For a label merge, you configure the first label exactly as you want, then click on the 'Update labels' button to propagate this setup to all the other labels. Then run your merge. Simple as that.



As for your custom layout, that would have to be done as a Word table, with the required number of columns & rows to more or less fill the page and with the cells positioned so the align with your label stationery (if that's what you're using).

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Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

Thanks!
Here's a follow-up someone may be able to help with...I've created my label template and want to know whether it's possible to save a template with text interspersed between mail merge fields. For now, each time I open my label template to complete a merge, I need to repopulate the first label with text, then manually insert each mail merge field. Is it possible to save a ready-to-go template, complete with fixed text and mail merge fields, so I can regularly import new data sets in the same way?
I haven't been able to find a similar-enough question on the boards, please let me know if you have a chance to help.
Thank you.