I'm hoping someone can help. I received an email attachment in Excel format. I don't have Excel installed on my computer (as far as I can tell) but I managed to figure out how to open the file in Works Spreadsheet.

Here's what I'm trying to do: This file is a mailing list of approx. 500 names, addresses, etc. from which I am attempting to print envelopes. I don't want to cut and paste each name, address, etc., line by line - needless to say, this process is tedious and time-consuming. What I'm trying to do is print the envelopes, one after the other, "automatically."

In my Envelope Wizard program (or whatever it's called) there seems to be an option to "print from database," or something to that effect. But when I try to use the file in the format it's in, it won't let me. So I saved it in a different format, but that didn't work, either. (I tried a couple of different formats; maybe I didn't try the right one - there are 7 or 8 choices.)

To further complicate this, I don't want to print every entry on the list; most members of this organization are multiple company representatives in various positions, and I don't want to send my mailings to all of them, only those in certain positions. Additionally, there is other info that I don't want printed on the envelopes, such as phone numbers, email addresses, etc.

By the way, I have a Dell desktop PC that's less than 2 years old with Windows XP installed.

Hope this gives enough info. Thanks in advance to one and all for your help.

Welcome to SAF!

What you are trying to do may not be possible without excel. You would, at least, need to edit the works spreadsheet to delete the ones you do not want (I dont know of a way around that).

What Envelope Wizard program are you using?

Hi efabes - Thanks for your reply. I thought, as you say, that I may need to delete the entries I don't wish to print. It seems as though it would be as simple as saving the doc with the "Save As" function, then using that as my "print list." That way, I'd have a duplicate, and the original would still be preserved. Am I right?

Here's the full file name (sorry if that's not the right terminology) for my Envelope Wizard program:
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Templates\1033\Envelope Wizard.wiz

Thanks again - hope we can get this figured out!

What about duplicating the worksheet inside your workbook, then deleting the ones you don't want? Or, to be even easier you should consider using the "Sort" feature to sort the entries in a way as to make the ones you want on top. Then you can tell your word processing program of choice to only accept the entries from 1 to XX. This may involve adding an additional column to signify the ones you want it sorted by unless of course one of your columns/fields has a sortable form of data.

Hopefully that all made sense.

It may or may not be possible if you can't find a way to edit the spreadsheet but is worth it if you can. There are programs out there like OpenOffice (or is that StarOffice now? I forget) that are free and allow you to open Excel files and resave them in other formats.

Or you could just find a sucker to edit the file for ya!

Hi Dashwood95 - I read your profile, and I'd conclude you know 'way more about computers than I do - so maybe you can help me!

You may want to go back and read my original post. My main problem is not editing the doc, whether it's deleting the unwanted entries or sorting - as you suggest - the entries in order of preference, then prompting the Wizard to only print #1-100, or whatever. Again, regarding this problem, I would think it would be as simple as saving the doc with the "Save As" option, then deleting those entries I don't want to print, and still have the original doc preserved.

No, my main problem is figuring out how to print from the database in the first place! Just to sum up ... I received the doc as email attachment in Excel format. I can't open it as such; I don't think I have Excel installed at all. So I saved it in "Works Spreadsheet" format. I was then able to open the doc, but when I tried to "print from database," attempting to use it in this format, that didn't work.

So I saved it in 2 or three other formats, using the "Save As" option. But when I attempted to print from each of these "converted" doc's, using "Print from database" in my Envelope Wizard program, that didn't work either.

What I want to do is figure out how to print these envelopes, one after the other, "automatically" as opposed to cutting and pasting, into the "To:" field in the Env Wizard, one line or name at a time, and printing them one at a time. My Envelope Wizard program (see previous reply for full file/path name of program) seems to have a feature for printing from a database - but I can't figure out how to get the doc in the proper format to get it to do what I'm trying to do. It may even be the case that I've got it in the right format now, but I'm not doing something right when I attempt to "print from database."

At any rate, I'm still hoping you - or someone - can help. Thanks a bunch in advance.

Hello converser,

You say that your printing wizard has an option to "print from database", but as far as I can tell from what I'm getting out of your posts is that you do not yet have the document saved as a "Database".

