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How do I format a word document to make two sided note cards?

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dustin

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May 17, 2008, 2:53:00 AM5/17/08
to
Hi,

I was wondering how I go about formatting a word 2007 document to make
printable 2 sided note cards (flash cards). I have a 2 column data table
with 800+ entries. In the left column of my data table I have a disease and
in the right column i have descriptions of the diseases (I'm in medical
school and need to make flash cards of my high yield notes for a huge test I
have coming up). I have this two column table in a word document and in an
excel document, so whichever program lends itself to the simplest solution is
fine with me. What I was wanting to do is figure out a way to format a word
document so that one 8.5" X 11" page would have 8 (4.25" X 2.75") cards per
page. The problem I'm encountering is that there are too many fields to
simply cut and paste in the order I need them to be in so that the disease on
the left corresponds with the finding on the right column when I got to print
it as a two sided document becuase it prints as the same orientation (L-->R)
on the front and the back. This screws up the pairing of my columns because
the back side prints them on the opposite side i need them to be on. I tried
using the mail merge application, but I'm new to it and couldn't figure out
how to get it to let me show it what I wanted it to do for more than 1 page.
Is there a way for me to use my two column table and get my notecards to line
up right when it comes time to printing the left column on the front and
printing the right column on the back? I think if I could get the mail
merger to fill from the right side of the page to the left side of the page
instead of from the left to the right I could just make two seperate
documents. One document with column A mail merged using the label feature,
another document with column B mail merged using the label feature and then
print the first document flip it over and reenter the same paper in the
printer. If anyone knows how to make this magic work I would be greatly
indebted. If this explination is not good enough just email me and I will
explain further.

thanks a bunch

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

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May 17, 2008, 5:14:44 AM5/17/08
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See the article "Duplex Merge Data for Postcards" on fellow MVP Graham Mayor's
website at:

http://www.gmayor.com/duplex_merge_data.htm


--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"dustin" <dus...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:144BEBF4-86C1-4DB0...@microsoft.com...

dustin

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May 17, 2008, 1:46:00 PM5/17/08
to
This looks like exactly what I need but I'm not all that familiar with
extracing files. Could you explain how I extract/save the add-in template to
word/tools/option/file locations/startup...When I try to extract it I'm going
to my C drive/program files/microsoft office...then I saved it to the startup
up folder, but it won't show the add in when I open the document I want to
run the note card macro on. Am I doing something worng? Does the file with
the table need to be saved as a macro enabled word documet, does it need to
be converted to csv format, I'm sorry for my ignorance but word formatting
isn't my forte.

thanks

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

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May 17, 2008, 4:35:39 PM5/17/08
to
In Word you look in /tools/options/file locations/startup to detemine the
location of the Word Startup folder.

It is usually

C:\Documents and Settings\[User Name]\Application
Data\Microsoft\Word\Startup

It is in that folder that you need to save the template (.Dot) file.
--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"dustin" <dus...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:7D120C65-0EC5-4940...@microsoft.com...

dustin

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May 17, 2008, 5:33:00 PM5/17/08
to
Ok that was good I finally got it to save where it needed to be. Now I ran
the macro and it didn't switch any of the boxes? Is it supposed to look the
exact same as before I ran the macro? I can't really follow the directions
wholely on the website you gave me, sorry. So assuming that this worked and
my new document I ran the macro on is supposed to look the same as the
original, now I'm supposed to run two seperate mail merges one on the
original then one on the document I ran the macro on. Then I'll have two
documents with two mail merges? Do I need to set up the mail merger like I
want it or does the macro take care of this. ALso once I get the mail merges
done on the two seperate documents what do I do? Print the first one and
then reenter the paper into the printer so it will print on the other side?
I'm sorry for the confusion I just obviously don't have any experience with
add-in macros or mail mergers but I'm TRYING to learn and that's what counts
right? haha

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

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May 17, 2008, 8:58:22 PM5/17/08
to
I am not sure what you are doing, but the macro needs to be run when the
mail merge data source is the active document. Do you have a duplexing
printer (one that can print on the front and back of the paper in one go),
or do you have to take the paper our and feed it through the printer again?

If you have a duplexing printer, choose Fronts and Back and it will then ask
you how many cards across and how many cards down. Enter 2 and 4
respectively. It will then create a new data source in which the records
are arranged as follows:

Record 1
Record 2
Record 3
Record 4
Record 5
Record 6
Record 7
Record 8
Record 2
Record 1
Record 4
Record 3
Record 6
Record 5
Record 8
Record 7
Record 9
etc.

You then just use this data source with you mail merge and with your printer
set to duplex, execute the merge directly to the printer.

If your printer cannot duplex, choose the Backs Only option in which case it
will create a new document with the records arranged as follows

Record 2
Record 1
Record 4
Record 3
Record 6
Record 5
Record 8
Record 7

Use the original data source with the mail merge main document to produce
the front of the cards and then change the data source to this new one to
produce the back of the cards.

--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"dustin" <dus...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:CB6659EA-631B-4F8C...@microsoft.com...

dustin

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May 17, 2008, 9:23:00 PM5/17/08
to
Ah ok I'm pretty sure I understand now, I do have access to our school's
printer which can print on both sides. I will try it when I can get to the
printer and let you know how it turns out. Thank you soooo much for all your
help thus far I'm sure this as frustrating for you as it is for me.

dustin

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