Formatting Avery template 5453

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I want to use Avery template 5453, a 4″ X 6″ product that yields two 4″ X 3″ labels per sheet. The attached screen shot shows the template as it appears in Word 2011 on my MacBook Pro. I’m new to Word 2011 for the Mac, and I’m trying to understand what I’m seeing in this template.

First, what is that non-printing character that resembles an I-bar in the middle of each of the two labels? The template appears to consist of two adjoining text boxes or shapes, and each label is set up to center the text.

Second, how to I modify this template? I want two text boxes: one in the upper left for the return address, and the second more or less in the center for the destination mailing address. The text in both boxes should, of course, be aligned left. I’ve been trying to modify this template, but the built-in formatting seems to resist my efforts.

Should I simply try to create my own template from scratch? Seems it should be easier to start with the Avery template and modify it.

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You are looking at two table cells (2 rows x 1 column). I am assuming that I bar shows where the text will appear if you type into that table cell. The contents of the table cells are centred vertically and horizontally.

If you want to add more content then you can put your cursor in the cell and type normally. You might want to change the cell alignment to top and then use either paragraph spacing or returns to push the main content back down near the middle of the cell.

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Thank you, Andrew! You gave me some valuable clues. After I read your post, I looked at the Avery template from another angle. You are spot on about the two cells. What I’d failed to see–and what had so vexed me from the start–was that Avery had overlaid those two cells with two shapes of exactly the same proportions. I had noticed the sizing handles that appeared when I clicked in one or the other of the two cells. Now I remember that cells don’t have sizing handles. I was clicking by that I-bar whatchamaycallit and trying to align it top left, with no success.

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I’ve attached another screen shot that shows the two shapes resized and rotated. I also turned on cell gridlines and changed the text alignment to top left. Till now, I’d thought those shapes were the borders for the cells. It seems all I need do is remove those two shapes from the template, then proceed as you suggested. With the shapes out of the way, I can change the alignment of text in the cells. On the other hand, I suppose I could use those shapes for my intent, i.e., as placeholders for my two address blocks.

I’m still curious about that I-bar—what does Microsoft call it and what is its purpose?

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I don’t know how it works on a Mac but in Windows the I-bar is the indication of the ‘Insertion point’ ie the current collapsed selection or ‘where the text goes if I start typing’. In Windows you would expect to never see more than one of them so I’m not sure why there would be two at the same time on your mac. However, looking at your latest screen capture it appears that one of the I-bars is located in the floating object story and one in the main story (where the table is).

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Andrew, this gets a little more interesting. Your last post prompted me to download this Avery template onto my Windows 7 machine, which runs Office 2013. The template opens in Word 2013 (Windows) without those odd I-bars that we saw in the same template in Word 2011 for Mac. Even more interesting: On the Win 7 PC, the template does not have those rectangular shapes layered over the twin cells! All I see is the table itself, ready for whatever I want to put in it. Even better, the “Table Tools” subgroup has already displayed–a clear indication that we’re dealing with a table. See attached screen shot.

So, does Avery favor a Windows machine? Did Avery place those I-bars and rectangles for us Mac users, or did Microsoft’s Word for Mac design team sneak them in? Methinks I’ll write to Avery and ask them what’s going on.

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I have not used Word on a Mac since Word 5.0.

That said, I’ve never (since Word 95) known of any need for the templates from Avery. If you use the label options set to the label you want to use, you should get good results.

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That’s a very good point, Charles. I’ve resorted to Avery online in this and other instances because the list of templates in Word 2011 (Mac) seems less robust than that of the various Windows versions. In this instance, I wanted to use Avery label 5286. The package tells me to use the template for Avery 5453. So I dive into Tools >> Labels and search in vain for either 5286 or 5453. My next step, I reasoned, was to download the template from the vendor—that is, Avery.

Of course, downloading the template does not add the template to Word’s “Labels” tool. What I got was a new item in My Templates. That’s quite acceptable, but do you know a way to add missing templates to Word’s labels applet?

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Avery generates about 6 products (and numbers) for the same label layout. One for inkjet, one for laser, one for both, one removable, one very sticky, and variations. I believe a label with the same layout is 5286 if that helps. I’ve attached a template made on Windows.

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I understand your point about the various templates for what is essentially the same label. Here’s what I find curious: Word 2013 on my Windows 7 PC offers many more Avery templates than does its Mac equivalent.

In Word 2013 on my Win7 PC, I can find both 5286 and 5453.

In Word 2011 for the Mac, I can find neither. I click Tools >> Labels >> Options and search for the Avery product I want to use, i.e., Avery 5286. That product ID does not appear in the spin box. The package says I should use “Avery Template 5453,” but that number does not appear, either. Then I search the entire list for any product that fits the description: Height: 3″, Width: 4″; Page size: 4″ X 6″. I find nothing. All the label products that show have a page size of standard U.S. letter (8.5″ X 11″).
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It seems odd that someone chose to limit the available Avery templates in Word for Mac. Who made that call: Avery or Microsoft? I certainly don’t expect you to have the answer. It’s just odd, don’t you think?

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I think that label manufacturers now provide the labels and specs which are stored in XML files in a folder called PAGESIZE under Office14. New entries are probably added as and when the manufacturer provides them and when MS next offers an update. The Avery Label Wizard was at one time the most frequently downloaded utility on the MS website, and it’s still a useful tool for creating labels.

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