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Last active December 25, 2023 04:54
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how to print avery labels with only a .csv and a web browser
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gistfile1.md

NOTE: DO AVERY LABEL IMPORT STUFF IN FIREFOX -- I DON'T THINK THE AVERY SITE IS COMPATIBLE WITH CHROME

Steps described in this document:

  • Edit and sort your labels file in Google Docs (not in Excel)
  • Download your data as a .csv file
  • Import your edited .csv file into the Avery label maker site (not using Excel)
  • Print labels

  1. Edit and Sort label data in Google Docs
    In Chrome browser (ideally -- use Firefox if you don't have Chrome) go to https://drive.google.com. Login with your gmail login if you're not already logged in. Click the "WORK" folder, then click "ADDRESS LABELS FOR INVOICES" file (green icon). It should open the file in a new tab. Edit just like you would in Excel. Your changes will be saved automatically. To sort your label data, click the rectangle in the upper left corner of your spreadsheet (this will select the entire spreadsheet). In the "Data" menu, select "Sort range...". Check "Data has header row". Select "sort by COMPANY" and be sure that "A -> Z" is selected. Click the "Sort" button. Your data should now be sorted alphabetically.

  2. Download your data as a .csv (comma-separated-values) file
    In your spreadsheet view in your browser (still in Google Docs), click the "File" menu and click "Download as / Comma Separated Values". The file should now be saved in your Downloads folder as "ADDRESS LABELS FOR INVOICES - Sheet 1.csv". This is the file you'll import into Avery.

  3. Import .csv file into the Avery label website
    (Use Firefox to do this part.) Open Firefox. Go to the Avery label site: http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Templates-&-Software/Software/Avery-Design--Print-Online.htm

  • On the right side of the page, click "Labels".
  • If a form window pops up, fill out the form (you can use fake info)
  • On the right, click "Address Labels". Now click the plain label with just "Name / Address / City State Zip Code" on it.
  • On the left side of the next screen, click "Import Data (Mail Merge)".
  • Click on the large label in the middle of the page. The "Import Data (Mail Merge)" box in the left column should slide open. In that box, click "Start Mail Merge".
  • Click "Browse for File". Browse to your Downloads folder (or wherever you saved your .csv file) and click on your file: (ADDRESS LABELS FOR INVOICES - Sheet 1.csv). Click "Open".
  • In the browser, un-check "Print this row of data" (this will keep you from printing out your headers column).
  • Click the green "Next >" button.
  • Drag the four fields over to the box on the right side (COMPANY, ADDRESS 1, ADDRESS 2, CITY-STATE).
  • Click the green "Complete Merge" button.
  • Click the "Preview & Print" button.
  1. Print labels
    Click "Print". A box should pop up with "PDF created" in it. Click "Open". When it opens (hopefully in your browser), you should see a print dialog box. Select your printer from the dropdown, and select "Print" (be sure your label sheets are loaded in the printer first).

Cleanup
You should delete your downloaded .csv file now so that the next time you do all this you won't accidentally select the old file.

@darthwalsh
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Thanks for this guide! Made my Christmas Card label printing much less tedious! :)
In 2022, the Avery label creation worked fine in Chrome.

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