Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated January 8, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021
Word does not allow you to easily change the default positions at which the return address and main address are printed on an envelope. There are several ways around this problem, each of which exemplifies the flexible nature of Word to accomplish a task.
It seems that envelope settings are stored as a part of your document, and therefore can be stored in a template. If you only print one size of envelope, the easiest way to change the default printing position for your envelopes is to follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Envelopes tab of the Envelopes and Labels dialog box.
Figure 2. The Envelope Options dialog box.
Now, the next time you use a document based on the Normal style, the envelope settings will reflect those you created in these steps.
You can also use a solution that uses a macro to create your envelopes. For instance, you can start with a new, blank document, and create an envelope that is just the way you want it to be. Add this envelope to the blank document, and then save it as a template using a descriptive name (such as Envelope.dot). Then, create the following macro and assign it to the Quick Access Toolbar:
Sub DoEnv() Documents.Add Template:="Envelope", NewTemplate:=False Selection.EndKey Unit:=wdStory Selection.MoveLeft Unit:=wdCharacter, Count:=2 Selection.PasteSpecial DataType:=wdPasteText Application.PrintOut Range:=wdPrintCurrentPage ActiveWindow.Close (False) End Sub
To print an envelope, highlight the address in a letter then click on the Quick Access Toolbar button with which this macro is associated. The macro copies the address to the Clipboard, pastes it at the proper place in a new document based on the Envelope template, prints the envelope, and then closes the envelope document without saving it.
A different approach is to use a macro to set the standard (meaning, those you want to use most often) envelope settings for you. The following macro will do just that:
Sub ToolsEnvelopesAndLabels() Dim EnvThere As Integer Dim recipient As String EnvThere = False recipient = Selection.Text On Error Resume Next If IsError(ActiveDocument.Envelope.Address) Then ActiveDocument.Envelope.Insert EnvThere = True End If With ActiveDocument.Envelope .DefaultFaceUp = True .DefaultOrientation = wdCenterClockwise .DefaultHeight = CentimetersToPoints(11) .DefaultWidth = CentimetersToPoints(22) .AddressFromLeft = CentimetersToPoints(5) .AddressFromTop = CentimetersToPoints(5) .ReturnAddressFromLeft = CentimetersToPoints(2) .ReturnAddressFromTop = CentimetersToPoints(2) End With If EnvThere Then ActiveDocument.Sections(1).Range.Delete Else ActiveDocument.Envelope.UpdateDocument End If With Application.Dialogs(wdDialogToolsCreateEnvelope) .ExtractAddress = True If .AddrText = "" Then .AddrText = recipient End If .Show End With End Sub
To use this macro, first select the address you want used on the envelope. The macro grabs the current selection and uses it as the envelope address if no other address has already been defined. Next the IsError function determines if an envelope already exists; if one doesn't, a new one is inserted and EnvThere is set to tell us to delete it once we have changed the default properties. Once an envelope exists in the document we then change the default properties of the envelope. This is done in the With ActiveDocument.Envelope section. You can customize these properties as needed or simply omit them. (This example uses the CentimetersToPoints function to set the values; you could use other functions such as InchesToPoints, if desired.) The macro ends up by displaying the Envelope and Labels dialog box so you can make any last minute changes before printing or creating your envelope.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11433) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Default Envelope Margins.
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2020-12-30 12:16:10
Ronald Chandler
My process for a #10 envelope using word 2013:
Open word with a blank document.
Choose the Page Layout tab, then the dropdown under Size
Select envelope #10 (4.125 x 9.5in)
Select orientation Landscape
Select Margins->Custom Margins, then top = 0.25 in, left = 0.25 in, and right = 4.75 in. These are the correct margins for a #10 envelope.
The application responds with "one or more margins are set outside the printable area of the page". Why does this happen?
I am immediately offered the choice between "Fix" or "Ignore"
If I choose "Fix" the left margin is moved to 0.79 inches. I want 0.25 inches.
If I choose "Ignore" the return address text is truncated (the left-most part is missing).
2020-10-17 19:50:33
Glen Kelley
Excellent tip, thank you very much for providing this. There is usually a way to do anything with MS Word, but often it is quite difficult to work out how. this sort of expert advice is tremendously valuable.
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