2009 Christmas Card List-Tally Up!

[BookstoreEscapee]

Hey, I just bought a house. I'm still screaming my new address from my roof at the top of my lungs!!

That's what that noise was...

[Horsetuna]

JM: Oh definitely, I know. take all my ideas as suggestions but as always, I can do without them

I'll figure out something for the return addresses.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I'll figure out something for the return addresses.

Can't you copy and paste from a PDF? Shouldn't be too hard to copy the addresses to Excel or something.

[Evil Queen]

That's what that noise was...

Dude, you can hear me in Jersey? Awesome!! One of these days I'll find my camera cable and post pictures.

[Horsetuna]

BEF : depends on the pdf... I'v efound pdfs for me at least act like 'images' or pictures. I spupose I could see if I can 'copy' the pictures into Open office. I'll have to play with it once its out.

[Pedersen]

We can't do *everything*, you realize that right? I think you're just going to have to muddle through and take care of the return addresses on your own. I am confidant you will manage.

Amusingly enough, I figured out a way to do just this. Basically, since the tool sends out an email to the member in question, and since that email has one PDF attached, why not include a second PDF that is a similarly formatted return address label sheet for the recipient?

Now, I'm not going to be changing production code like that while it's live, so it won't happen this year. But next year? Better plan on it

IF YOU SIGN UP, YOUR ADDRESS WILL GO TO *EVERY* MEMBER ON THE LIST.

Quoted, bolded, italicized, and colorized for reinforcement. Setting up a tool which will say "Oh, don't send my address to X, Y, and Z" would totally defeat the purpose of this list. I'll fight that idea tooth and nail. No, the addresses go to everybody who signs up.

That is also why there is an opt-out period at the end: You have a chance to review the list while no new people can sign up. If you feel you cannot fulfill the obligations for whatever reason (financial, social, or other), then you can opt out and the entire effect on everybody else will be minimized.

I'll figure out something for the return addresses.

Pssst: Here's an idea. If you're getting the Avery 8160 label sheets, it's very likely you're going to have extras. One package contains 25 sheets, each of them with 30 labels. Go to Avery.com, download the template, and make a sheet with return addresses. Print out a couple of them, and you're done.

BEF : depends on the pdf... I'v efound pdfs for me at least act like 'images' or pictures. I spupose I could see if I can 'copy' the pictures into Open office. I'll have to play with it once its out.

Well, I can speak fairly definitively on this topic, too, for two reasons: I wrote the code that uses a pdf making library. The pdf making library allows me to use text objects or picture objects. I chose text objects. So, it'll let you copy/paste (though, with those label sheets, I think that would be a waste of time).

The second reason is that I have (on my own and with mod help) tested the whole process a couple of times. When the PDF is sent, you can open it up and do copy/paste of the text in it.

So, if you really want to, go ahead and copy/paste the address. I think you're making more work for yourself by doing so, but that is your prerogative.

[Horsetuna]

ah, cool. I will see what I can do when I get it to my place then. if it is too much work, then I will just use your format.

[Sonoma]

So glad I found the thread in time to sign up. Just bought a house, so I don't know if the budget will accomodate this, but I'm doing it anyway.

[Dips]

why not include a second PDF that is a similarly formatted return address label sheet for the recipient?

And that is why you are completely awesome. I wouldn't have even thought of that.

There's really no point sweating about how to print the labels months before you even have them. If you get stuck just call the 800 number on the Avery box or run a practice sheet or two on scrap paper before printing the labels for real.

Or you could do what I had to do one year when I had no access to a printer. Just write them out by hand. Everyone still got them which is what counts.

[Ree]

Or you could do what I had to do one year when I had no access to a printer. Just write them out by hand.

What is this "writing by hand" you speak of?

Seriously, I don't mean to sound bitchy, but I have always done my cards by hand. It's a lot of work, I admit, but I choose to do it because I feel the giving of cards is an act of friendship and giving of yourself.

The card list has been going on since before I joined CS about 8 years ago, and I really don't recall anyone complaining about how much work it was to write out and address all those cards until the past 3 or 4 years or so. I have been so puzzled by all the people complaining about how much work it is, and wondering how to make it easier.
In my opinion, if it's that much of a hardship and so physically draining to send out such a massive amount of cards, then just don't sign up.

Again, I don't mean to sound bitchy, but every year, when I start reading all these posts complaining about how hard it is, I almost feel guilty for signing up and forcing people to exhaust themselves just to get a card in the mail for me.

[Horsetuna]

I write the messages in the cards by hand, but due to bad handwriting and a bad wrist, I prefer to print out the addresses. that's my reasoning Its no chore at all for me. If its easier to print out the addresses and stuff, then yay! If not... well, I'd stil do it probably as its fun.

[Broomjockey]

In my opinion, if it's that much of a hardship and so physically draining to send out such a massive amount of cards, then just don't sign up.

But addressing cards is haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrd. And it's no fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn. *pout*

Seriously though, the years I signed up, I used labels to print my return address just because otherwise I'd never have crammed it in to the space allotted by Canada Post (They actually have allocations for how large certain sections on envelopes can be!) and still be legible. For the To: address though, writing it out worked well enough for me. Took something like 90 minutes just to address them, which was funny. On the bright side though, now that ya don't need to spend that time on addresses, you can write more in the cards!

[Evil Queen]

I think last year it took me two hours. But that's because I was writing the notes, stamping and sealing as I went.

This year I'll use a sponge. Blech.

[iradney]

I agree. I remember when they used to flavour the glue on the stamps..not anymore

[Rapscallion]

I agree. I remember when they used to flavour the glue on the stamps..not anymore

I was always quite partial to shire, actually. Maybe a shetland, if I only fancied a snack...

Rapscallion