HOW TO: Create a Custom Label or Modify an Existing Label in Word 2000 (212029)

SUMMARY

This article explains how to create a custom label description.

Microsoft Word 2000 provides many different label products for use either in a mail merge (on the Tools menu, click Mail Merge) or when you create a single or full page of the same label (on the Tools menu, click Envelopes and Labels). However, your particular label vendor or label product number may not be available in Word.

If your label product number is not available in Word, you can create a custom label description for your label. To do this, you can either create a new label or modify an existing label. To create a new label or modify an existing label, use one of the following methods, as appropriate to your situation.

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Method 1: Create a New Custom Label

1. On the Tools menu, click Envelopes and Labels.
2. On the Labels tab, click Options.
3. Under Printer information, select your printer type: Dot matrix or Laser and ink jet.
4. Click New Label.
5. In the Label name box, type a name for your new custom label. Enter the exact height and width measurements of one label, as well as the number of labels across and down one page. You may also need to adjust the top and side margins and vertical and horizontal pitches.
6. Click OK.
   
   NOTE: If you receive the following error message
   The margins, label size, and number across or down values produce a page that is larger than the label page size.
   click OK, and then verify that your label dimensions and page margins combined are not larger than the actual paper size.
7. Click OK.
   
   NOTE: The Label name that you added in step 5 appears in the Product number list; however, "Custom" is added to the end of the label name to indicate that it is a custom label.

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Method 2: Modify an Existing Label

NOTE: You cannot change the existing dimensions of the predefined label settings in Word. When you modify an existing label's settings, you are able to type a new label name and save the changes as a new custom label.

1. On the Tools menu, click Envelopes and Labels.
2. On the Labels tab, click Options.
3. Under Printer information, select your printer type: Dot matrix or Laser and ink jet.
4. In the Product number list, select a label with the closest dimensions to those of your custom label.
   
   NOTE: Verify that the label page size is the same size as your label sheet.
5. Click Details.
6. Make any necessary changes to the Label height, Label width, Number across, Number down, Top margin, Side margin, Vertical pitch, Horizontal pitch, and Page size settings, as necessary.
7. In the Label name box, type a label name for your custom label.
   
   NOTE: If you did not make any changes to the predefined label information, the Label name box is unavailable.
8. Click OK.
   
   The modified label now appears in the Product number list.
   
   NOTE: If you receive the following error message
   The margins, label size, and number across or down values produce a page that is larger than the label page size.
   click OK, and then verify that your label dimensions and page margins combined are not larger than the actual paper size.
   
   The Label name that you added in step 7 appears in the Product number list; however, "Custom" is added to the end of the label name to indicate that it is a custom label.

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