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Instructions for Use

(You must have Microsoft Excel installed on your computer to open the Template.)

When you open the template, a dialog box appears informing you that the file contains macros. Select the ENABLE MACROS button.

Entering Variable Information

The first sheet of the file is the DATA ENTRY sheet. You will use this sheet to type all of your variable information. To enter variable data, click on the cell where you want your information to appear and type your data.

Printing

Test the alignment by printing on regular paper the first time you use the template. To print your completed form from the DATA ENTRY sheet, using your mouse, click out of the yellow cells and select the PRINT LABELS (or PRINT FORM) button located in the template worksheet. DO NOT press the print button on the Excel? toolbar or choose print from the file menu.

Federal certification labels must be printed using a laser printer.

Adjusting Where Your Variable Data Prints

The template produces accurate alignment of variable information using most printers. Certain printers may require adjustments to row height for proper alignment. These adjustments can be performed without difficulty by someone knowledgeable in the use of Excel using the second sheet of the template file: ADJUSTMENTS.

The amount of fine-tuning required will vary from printer to printer. You will need to do several trial runs using different row heights to find the best fit for your specific printing equipment. See TROUBLESHOOTING for detailed instructions.

When you are testing alignment, print out variable information on blank pieces of paper to avoid wasting the pre-printed label sheets. Lay your test page on top of a label sheet and hold them up to a light source to see if the variable data lines up with the pre-printed information.

To make any changes to the ADJUSTMENTS sheet, you will need to unprotect it. From the TOOLS pull-down menu at the top of the screen choose PROTECTION, then UNPROTECT SHEET. The password is: doa.

If you want to re-protect the sheet after making adjustments, you will need to do so from the ADJUSTMENTS sheet. Select PROTECTION, then PROTECT SHEET from the TOOLS pull-down menu. A dialog box will appear in which you may enter a password.

CAUTION: If you choose to enter a password, make sure it is a word that you will remember easily. Excel will not allow you to unprotect the sheet again to make further adjustments without re-entering this password.

Saving Changes

When you save your changes, the SAVE AS dialog box appears. In this dialog box, you must name the new file and choose the location where you would like to save it. Do not replace the original template by using the same name.

Troubleshotting

If you get several pages of jumbled information when you print:
You printed using the PRINT button on the Excel? toolbar or the print command in the FILE menu. When you want to print from the DATA ENTRY sheet, you must select the PRINT FORM button located to the right of the manufacturer’s name and address section of the template.

If nothing prints when you click on the Print Form button in the template:
Click once on a white cell, then select the Print Form button located in the template.

If every other page is blank when you print:
Go to the ADJUSTMENTS sheet by selecting the “Adjustments” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen. From the VIEW pull-down menu at the top of the screen, select PAGE BREAK PREVIEW. Using your mouse, move the cursor to the blue line on the right side of the page. The cursor will change into a line with 2 arrows on the ends. Hold down the left mouse button and drag the blue line one column to the left. When you are finished, return to the DATA ENTRY sheet by clicking on the “Data Entry” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen.

If variable data prints progressively higher on the page than it should:
Go to the ADJUSTMENTS sheet by selecting the “Adjustments” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen. Select rows 1 through 100, making sure that your cursor is over the row numbers on the left edge of the Excel screen. From the FORMAT pull-down menu at the top of the screen, select ROW, then HEIGHT. A dialog box will appear with the default row height, 12.5, selected. Change the row height to a larger number such as 13 or 13.5. When you are finished, return to the DATA ENTRY sheet by clicking on the “Data Entry” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen.

If variable data prints progressively lower on the page than it should:
Go to the ADJUSTMENTS sheet by selecting the “Adjustments” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen. Select rows 1 through 100, making sure that your cursor is over the row numbers on the left edge of the Excel screen. From the FORMAT pull-down menu at the top of the screen, select ROW, then HEIGHT. A dialog box will appear with the default row height, 12.5, selected. Change the row height to a smaller number such as 12 or 11.5. When you are finished, return to the DATA ENTRY sheet by clicking on the “Data Entry” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen.

If variable data is spaced correctly but is shifted higher on the page than it should be:
Go to the ADJUSTMENTS sheet by selecting the “Adjustments” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen. Select row 1, making sure that your cursor is over the row numbers on the left edge of the Excel screen. From the FORMAT pull-down menu at the top of the screen, select ROW, then HEIGHT. A dialog box will appear with the default row height, 12.5, selected. Change the row height to a larger number such as 13 or 13.5. When you are finished, return to the DATA ENTRY sheet by clicking on the “Data Entry” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen.

If variable data is spaced correctly but is shifted lower on the page than it should be:
Go to the ADJUSTMENTS sheet by selecting the “Adjustments” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen. Select row 1, making sure that your cursor is over the row numbers on the left edge of the Excel screen. From the FORMAT pull-down menu at the top of the screen, select ROW, then HEIGHT. A dialog box will appear with the default row height, 12.5, selected. Change the row height to a smaller number such as 12 or 11.5. When you are finished, return to the DATA ENTRY sheet by clicking on the “Data Entry” tab in the bottom left corner of the Excel screen.