Need your advice

davidsgirl21

My sister (MOH) is planning my bridal shower. I told her I would get her the addresses. I typed them up in an excel spreadsheet and sent them to her via email (2007 version) she has the same computer as I do with Microsoft Office. The next day she emailed me back and said she was unable to open them so I formatted the file into the 97-2003 version of excel. agian she let me know she was unable to open them and is asking me to cut and paste. The reason they are in the excel sheet is (#1) it looks more organized (#2) she can do a mail merge and not have to write out everyone's addresses. So I emailed it to another email address that I have and opened it on my Fiance's computer which he has excel as well it opened right up. What do you girls suggest I do? I feel like she is just wasting my time I have so much more to do for my wedding.

MairePoppy

If someone was kind and generous enough to offer to throw a party for me, I would do whatever it took to make sure she had access to the guest list.

hlq2011

What Maire said. You're seriously annoyed because she's "wasting" your time because she can't open the file you sent her?  Did she ask you to set it up so she can do a mail merge?  I wouldn't give a rat's behind about that.

As for advice, upload it to Google Docs and then share with her.  She should have no trouble opening that link.

AutumnFair

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_need-advice-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:357Discussion:141d3245-3257-46b4-baa6-7087e6a56d14Post:39f8e2db-b35d-42be-b940-c55647002709">Need your advice</a>:
[QUOTE]My sister (MOH) is planning my bridal shower. I told her I would get her the addresses. I typed them up in an excel spreadsheet and sent them to her via email (2007 version) she has the same computer as I do with Microsoft Office. The next day she emailed me back and said she was unable to open them so I formatted the file into the 97-2003 version of excel. agian she let me know she was unable to open them and is asking me to cut and paste. The reason they are in the excel sheet is (#1) it looks more organized (#2) she can do a mail merge and not have to write out everyone's addresses. So I emailed it to another email address that I have and opened it on my Fiance's computer which he has excel as well it opened right up. What do you girls suggest I do? <strong>I feel like she is just wasting my time I have so much more to do for my wedding.</strong>
Posted by davidsgirl21[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>You can decline the shower if you want.</div><div>
</div><div> Advice: Change your attitude. There is more than one way to get addresses to her and if you are really just want to get it done mail merge the addresses yourself and send it by snail mail. Seriously, I get that technology can be a pain (it could be possible your sister's software might have something that is effecting it) but you need to adapt and get the addresses to your sister or some other relative that can give them to your sister. Just because it opened on your FI's computer doesn't necessarily mean it will open on your sisters. Stop being snarky and get the addresses to her or just decline the shower because I sure your sister has better things to do also.</div><div>

</div>

deepcovejackie

I don't know, print it out and fax it to her?  Sounds like you're getting bent out of shape for very little reason.

aerinpegadrak

If I offered to throw someone a shower and they were being this much of a pain about the one and only element of it that they're involved in, I'd be retracting my offer in a heartbeat.  Don't be a brat.

kellya01

How about this... 

1) Calm down, and take the few extra minutes it takes to have the guest list in a format she can see.  Not everyone has Microsoft Office products.  And they might not know that they can download OpenOffice for free.  Now isn't the time for a computer lesson for your friend, so just leave the mess alone.

2) YOU can create a mail merge and make "labels" on your computer.  Now, what I mean is don't actually print labels, but if you make a labels document, it shows up like it should actually show on the envelope, and then if you have the capability, make a PDF of that document and email her THAT document.  She can print out what she needs, handwrite the invites based on how you've made the "label" look, and go from there.   Most people have the capability of reading a PDF document.  

Thank your friend for being generous enough to host this party for you... not everyone gets the party.  I am not expecting one and I don't know if anyone wants to do one for me, but I am setting my expectation low so that I actually have a grateful attitude if anyone is going to be so kind.  Remember, being a gracious woman is a good virtue to carry you through life... :-) 

[Deleted User]

I think you are turning this into something that it is not. Everyone knows computers and different versions of operating systems can be a pita sometimes.

I am sure you sister is not trying to waste your time. I had to send several versions of my bridal shower guest list to the lady who hosted it for me. No big deal, I was just elated to have a shower thrown for me.

vwhitney2107

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_moms-maids_need-advice-3?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special Topic Wedding BoardsForum:357Discussion:141d3245-3257-46b4-baa6-7087e6a56d14Post:ee8d8e83-943d-4b46-8396-d8bbb783a864">Re: Need your advice</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Need your advice : You can decline the shower if you want.  Advice: Change your attitude. There is more than one way to get addresses to her and if you are really just want to get it done mail merge the addresses yourself and send it by snail mail. Seriously, I get that technology can be a pain (it could be possible your sister's software might have something that is effecting it) but you need to adapt and get the addresses to your sister or some other relative that can give them to your sister. Just because it opened on your FI's computer doesn't necessarily mean it will open on your sisters. Stop being snarky and get the addresses to her or just decline the shower because I sure your sister has better things to do also.
Posted by AutumnFair[/QUOTE]

Ditto!

jcamm11

so cut and paste it into the email like she asked.  You're the one wasting her time by insisting it has to be on an excel doc.

criminy..

HappinessByTheKilowatt

In the time it took you to send it to your FI's computer to "check" and then biitch about it, you could have copy and pasted it like she asked you to. If she doesn't want to mail merge that's her own call. Maybe she just wants to HAND WRITE the invites.

MIss Moxy

Well if by NOT using an exel file means she'll have to enter all the addresses one by one herself, then she's the one who's "wasting her time". If she's willing to spend that kind of time on you and your shower, than surely you can copy and paste for her.

5min max to copy. paste. send   <  45mins min to type 20+ addresses by hand

graysquirrel

Why can't you just print out your doc and mail it to her home address? Formal invitations are supposed to be hand written anyway, so there really isn't a whole lot of reason why they'd have to be in a file. I can't believe that you'd have so much to do that you couldn't possibly print a piece of paper and sent it to your sister. 

RebeccaB88

Seriously, if this is your biggest problem, I want your life.

You're using fancy words like mail merge and Excel, but you're acting like a three year old.  Do you whine and stomp your feet every time someone won't do something exactly the way YOU think it should be done?  Your vendors must *love* you.  (Sarcasm font.)

Just email her the freaking list and be done with it.  It took you longer to come here and post that rant than it would have to just do it. 

Besides, I would have no use for a silly mail merge guestlist because the proper thing to do is handwrite the addresses on the envelopes.  I'd be appalled if a friend expected me to send a formal invitation with an address sticker on it.  I mean, really.  That's for junk mail.

marinabreeze

I agree with PPs.  Sometimes this happens in MSOffice.  I've had it happen to me before with certain computers.  Sometimes software has bugs or glitches, it's not like your MOH is deliberately trying to waste your time. 

Besides, if you feel she is wasting your time, why not just decline the shower?  You're not owed one, and not everyone gets one. 

If this is all you have to do, I don't see the problem.  Just cut and paste into MSWord or straight into an email, and send it to her.  It's not as hard as you're making it out to be.