If you have NOT yet started entering items, please delete the previous files you downloaded and re-download from the links at the top of the Tagging Items page.

While assisting with file debugging across different versions of Excel and Word, a couple minor changes became apparent…

1. Some versions of Word do NOT ask for a data range, such as A10:G210, but instead ask for a named range. So the new XLS file has a named range of MergeArea. In these versions of Word, such as the 2007 version, you will need to select for MergeArea in the list of data sources to choose from.
2. We found that the 2007 version of Word also does not correctly format numeric fields when merging from Excel to Word. Prices that were shown in Excel as $2.00 appeared in Word as $2 and those entered as $1.50 would show up as $1.5. So, no trailing zeros after the decimals. We fixed that by defining formatting switches behind the scenes for the price field in the Word doc and it now appears to work as desired.

IF you have already entered log items, but not yet merged, you may want to re-download just the DOC file IF you find encounter the “bug” issues in #’s 1&2 above when you merge. There is a do-it-yourself fix with Excel, if you’re brave to tackle, that will create a named range for merging…

1. Close your existing Word file if you have it open and do not save if prompted.
2. Delete the old Word file and re-download the new one from the Tagging Items page
3. Unprotect the Excel spreadsheet. This option is in the toolbar ribbon at the top of Excel, believed under the Data settings.
4. Click the ‘B’ column header and drag to the left as if to select the currently invisible column ‘A’
5. Right-click anywhere along column ‘B’ and select Unhide (note this will be greyed out if you failed to unprotect the spreadsheet) …column ‘A’ should now be visible
6. Click on cell A10, hold and drag through cell G210 to select the entire log table
7. Right-click anywhere on the selected area and choose to Name the Range/Space
8. Enter a name of ‘MergeArea’ and click Ok to save it
9. You can right click column ‘A’ if you like and Hide it again
10. You can opt to re-protect the spreadsheet for easy tab entry of additional items
11. Be sure to save the spreadsheet, open Word and merge as described at the top of this post

New for Fall 2011 – save lots of time by only having to type your items in your log sheet and automatically merge the data into ready to cut tag sheets!

We have taken the time to carefully format a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet and a Microsoft Word document to make this possible and while we have attempted to simplify the process as much as possible and lock the documents to prevent mistakes, this process does require comfortability with using these Microsoft Office programs. The provided docs were configured and saved to work with recent Mac and PC versions of Excel and Word, but we are unable to guarantee operation for your computer and software, nor are we able to provide individual support.

Please read all of the following instructions before attempting. There’s a lot of steps broken out below, but it is really not that difficult of a process. Also, we recommend as a compatibility check that you log no more than 25-35 items, then perform a test merge. If everything worked as you expected, you should have no problem with as many as 200 items.

For those of you not feeling inspired to tackle full automation, feel free to download just the Excel file below for easy tab-thru computer entry of your items for sale. Then at the top of the Tagging Items page, just download either the normal blank Word Doc tag sheet to manually type again your items, or the blank PDF version to write them by hand.

For the adventurous among you…

1. Download both the Excel file “MOYC_Merge_Log_2011.XLS” and the Word “MOYC_Merge_Tags_2011.DOC“
2. Be sure to save the two files in the same directory
3. Open the Excel file first
4. At the top of the sheet, replace the 111 consignor number and AAA consignor initials with your own
5. Enter your name, address, email, and phone number in the specified fields – from this point on, you should be able to simply tab through the various fields requiring input
6. Replace the sample description, size and price with the correct info for Item #1, then proceed to log additional items
7. As stated above, once you have 25-35 items logged, we recommend you save the spreadsheet using the same name and do a test merge with the following instructions
8. Open the Word file
9. Word should automatically recognize the document as configured for merging data and locate the source Excel file if saved in the same directory
10. If Word does NOT open some sort of Mail Merge Manager, select Mail Merge from Tools in Word’s menu bar at the top of the screen
11. If a Mail Merge Manager or wizard has appeared, but it does NOT list an identified data source, a button should be available to click to Open Data Source and you can then select your saved Excel file
12. Assuming step 9 worked fine, or if not you were able to proceed through steps 10 & 11, a dialogue box should appear confirming which worksheet to use, which is ‘Log‘ and a data range, in which you will need to enter A10:G210 (note that you are welcome to replace G210 with the actual last row of your spreadsheet if selling less than 200 items, ex: G83 if selling 73 items)
13. A tag template should now appear with a number of cryptic merge fields visible – DO NOT CHANGE – if you accidentally mess something up, either undo or close the file without saving and re-open to start over
14. In the Mail Merge Manager, you should see a final step of performing the merge with options to ‘Merge to Printer’ or ‘Merge to A New Document’ – it is suggested that you merge to a new document so you can review the results before printing
15. If all looks good, you may now print your tags or close the merged results doc and the template doc (again without saving) and log more items before performing a final merge
16. If a lot of blank labels appear, you can either adjust the data range in step 12, or before merging to a new document in step 14 you can specify a custom record range, such as 1 to 92 if you are selling 92 items

