Creating print newsletter in OpenOffice

[Dan Klatt]

I found the newsletter template and set it up the way I wanted and I like the look of it alright.

Except it's not easy to do what should be basic things. (Such as the text does not wrap around an image, and I had to just insert spaces around it manually, and getting the caption to work right took two to three hours.)

It was working fine until I edited it and now everything carefully and manually placed is out of place again.

I've already messed around with this for six to eight hours thinking once I got the 'feel' for it it would work well and serve me well.

What better solution would you recommend, or would you advise staying with it?

Mainly I chose OpenOffice because I like how easily it converts files to PDFs, which I thought I could do and send to the printer and it'd be a breeze.

If someone has a template they could share, or a source to download one, that would be great. Or something that might help me understand the program if it isn't in fact hard to use and is intuitive once you get a few basic fundamentals down.

Thanks much!

Warmly,
Dan

[Dave777]

Checkout the following...
Home | OpenOffice.org Templates

Dave

[Dan Klatt]

Thanks Dave, that's where I found the newsletter template in the program. Although now going back there I found some other useful templates.

Warmly,
Dan

[watershawl]

This is kind of a hack, but try using borderless tables to organize the pictures and text on your document. Search Google for "openoffice.org tables" without quotes and you will find tutorials on how to do this, but its fairly straightforward. You may not need it.

[Dan Klatt]

Thank you, that sounds like exactly what I'm looking for! I did re-figure out the image/caption on the first page, although this I believe could make every other page much simpler!

Thanks,
Dan

[DavidGruttadaurio]

Hi Dan,

Creating a newsletter can be a daunting task.

Here's one we use that may give you some ideas. You can check it out at NewslettersmadeForYou.com

Not selling anything to you (really) - I used MS Publisher and thought it may be an easier route to go.

David Gruttadaurio

[Dan Klatt]

Hi David,

Your layout and look is fantastic!

Thank you for letting me see how you're doing your newsletters.

It hit me as I was looking at your sample the issue of the mailing label or printing the addresses on the newsletter, inserting them in envelopes, and the whole logistics. I think I have important questions to answer before I get too far.

If you wouldn't mind giving me your printer and fulfillment company contact info (PM if you prefer), I would appreciate that!

Thanks for sharing.

Warmly,
Dan

P.S. Welcome to the Warrior Forum. I like what you're doing with your work!