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Customize the return address on envelopes
with graphics and font attributes
Related pages:
How WordPerfect
finds a mailing address on your letter
Convert
Address to Upper Case
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A visitor on a Corel newsgroup asked:
"Is there any way to get the return
address on an envelope to print as a logo or formatted text file? In
other words, I want the return address to appear as a graphics logo or
even as text that has been formatted with different fonts and font
attributes."
There are at least two ways to do this.
Method A - use a "QuickWord"
Overview
Create a QuickWord that contains a
graphic and other desired formatting, and use that in the return
address window of the Format, Envelope dialog box. As long as you have
QuickWords set to expand as formatted text (Tools, QuickWords, Options,
"Expand as text with formatting"), and have enabled (checked) the box,
"Expand QuickWords when you type them," the QuickWord will be expanded
-- with logo and custom formatting -- when the envelope is printed or
appended to the document.
For more on creating, using, and managing
QuickWords, see here.
See Method B below if you use
WordPerfect 6 or 7.
HOW TO DO IT in
WordPerfect 8 and later versions
- Create the custom return address at the
top of a new, blank document.
- Add your graphic logo and other
formatting, such as your preferred font type and font size, to the
return address. Size everything to the required dimensions needed on
your envelope. (Print the page to see how it will appear on the
envelope.)
- Tips:
- Note that you probably should set
the left and top page margins (Format, Margins) to some minimum amout
such as 0.25" (the minimum depends on the printer you use) so that the
return address will sit in the top left corner of the envelope.
- For graphic images, you can
right-click on the image to choose Position, and then set it to
specific distances from the margin or edge of the page. If your left
and top margins are already set to, say, 0.25" then set the Position
some amount from the top and left margins.-- e.g., 0.0" for flush
against the margins.
- You can use a table to help align
things and add (or remove) cell borders or fills. Just be sure to drag
the right edge of the table to the left to create a smaller table width
that will fit into the return address area of your envelope.
- See this screen shot for an example set up,
including the format codes used to create it. And here is the resulting
envelope created with the QuickWord technique described in the next
paragraphs. (Tip: To create matching business cards, see this PDF file.)
- Select the
entire return address and any adjacent formatting or other codes, such
as table definitions or graphic [Box] codes. It may help to use Reveal
Codes to be sure you select all text and any desired formatting codes.
- Notes:
- It can be easier to select things in
the Reveal Codes window by placing the cursor at the starting point,
then hold down the <Shift> key while you move the cursor with an
<arrow> key.
- What you select will become part of
the QuickWord in the next step.
- Don't select any [Paper Sz/Typ]
codes. This code is used to define the
current page, not the envelope page.
- Leave the selection "on" (i.e.,
everything should be highlighted).
- Next, create the new QuickWord.
- Click on Tools, QuickWords, and in
the "Abbreviated form" field type a QuickWord (e.g., \RA).
- Note: Using a backslash (\)
before the abbreviation's letters -- or any other key that is not
likely to be used with letters -- is a good way to tell WP that the
characters (e.g., \RA) are to be treated as a QuickWord.
- Click on Add Entry.
- Before you close this dialog, be sure
to enable "Expand QuickWords when you type them."
- If you are using a graphic, different
fonts, or other formatting in the return address, be sure to click on
the Options button while in the QuickCorrect dialog, and check "Expand
as text with formatting."
- Click OK to return to your document.
- Put the new QuickWord in the return
address area of the Envelope dialog.
- Open the Envelope dialog with Format,
Envelope.
- In the return address field, enter
the QuickWord (e.g., \RA, if that's what you named it).
- Enable the checkbox, "Include return
address." (Note that you won't see the QuickWord expand until the
envelope prints or is appended to the current document.)
- Test it: Type
a sample address in the Envelope dialog's Mailing Address field (or first
load a letter with a properly formatted
mailing address already in the letter, then open the
Envelope dialog), then click "Append to Document" to run a quick test.
You should see the return address appear, fully expanded, in the
appended envelope at the bottom of the current document. (If not,
verify that "Expand QuickWords when you type them" and "Expand as text
with formatting" have been enabled in the QuickCorrect/QuickWords
dialog.)
- Tips:
- The QuickWord will remain in the
Return Address field of the Envelope dialog until replaced by another
address or QuickWord. (You may want to use several different QuickWords
for different return addresses.)
- It sometimes helps to know the simple
"rule" that WordPerfect uses to find the recipient's mailing address on
your letters. This can help you set up letterheads properly. See How WordPerfect finds a mailing address on
your letter.
- You can use a macro to
convert the address to upper case, stripped of certain
punctuation, to conform to the U.S. Postal Service's suggested format.
See Convert address to upper case.wcm.
Method B - use a custom envelope template
If you have an earlier version of
WordPerfect (or even if you don't), you could create a custom envelope
template and have a macro call it each time you need it (and
automatically insert the recipient's address, too). See custom envelopes in the Library. (Also see
the envelope stamper macro in
the Library, which stamps a message on the envelope, such as CERTIFIED
MAIL.)
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Barry MacDonnell's
