels.

    If your label information is stored as a data file, it will look
    something like this:


    Dr., Fred J., Smith, 123 Broadway, Suite 1200, New York, NY, 10010
    Ms., Annalyn, Turner, 987 Sunset, Apartment 12, Knoxville, TN, 23911
                                     :
                                     :


    To create an import file for Laser-Ready Labels from the data file,
    follow these steps:


    1. Create a new shell file that writes the list information in the
       right format for Laser-Ready Labels to import.  For the example
       above, the shell file is:


















       .PL 9                             <---- Page length is 9 lines
       .MT 1                             <---- Top margin is 1 line
       .MB 0                             <---- No bottom margin
       .PF OFF                           <---- No print-time formatting
       .OP                               <---- Omit page numbers
       .PO 0                             <---- No page offset
       .DF list.dta                      <---- Identifies data file
       .RV honorific, first, last        <---- Identifies variables
       .RV address1, address2
       .RV city, state, zip
       &honorific& &first& &list&
       &address1/o&
       &address2/o&
       &city&, &state&  &zip&
                                         <---- Blank line
       .PA                               <---- Unconditional page eject


       The &honorific& tells WordStar to place the contents of the first
       variable, "Mr.", at the beginning of the first line. &first& says
       to place the contents of the second variable, "Fred J.", on the
       same line as the first variable.  In several variables, /o keeps
       WordStar from leaving a blank line in the output if that variable
       is blank in the data file.  The blank between &honorific& and
       &first& tells WordStar to separate the two fields with a blank.

    2. Merge Print the shell and data files.  First press M to open the
       Merge Print dialog box and select your shell file as the file to
       print.

    3. Under Printer Name, select "ASCII" from the directory.

    4. Next to "Redirect output to", type a name that ends in ".IMP".

    5. Begin printing.  WordStar will print your label information to the
       file you redirected output to.


    After you exit WordStar, the ".IMP" file is ready for importing into
    Laser-Ready Labels.



    BUILDING IMPORT FILES USING LOTUS 1-2-3

    Use the Print to File command to create a .PRN file containing label
    information.  For this to work, your spreadsheet must have been
    created with a layout very similar to Laser-Ready Labels' standard
    label layout - i.e. with the first line of the label in the first
    cell of the first row, the second line of the label in the first cell
    of the second row, etc.









    BUILDING IMPORT FILES USING DBASE

    In Dbase, the best way to create an import file for Laser-Ready Labels
    is to write a brief Dbase program that extracts label information and
    writes it to disk.

    If you prefer not to write a Dbase program, use the COPY_TO command to
    dump the database into a file.  Then edit the file to insert Carriage
    Return/Line Feeds at the end of each label line.



    BUILDING IMPORT FILES USING OTHER PC PROGRAMS

    If you wish to import label information into Laser-Ready Labels from a
    program other than the ones listed, see if your program supports ASCII
    text as an output format, either through printing or saving.  If it
    does, you're in luck.

    If your PC program cannot save data in an ASCII text file, and its
    data storage formats are not compatible with one of the programs
    listed above, try this:


    1. Use one of the excellent PC data conversion programs available
       either commercially or through bulletin boards to translate your
       data into an ASCII text file.

    2. Use a text editor to manually re-format the file and strip away
       unnecessary characters.  Though more time-consuming than you might
       like, this usually takes less time than retyping labels via the
       keyboard.



    SEARCHING, COPYING, SORTING, PRINTING AND SAVING

    Once you've typed or imported a list, you can search for a certain
    label, copy a label to make identical labels, sort the list, print it,
    and save the list to disk.  Search, copy, sort, print and save are
    invoked as you view a page of labels on your screen.


    Search (F2)

    Specify a search string of up to 30 letters and digits, and Laser-
    Ready Labels locates the next label in the list containing that
    string.


    Copy (F3)

    Use the copy function to insert up to 999 identical labels after the
    label being copied.






    Sort (F4)

    Use the sort function to reorder mailing and shipping lists by last
    name or zip code, in ascending or descending order.  Laser-Ready
    Labels interprets the last 5 or 9-digit number in a label as the zip
    code, and the last name in the first line as the name to be sorted on.

    Note that for larger lists (over 1000 labels) sorting can take several
    minutes or more.


    Print (F5)

    Use the F5 key to print a list of labels.  If you wish, you can print
    less than the entire list, and you can print more than one copy of the
    list.

    As it prints, Laser-Ready Labels centers the non-blank lines of a
    label vertically.  For example, if you are using 30-up labels, which
    allow addresses of up to 4 lines, and one of your addresses is only 3
    lines long, leave the fourth line blank.  When printing, Laser-Ready
    Labels will automatically adjust the 3 non-blank lines downward to
    center them between the top and bottom edges of the label.


    Save (F9)

    Use the Save function to store a list in a DOS disk file.  File names
    can be up to 8 characters long and must conform to DOS file naming
    conventions.  Laser-Ready Labels automatically appends .LRM (mailing),
    .LRS (shipping), or .LRG (general purpose) to names to identify the
    type of list the file contains.




























    DISK CONTENTS


    File      Description
    _________________________________________________________________

    README              This text file
    LRL      BAT        Batch file to start Laser-Ready Labels
    LABELS   EXE        Executable file run by LRL.BAT
    MSHERC   COM        Monitor compatibility program run by LRL.BAT
    H        DAT        Help file
    FONTS    DAT        Font mapping file
    SAMPLE   IMP        Sample import file
    LRL_BLAK GX1        Graphics file
    LRL_DJFT GX1        same
    LRL_FONT GX1        same
    LRL_MENU GX1        same
    LRL_MLB  GX1        same
    LRL_MLFT GX1        same
    LRL_MLS  GX1        same
    LRL_MLW  GX1        same
    LRL_OPEN GX1        same
    LRL_PRTR GX1        same
    LRL_RAS  GX1        same
    LRL_RAW  GX1        same
    LRL_SLB  GX1        same
    LRL_SLS  GX1        same
    LRL_SLW  GX1        same
    LRL_SPLB GX1        same
    LRL_SPLS GX1        same
    LRL_SPLW GX1        same
    LRL_WHIT GX1        same
    E100R    MPP        Font file
    E110R    MPP        same
    H100R    MPP        same
    H120R    MPP        same
    H180B    MPP        same
    T100B    MPP        same
    T100R    MPP        same
    T120B    MPP        same
    T120R    MPP        same

    35 Files Total







    (c) 1989 Mind Path Technologies, Inc.  DeskJet is a registered
    trademark of Hewlett-Packard, Co.  WordPerfect is a trademark of
    WordPerfect Corp.  Microsoft and Microsoft Word are registered
    trademarks of Microsoft Corp.  WordStar is a trademark of MicrPro
    International Corp.  dBase is a trademark of Ashton-Tate.  Lotus
    1-2-3 is a trademark of Lotus Development Corp.