Data merge labels with text in multiple orientations

[sehrgut]

I’m trying to create call number flags from a library catalog spreadsheet. I want them to be narrow strips that can be inserted into books like bookmarks. The call number should be parallel to the short edge, and the title and author should be parallel to the long edge. I can’t find any way to do this with a document created by the label wizard.

I have tried adding vertical text boxes, but I can’t add data source field references to them. I’ve tried using tables, but there doesn’t seem to be any way to change text orientation in a table cell.

I don’t think “labels with some text at 90 degrees to the rest” is a very odd use case, as this is extremely common in label layout. What am I missing?

[PKG]

@sehrgut

I can’t find any way to do this with a document created by the label wizard.

You just need to rotate the mail merge fields.
You can do this using character formatting.

xxx.pdf (23,1 KB)

[EarnestAl]

A quick look and it can be done. For this, I am using Video Spine labels which print in portrait with the text left to right.

1. Add the Call Number field to the first label
2. Select the field and click Format > Character.
3. In the Position tab, under Rotation/Scaling select 90 degrees. OK
4. Now you need to add the horizontal fields but you could run out of space if you enter a return to separate the text. First add a frame,
   1. click Insert > Frame > Frame interactively and draw a frame inside the label.
   2. Select the frame, right-click it and select Properties.
   3. Click the Border tab and remove all borders of the frame
5. Click inside the frame and add the Title field and the Author field
6. Press Ctrl+F2 to open the Fields dialogue. In the Database tab select Next record and click Insert
7. Click Synchronise Labels

Print a few records to pdf to check.

[sehrgut]

Thank you! I had tried almost that exact solution, but I didn’t know about the “Next record” field, so I was getting a sheet of identical labels, one sheet for each record, when I tried using frames.

[sehrgut]

@PKG Thank you, I didn’t realize I could rotate it in Character styles, and thought I could only use the Vertical Text box.