Number 248 - January 2004

Aladdins Software Add-ins for Microsoft Outlook
by Ray Wright, SIG Leader, Beginning Access, June 03 NTPCNEWS
Have you ever tried a utility or add-in program that just felt right the first time you used it? I felt this way when I tried the add-in: ALADDINS ENVELOPES & LABELS for use with Microsoft OUTLOOK (97 through 2002).    ALADDINS ENVELOPES & LABELS installs into the MS OUTLOOK program toolbar for easy access. It also uninstalls easily--but retains the information that you have used the trial version. For envelopes, the add-in provides up to 10 styles for printing with 3 only clicks of the rodent. Multiple return addresses, including logos, and delivery bar codes are available in different envelope sizes. You can select one, or multiple contacts for printing. Select the contact, select Envelopes, select the style and print. You are done!    Icons for two types of labels are also on the toolbar: COMPUTER LABELS and DISPATCH LABELS. The only apparent difference is that for the DISPATCH LABELS, you can also specify a return address. Twenty custom labels can be defined. The COMPUTER LABELS portion is equally easy. The program has the full complement of Avery label templates to choose from, or you can custom specify a label size. Choose a contact or type in the label information. This is where the program is really neat. You specify the starting location on the sheet of labels with the mouse, specify the number of labels desired (or a whole sheet), and which labels to use. This provides the user with maximum flexibility in selecting the labels to print.    Some of the customization features are not readily evident. There is excellent Help & tutorials under the Fl button.	MS Word does have a Labels and Envelopes option under the Tools Menu. Avery also offers a downloadable add-in which integrates with MS Word. I have tried both, and still prefer the flexibility and ease of use offered by the Aladdins solution.    Two additional add-ins are available from the same developer: ALADDINS - Word Documents and ALADDINS - Excel Documents. They both provide the same functionality of grabbing the contact name and address (business or home) and placing it in a Word/Excel document at a prescribed location/cell. This provides great functionality when addressing a form letter, rather than having to start a Word document, then come over to Outlook and do the copy-and-paste into the Word document. This can also be used to initiate a mail-merge directly from Outlook. Personally, I didn't have a need for placing a contact name and address into an Excel spreadsheet.    These add-ins only function with Microsoft Outlook, not with Outlook Express or other email apps. As I mentioned, Aladdins offers a 30-day free trial for each of the add-ins, giving you the opportunity to "try before you buy." After the trial is over, any printing is overlaid with an "UNREGISTERED" message, making the envelope/label unusable.    The Manawatu Software Solutions web site can provide more details on the features and pricing options: . The product list prices for the Envelopes & Labels, Word, and Excel add-ins are, respectively, $34.95, $34.95 and $24.95. If you purchase all three, the bundle price is $81.35; and as an NTPCUG member, there is an additional 20% discount.
Number 248 - January 2004