Reports are formatted in HTML (HyperText Markup Language) to appear more visually appealing in your browser. Although well-suited for presenting information online or in print, HTML is not the best format for jobs requiring a simpler data import structure, such as printing mailing labels or populating databases.
Unlike the HTML reports, AskTED mailing label and data files are structured to facilitate using the data as a resource. Each file includes column headers on the first line, records separated by new lines, and the data fields for each record delimited by semicolons or commas. Consequently, mailing label files and data files are practically interchangeable. As a general rule, however, data files contain more fields than mailing files, as their usage is potentially greater in scope.
The AskTED downloadable files are presented as text (.txt or .csv) files. Each file includes column headers on the first line, records separated by new lines, and the data fields for each record delimited by semicolons or commas. Choose the customized options you want, then click the Download File button, or for the entire state, use one of the options under the Reports and Directories menu. See Downloading a Data File and Choosing the Output Type.
Although you can open the data files to look at the data, you should save the files to your computer for actual use. Note the file name and its location on your computer so you can find it later.
First, download the mailing label file to your computer as described in the topics above. Next, import the file into a mailing label generation program such as Microsoft Word. The process by which labels are generated depends on the software you have, although the basics are very similar. Almost all word processing or label programs have an import function that is capable of working with the delimited data provided by AskTED. The Help feature in your software will guide you through completing the label process.
First, download the mailing label file or data file to your computer (as described in the topics above). Once the file is saved to your computer, it can be used as the "source" or "recipients" file for mail merge. The Help feature of your software will guide you through the process.
Yes. Open Excel, click File > Open, navigate to the text (.txt or .csv) file you saved, and open the file. Depending on your version of Excel, the Import Wizard may open. The Wizard's three steps will populate a spreadsheet with the saved data. CSV files might open without giving you the opportunity to specify your import options. If this happens, you can close the file, rename it so it has the .txt extension, then reopen it.
Yes. Access Help will walk you through the process.