AutofillPDF Labels is a handy web tool for anyone who’s wanted to print their own labels of any kind, but loathes the idea of manually filling out the printing template over and over. Many print-your-own label packets come with links or CDs that get you a pre-formatted Word document to fill out. Unless you’re getting married or sending out other invitations, though, you’ll usually end up putting the same thing on each label, and Ctrl-C/V-ing your precious time away. This handy webapp pops open a scripted PDF file on any system, while letting you change the font, styling, size, and other text properties, and also add images. In short, you create one label, and the PDF fills out the rest of them for you. The templates include CD labels, address or mailing, file folder labels, and even non-sticky business cards. Free to use, no sign-up required, and it works best with Adobe Acrobat (the free reader). autofillPDF Labels [via MakeUseOf.com]
Today Gmail will begin rolling out a new feature to improve your email labelling workflow and mitigate folder-vs.-label confusion with two new drop-down menus: Move to and Labels. Even better: Keyboard shortcuts and autocomplete are baked in. We’re not seeing the updates in our accounts yet, but the new features are pretty simple. If you want to label an email, just click the Labels drop-down or hit ‘L’ on your keyboard and start typing; Gmail will autocomplete the label as you type. The Move to menu works the same but uses ‘V’ as the quick keyboard shortcut. When you apply a new label via the Move to menu, Gmail will apply the new label and automatically archive the email—mimicking folder behaviour while still sticking with Gmail’s label structure. You’ve been able to access Gmail’s More actions menu for quite some time using the period (‘.’) shortcut, but the label and move to shortcuts are a godsend for keyboard lovers and folder lovers alike. The Better Gmail extension has always included the very cool Gmail Macros script, which itself added new labels by pressing ‘L’ and then autocompleting labels, so this functionality will be easy to adopt for Gmail Macros users. (Though autocomplete for navigating to a new label from the keyboard with the ‘G’ shortcut would be nice, Google.) Is your account enabled yet? Let’s hear how you like the changes in the comments.
New ways to label with “Move to” and auto-complete [Official Gmail Blog]Lifehacker reader Tom D writes in with this sensible suggestion:
I use a passcode lock on my iPhone, which means if it’s stolen or lost the person who finds it probably won’t be able to make use of it. Obviously this is good, however it means apps like private-i and other “I’m lost, here are my details” apps won’t work either. Also anyone who finds it can’t get into your address book to call “me” or “home” or “mum” or whoever to report it. So I used a label maker and printed out “REWARD IF FOUND “, trimmed it down and stuck it to the back of my iPhone (or any other valuable gadget). Not terribly aesthetically pleasing, but at least if the phone is stolen or lost, the person finding it has instant access to the owner’s info and hopefully the offer of a reward is enough to get their good nature to kick in and make an attempt to return it.
As an obsessed label maker user, I’m surprised this didn’t occur to me before. Got any other neat hacks for dealing with the inevitable moment when your phone gets lost? Share them in the comments. Thanks, Tom D!
Colour-coded labels, a Gmail feature long available to users of our own Better Gmail and other Greasemonkey extensions, has been officially implemented and should be rolling out to users as of this morning. Coloured labels do more than look pretty, of course—a well-arranged variety enables your eye to jump quickly to important emails and know when certain types of messages are becoming clutter. The web interface has also been updated with “x” buttons available to quickly remove labels from individual messages. Finally, the Official Gmail Blog notes that the development team is working to add “folder-y-ish functionality.” Time will tell how labels, folders and filters will mesh together.
The Next Evolution of Labels [Official Gmail Blog via Google Operating System]
