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An easy way to design the conference name tags

· 2 min read

This post describes using Microsoft Word and Excel to generate conference name badges quickly. It is motivated by the blog.

Preparation​

In the first step, you need to have three files in your hand:

  • Background image: Photoshop-designed background .png or .jpeg image with all conference information that you would like to include except the attendee's name and affiliation. You can design your own image size, but a preferred size is height 5.08cm x width 8.89cm.
  • Attendee list (Excel): a .xlsx file with all attendees' details.
  • Name badges (Word): a .docx file with the template of name badges.

Create the template of name badges​

Create the.docx file with Layout -> Margins -> Custom Margins and set the margins with the below values:

- Top: 2cm
- Bottom: 2.15cm
- Left: 1.61cm
- Right: 1.61cm

Create 2*5 blank tables:

word-tablesize.png

And resize the Layout -> Height and Width to height 5.08cm x width 8.89cm to ensure each page will include ten badges.

word-tablewidth.png

Insert the background image into the first cell and set Wrap Text -> Behind Textthe Size and Position of the image as:

word-imgsize.png

Then match the background image with the cell border. Choose suitable font position (Centre Text with 1.5 Line Spacing) and font size for name and affiliation.

Create the name badges​

  1. Select Mailings -> Select Recipients -> Use an existing list and select the Attendee list in a specific directory.

  2. Insert Merge Field and set the <<Name>>. In the second line, select the <<Affiliation>> filed.

  3. Copy all content in the first cell, including the background image and paste it into the second cell.

  4. In the second cell, add rules to let the Word generate the second attendee name badge with Mailings -> Rules -> Next Record, and it will be like:

    <<Next Record>><<Name>>
    <<Affiliation>>

  5. Copy the second cell for all the rest cells.

  6. Preview and Mailings -> Finish & Merge -> Edit Individual Document.