From: dbingham@bnr.ca (David Bingham)
Subject: Re: HELP! (Non-Standard Labels)
Reply-To: dbingham@x400gate.bnr.ca
Organization: Bell-Northern Research Ltd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Date: Thu, 27 Aug 92 14:40:50 GMT

Earlier, I posted a message looking for some help with using non-standard
labels in DBase IV.  I received numerous replies which were helpful, and a
bunch of mail from folks wanting to know what I found out.  This post will
share the responses with the rest of the net.

Thanks to all who replied!

> I'm using DBase IV to manage a mailing list, and using the Assistant as my
> interface to Dbase.  I'd like to print out mailing labels on an HP Deskjet
> 500, using mailing labels which are not 'standard size', according to DBase.
> (As an aside, I can't find 'standard size' labels anywhere in Ottawa.  Maybe
> US sizes aren't as standard as Borland would like to think?)
>
> Following the instructions in the manual, I've entered the dimensions for the
> labels I'm using:  Width: 27 chars, Length: 9 lines, 3 labels wide.  Then I
> 'save current label', as instructed.  Except that DBase autonomously changes
> all the custom sizing I've entered to match the 'standard size' label which
> is listed at the time.  There is obviously a bug here - either the program is
> doing something it shouldn't, or the documentation is wrong.
>
> Is there some way I can change the 'standard size' labels?
>
> Is there some way I can get DBase to ignore the selected 'standard size'
> label, and use my custom sizing?  The pull-down menus put an arrow next to
> some fields, including the 'standard size' field: do these indicate which
> selection will be followed?  If so, how do I change it?
>
> Is this a known DBase bug with an available fix?
>
> Should I go back to using WordPerfect to manage my mailing list!?!

I heard from a few folks who have written their own routines (all originally
in DBase III), which I could modify for my own use.  I chose not to take this
route - although it would have solved my problems, it wouldn't have answered
my questions about the Assistant (or Control Center in DBIV).  Since the
facility is provided for free with the system, I expected it to do my work
for me.  [netters: if you do want routines to do this stuff, post a request:
I'm not going to publish the addresses of the people who helped me, and get
them deluged with mail]

One reply (Mike) told me "Avery Labels has an automated FAX service that you
can use to get printed notes about using their labels with a variety of
software products. The number is (818) 584-1681, called from your fax machine.
Their voice no. is (818) 792-8489."  Just to let you know, this is a long
distance call to Pasadena, CA - unless you live there.  The info is quite
helpful if you are using their products or some the same size - which I
wasn't at first (I am now).

A reply from someone at Borland answered one of my questions about using
the Control Center - "dBASE IV will honor your custom sizes as long as you
do not re-select the label sizes shown on the menu.  Just set your label
sizes and save the file with <Ctrl-End>."  It's true - too bad it's not
clearly stated in the documentation.

I still don't know what the arrows next to some menu choices are for - it's
not covered in any of the books I've looked at, even though they all show
them in diagrams of the menus.  If anyone can enlighten me, I'd appreciate
it.

My solution?  I returned the labels I had bought and got some Avery ones
of a different size.  The first set of labels were only 2.7" wide - and I
need 3 inches to print the names in my mailing list - when I tried to define
labels smaller than the fields I was putting on them, dBase would prompt me
and ask if it could delete fields that wouldn't fit - when I said no, it 
would revert to the 'standard size'.  Selecting a smaller font size would
have fixed the problem (and is what I used to do with WordPerfect), but I
don't know (yet) how to have that automatically done by dBase.  The
documentation states that dBase assumes 10cpi when you are defining reports
and labels - so if you did use a smaller font, you'd have to lie to dBase
about dimensions, or find some way of changing the assumption.

Some pointers:
- When you are defining 'custom' size labels, set up the dimensions first,
  then place the data fields. I did it the other way, and had problems.
- You CAN change the way the Control Center works, by editing the templates
  and regenerating it.  I just picked up Borland's dBase IV book, which
  has a chapter on this.  I've just skimmed it so far - if it rains this
  weekend, I may actually try it.

A note for Borland:
- Users should be able to select from or define a greater selection of
  'standard' label sizes.  I received mail from folks all over Canada and
  the US saying that they could not find any of the pre-defined 'standard'
  sizes in stores.  The average user is not a programmer, and shouldn't be
  expected to learn a new language just to alter the menus available to
  them.

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
David Bingham           |  Opinions expressed are those of the participants,
Bell-Northern Research  |  and may not reflect those of this station and its
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |  management...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.dbase-l,zer.z-netz.sprachen.dbase,fido.ger.dbase