Page Properties for Envelopes

[FrankMCook]

I'm using Pro 2013.

I send out brochures using 6 by 9 envelopes.  I've created a template that works.  However, I need to change the printer from my default and then go into its properties and set the paper to C4 envelopes.  In older versions of Act it remembered the paper size and even the printer name.  Paper setup lets me change the margins but the papersize is hard-coded to letter.  Is there no way to avoid correcting the paper size in the printer driver every time I print one of these envelopes?  With #10 envelopes I only need to select the proper printer and then I"m okay.  Why is there no way to do the same for large envelopes?

[FrankMCook · Accepted solution]

Honestly I don't remember whether I started from scratch or did a SaveAs on an existing template.  Everything worked perfectly for years on an even older version of Act.  If I remember right that printer driver allowed me to create a custom paper size which worked.. I had to upgrade when a computer died and I never did get it to work on Vista.  A gave up and used labels.

A few weeks ago I had to move to a new Windows 8.1 computer and I thought I'd try again. There seemed to be more envelope types in the printer driver and a quick look on the internet disclosed that C4 envelopes were close is size.  I tried it and it worked.  I guess I'd have to start from scratch to get it to be C4.  Can you remind me how to start an envelop from scratch?  

Also, is there a way to make the Help work?  I tried to get into help to find how to make a new template and it tried to go to Sage and failed.  Is there a new URL for help that I can put into preferences somewhere?

[Roy_Laudenslager]

Did you cteate the envelope template from scratch or did you start with the #10 envelope template and edit it to a new size?

Peraonally I do custom envelopes startign with the standard letter and use the margin setting to define the envelope size and printing position.

[FrankMCook · Accepted solution]

Honestly I don't remember whether I started from scratch or did a SaveAs on an existing template.  Everything worked perfectly for years on an even older version of Act.  If I remember right that printer driver allowed me to create a custom paper size which worked.. I had to upgrade when a computer died and I never did get it to work on Vista.  A gave up and used labels.

A few weeks ago I had to move to a new Windows 8.1 computer and I thought I'd try again. There seemed to be more envelope types in the printer driver and a quick look on the internet disclosed that C4 envelopes were close is size.  I tried it and it worked.  I guess I'd have to start from scratch to get it to be C4.  Can you remind me how to start an envelop from scratch?  

Also, is there a way to make the Help work?  I tried to get into help to find how to make a new template and it tried to go to Sage and failed.  Is there a new URL for help that I can put into preferences somewhere?

[Roy_Laudenslager]

I suspect that the original envelope template was created on ACT! 5 or 6 and then converted to the later version of the ACT! program. It also seems that you're using a version of the ACT! program that dates to before Sage sold the program to Swiftpage. The reason the help doesn't work is because it's not local but accessed via the Internet. Your help is pointing to the help location that Sage provided and no longer supports. Versions of the ACT! program sold by Swiftpage go to a different Internet site.

If you've not worked with ACT! report editor you might want to consider hiring someone to create the envelope template. You can check the knowledge base for documents on using the report editor.

[FrankMCook]

Yes, I understood completely why my Help wasn't working. I was hoping there was a setting that could be changed to point to the new location on the web. If not, I guess I'll have to live with it. Checking the Knowledge Base for help in starting a template from scratch is a good suggestion though. I should be able to figure this out on my own. After all I started using Act in the Conductor Software days long before Sage let alone Swiftpage. In fact we were beta testers on the very first network version of Act.

[Roy_Laudenslager]

As an ACT! report specialist since ACTWIN 2, I can tell you that the present ACT! report editor is the first real report editor ACT! has used. As such it has a significant learning curve. Good luck.

[FrankMCook]

I really liked the way envelopes were done in DOS Act. When you edited the template there was a printer button and you could embed the name of the printer with the tray and paper size into the document - and go back and change it later. In the version I have now you can get to the margins under paper setup but the printer information is hard coded. I suppose there is a reason they did it this way but I don't like it. Oh, well.

[Roy_Laudenslager]

Windows controls the printer and the printer driver interfaces to Windows. ACT! doesn't directly control the printer.

[FrankMCook]

Actually it is a combination of Windows and Act. My company writes vertical market software and we set the tray and paper using the Windows API. Also the template for #10 envelopes sets my printer to "manual envelope" so I know it can be done.

At least I have it printing envelopes if I go into the driver and set the paper to C4. That's easier than fussing with labels.