Filemaker Pro Tips

How to print four-up, two-sided postcards using a inkjet printer

This one was a little tricky for me so I decided to share my solution for anyone else who might run into this problem. I started this project in order to avoid hand writing all the contact information on my ham radio qsl cards. I thought I could save some time and money by printing them and filling in the information all at once. Considering the cost of the cardstock and ink, whether I save anything over the long run remains to be seen.
The problem is that if you print out the cards on one side and then insert the cardstock back into the printer to print out the back side without resorting, the info on the backs won't match up with the info on the fronts. The back that belongs on card number one will end up on the back of card number two and vice versa. My solution is this:

Create a field called "Front Sort" that is an auto-enter serial number.
Create a field called "Sort Calculation" that is a calculation field. The calculation result is a number and the formula is:
If(((Mod(Front Sort, 4) = 0) or (Mod(Front Sort, 3) = 0)), -2, 2)
Create a field called "Back Sort" that is a calculation field. The result will be a number and the formula is:
Forward Sort + Sort Calculation
Create a script that sorts by Forward Sort and prints the front side. Set the printer to print in reverse order*.
Create a script that sorts by Back Sort and prints the back side. This time, don't print in reverse order.
Edit the first script so that it pauses and then calls the second script as its last step.

Now, put your cardstock into the printer and call the script, when the front side is printed, turn the card stock 180° and insert back into printer.

*If your printer doesn't do this or if you just don't want to bother, simply reverse the order of the sheets before reinserting them into the printer to print the backsides.