Excel is not a Database; and neither is the spreadsheet in WORKS. ACCESS is a Database and is an OFFICE program. In light of you not having Excel, I would assume that neither do you have Access. I would think that you should start by doing a "Save As" into the Database option in WORKS - - - if there is one. If there is not a Database option in WORKS, then you might continue to try to get your spreadsheet formatted correctly to make it print the envelopes. I would use "filters" though as opposed to the "sort" function.

The first thing I would try is to "hide" all the columns and/or rows that you do not want included in the mailing list. Then use the "filter" function to further refine the list. You should choose to print only the items in your given filter - not the whole document. You might start with just the names that begin with "A" and see if those will print properly onto the envelopes. Then if you are successful, you can proceed with all the rest until you get finished.

Good Luck!

Hi Mrs. Bond,

Thanks for your reply. I will attempt to do what you're suggesting, and hopefully this will work. One question: Can I download ACCESS from the Microsoft website? If so, do you know if it's a free download? (I guess that's TWO questions!)

Once again, thank you so much for your help. I'll let you know how it turns out!

converser,

Unfortunately, ACCESS is not a free program. You will pay approx. $200 for it at a place like Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, etc. Personally, I think that is cost prohibitive unless you are going to use it on a regular basis. Additionally, you can purchase the complete OFFICE SUITE for about $400 - which has about six or seven programs included.

I'm inserting a couple of links below that will take you to Microsoft pages that you should check out. I was not aware of this, but I do see on one of the pages that MS now has a trial CD with the entire OFFICE 2003 suite on it. It is for evaluation only and has a 30-day limited use period. Also, it is available only by ordering the CD - no download - plus you have to pay S&H on the CD - and wait for it to come in the mail.

That's OK if that's what you want to do and you are not under any time constraints to get the mailing list transformed into envelopes. Your choice entirely. I'm sure if you did a Google search on the web, you could probably find someplace to d/l a copy, but personally I am against that . . . I want the physical CDs in my possession when I pay good money (especially big money) for software.

Here are the links:

MS Access Page

Office 2003 Trial CD

I shall be most interested in how this turns out for you. Please be sure to post back and let us know what happens.

Again, good luck!
Regards, Mrs. B

WOW! Converser, take a look at this:

Sometimes perseverance really pays off. I am a very stubborn and determined female and will continue to go after something until I find exactly what I want. I went back to the Microsoft site after my last post here and managed to find this. It's a 60-day trial that you can download directly from MS. Here is the link:

60-Day Trial Downloadable

Please note that it is the "Standard" version (not the "Pro") but I would think it should probably give you the necessary tools to do your mailing list project. Plus having 60 days is much better than only 30!

Have fun - hope you enjoy!

Mrs. Bond makes some great points, however, many people do refer to their spreadsheets as "databases", so I just figured that's what you were doing.

You can't just arbitrarily decide to change a file extension. I could change a JPG extension to GIF right now, but that doesn't mean it will be animated. If you're unable to open the file in it's originally intended capacity (assuming it is an Excel file), then you need a program that can read it and has the capability of changing it over to the other format. Perhaps the issue you're having with not being able to print is simply because your Word Processor can't truly recognize the file type.

Give Mrs. Bond's link a try. If you can get the software for 60 days free that's the best course of action for right now I think. At least it will help you determine if that's the correct format and if that's in fact what the problem is.

Hi Dashwood,

Obviously you are correct in what you say about a person cannot just arbitrarily save a file as “whatever” they want it to be. Believe it or not, I actually do know that but I just seriously failed to think about it in this instance - - - definitely my error and I apologize. Thanks though for catching it and probably saving converser some headaches in trying to deal with something that could not be done.

Converser, I am sorry for any misinformation that I inadvertently passed your way. I hope I did not cause you any inconvenience by failing to be more attentive and alert about what I was posting.

Again, I wish you the best and hope you find a solution to your dilemma - you have quite a task ahead of you.

Regards, Mrs. B

Oh Mrs. Bond you lovely (albeit silly) lady. You did no more harm than I did in your post. You were trying to help, so cut yourself some slack!

WOW - You guys (I guess "gals" isn't PC any more, eh?) are AWESOME! I appreciate all the great advice, and I will definitely check out the 60-day trial download on the MS site. Sounds like a can't miss opportunity - I will keep you updated here as to my progress on this.

Again, thanks a bunch!