Mac Address Book and printing Envelopes

[Tinkerer]

I have a G4, System 10.4.8 and I have Patch 12 NeoOffice.

I cannot assign the Address Book database for use in printing labels or addressing envelopes.

Is this still to be implemented, or am I missing something?

Your help will be appreciated.

Tinkerer.

[Lorinda]

You cannot directly access Apple's Address Book from Neo. You have to export the Address Book data, set it up as a spreadsheet, and then use that as a data source.

for instructions on how to do this, see this page of the wiki.

Edit: The remainder of this post is no longer accurate, as the wiki page linked above has been updated for Neo 2.0.--see later posts in this thread.

Those instructions were written for Neo 1.x; after you have saved the spreadsheet according to the instructions on that wiki page, do not continue with the rest of the steps, as the use of Data sources has changes in Neo 2.0.

Instead, see this page for instructions on using a spreadsheet as a data source.

I have not used the Address Book export process myself, but post back here if you have questions and someone can help you.

[jgd]

The page in the wiki is outdated. I updated the French version. I'll try to translate when I've time
Quick indications:

Follow the first steps: download Address Book Exporter. Select the settings as it's said.

Then in the dialog which opens, change the format .txt for .csv. You'll get a file named "Exported Address Book.csv".
Open it in Neo. Be aware: the file is encoded in " Apple Macintosh", so you have to change the default option Unicode UTF8 in "Your region (Apple Macintosh)". (Maybe, it's irrelevant for English language?).

Choose Tab in the section "Seperated by" then click OK.

Then apply the instructions given in the wiki

Hope this helps

Jacqueline

[Lorinda]

Thanks for the catch, Jacqueline. I just looked at both pages quickly, and presumed the correct directions could be cobbled together by combining the pages, but I didn't really read either through.

[jgd]

The Fr version is updated. I tested the method. You'll find a translation in the En page in comments. It's possible to copy the content of "Importing data from Address Book" in this page, but is it necessary?

Jacqueline

[Lorinda]

Wow, you work fast, Jacqueline!

I uncommented the English additions you made, deleted the outdated instructions, and organized the instructions as numbered points. It still may need a little polish, but it is up to date.

So, Tinkerer, follow this link and you'll get accurate instructions for using your Address Book Data with Neo Office.

[jgd]

[Lorinda]

I noticed that when I tested it, but I forgot to add it to the wiki!

Not much polish was needed, and some of what I polished was my own composition!

[LemonAid]

WoW!

You two (jgd, Lorinda) are ... AMAZING! I can't believe how fast you find/fix/update the Wiki pages - in multiple languages.

I just wanted to THANK You so much. Your efforts are Much appreciated. I'm reading a lot more Wiki articles, and learning too.

Philip ( Wiki Wow, I din't know you could do That! )

\. and Thanks to all the OTHER amazing Wiki contributers, too!

[Tinkerer]

Thanks a lot. I spent about six hours trying to set up the Address Book, then I refreshed the Forum and got your alterations.
What a relief.
Now. I have my spreadsheet in position, but when I access Insert > Envelope I hit problems.

I call up the Address Book I saved, and for the Table I get Sheet 1
Next, the Database Field gives me the first line of the first Entry in the book.
I can scroll down to the end of that address, but can go no further.
How do I select the Name and address and put it into the window.
Just clicking on the window does not work either.

Finally. My old address appears in the Sender window even though I have altered the User Data in the Preferences.

Many thanks for your help so far.

JJ

[Tinkerer]

I forgot to mention. I Registered the New Address Book first.

Jubbjubb

[Lorinda]

I did some checking, and it looks like we are still missing some key instructions in the wiki. Sorry about that.

Once you have the spreadsheet saved, there are two ways to go (you can use both approaches with the same fiile, depending on what you are doing).

Option 1:
Open a document in writer and set up the page style as you would like (e.g. for an envelope)
Under the View menu, choose "Data Sources" a new "split window" appears at the top of your document.
Choose the database and "Table" you want
You can then drag either field names or particular entries into the correct location
(You can also go to the Insert Menu, Choose "Fields," and then the "Database Tab," choose your database and insert fields that way.

Option 2:
Under the File Menu, go to Wizards, then Address Data Source
Follow the instructions in the wizard to identify your Address Data (make sure to set the connection type to "spreadsheet"
You will also be asked to make field assignments
Then you should be able to use Insert>Envelope
In that dialog, you can select your database, and then enter the fields one by one. (I just tried this, and I find it more tedious than option 1, but everone's different in this regard)

Sorry if I'm repeating things you already know, I wasn't sure precisely steps you were taking.

I'll do a quick and dirty "dump" of this info to the English wiki article, but I don't have time to "pretty it up." right now. Hopefully later tonight.

[Lorinda]

O.K., I've had time to "pretty it up."

Jacqueline, I added the changed English text as a "comment" on the French page.

And Philip, thanks for the praise!

[LemonAid]

[jgd]