If you have an amazing idea for our new logo, we want to see it!  The winner of the contest will recieve a $30 gift certificate to our upcoming September sale… AND of course your design will be featured on all MOYC communications in the future!  

We will accept original designs only, obviously nothing copyrighted. We need a simplified, updated logo that reflects our ministry and will look great in both black and white and 4 colors or less.  Also, please include your choice of font style with our group name– Mothers of Young Children Clothing and Toy Sale.  

Talented spouses or teenaged children are also welcome to participate in the contest and you may submit more than one design.  Winning design decision will be made by the MOYC leadership team.  

Submit your new logo entries to info@weagmoyc.org by Sept 20. Thank you!

The reality is, blogging platforms have matured into full-featured communication mediums. In fact, a number of business web sites have been built solely using a blog platform, such as WordPress, so why not MOYC’s sale site?!

The benefit to you, the reader, the consignor, the volunteer is a more easily navigable site, with more frequently updated content that you can actually subscribe to. That’s right…no need to keep checking the site for the latest news from MOYC leadership. Simply subscribe to what’s called an RSS feed. There’s links to the right and at the top of this blog page for the RSS feed.

By ‘subscribing’ you can be emailed when there is a new post. Or, of you are an avid blog reader, you can add the URL of the RSS feed to your favorite reader. If unsure, you can’t go wrong with Google’s Reader. If you like to read on your iPad, check out Feeddler or FlipBook.

In any way you prefer, we hope you thoroughly enjoy the new weagmoyc.org.

3 Improvements to Help Us All

We have a new web site, powered by WordPress.com, to allow us the benefit more rapid distribution of news and to take advantage of a number of plug-ins for automation.

We have a new volunteer system, provided free by the folks at VolunteerSpot.com. The new tool allows for easier task entry, the ability for volunteers to register without having to create yet another user name and password, automated confirmation and reminder emails, links to update chosen volunteer slots at any time, and better reporting for leaders.

Finally, we have a new consignor registration and email communications tool. With it, prior consignors do not need to create another user name and password. They simply receive an email containing a unique link to their online consignor profile. There, consignors can update their contact info and indicate whether or not they intend to consign at the next sale. Literally a 3-click & you’re done process!!!

What to Do When Something Doesn’t Work

If you consigned in the past and DID NOT receive your custom consignor registration invite, no worries. If you know your consignor number and initials, simply click the Register Now button in the right sidebar of this page. Once you do so, enter your info. If we already have your email address in the system, you will be notified. If you do NOT know your consignor info or had a problem with online registration, instead click the red Report A Problem button.

If you have never consigned, you will need to join our waiting list to get in line for later permission to consign.

Thank you all for your patience with new tools and methods. We have more tweaks planned and yet to be discovered, so we appreciate your feedback on this blog or email us at webmaster@weagmoyc.org.

To volunteer…

1. click on the VolunteerSpot button in the right sidebar
2. enter your email address, twice, when prompted
3. on the calendar that appears, select a day you are interested in serving
4. view the list of available tasks and time slots — PICK ONE
5. click to Save your task/date/time selection – you are not done yet
6. be sure to click the red CONFIRM button above the calendar

That’s it! You will receive a confirmation email with a link to revisit your registration, should you need to cancel or change your volunteer slot.

For more info about volunteering, click here.

Clothing and Toy Sale

(A Ministry of West End Assembly of God)

401 North Parham Road  Richmond, VA 23229

info@weagmoyc.org

Consignor Registration: Feb. 1-15, 2012

($10 late fee)

Volunteer Registration: Feb. 1 – March 10, 2012

Public Sale: Sat., March 17, 2012:  8am-12pm

Preview Sale: Friday, March 16, 2012

Volunteers: 4-8pm/Consignors: 6-8pm

(no children, no strollers)

This is our 33rd sale!  Thank you for your participation and support!