Setting Default Label Formats

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated November 2, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003

Word relies on styles quite a bit for formatting. This is understandable, as they are a very powerful feature. Given that fact, it is very odd, indeed, that Word doesn't define any special styles that are used for putting together labels. (Word does this for envelopes; just not for labels.)

Instead, Word creates labels using the Normal style, applying explicit formatting as necessary according to your settings in the Envelopes and Labels dialog box. Since the label lines are based on the Normal style, one possible way to change the default formatting for your labels is to simply change the formatting for the Normal style. This is a fairly drastic solution, however, since Normal is used for so many other purposes in Word.

One possible solution is to create special document templates for your labels. The only thing you would need to do is change the formatting of the Normal style in these templates. When you create a new document based on one of the templates, and then choose Envelopes and Labels from the Tools menu, Word will base your label on the Normal style in the template.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (616) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Problems Pasting Large Pictures

If you insert a large picture in your document and your text jumps all around and the picture seems to disappear, don't ...

Discover More

Understanding Mirror Margins

Rather than have the margins of your documents always be the same, you can use what Word calls "mirror margins." Here's ...

Discover More

Counting with Formulas

When you need to count a number of cells based upon a single criteria, the standard function to use is COUNTIF. This tip ...

Discover More

The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2013. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2013 For Dummies today!

More WordTips (menu)

Picking a Starting Label

If you use the Labels feature in Word, you may want to specify which label to use as the starting point when printing. ...

Discover More

Creating One-time Labels

Need to create a set of labels for a specific purpose? The easiest way is to let Word create a set of blank labels and ...

Discover More

Using the Address Book

Ways to use the address book when printing envelopes and labels.

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is 7 - 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.