If the data source is a table in a Word document, running the following
macro on that document will rearrange the records so that they are printed
in the way that you want:

' Macro to assign numbers to data source so that it can be sorted to cause
labels to print down columns
Dim Message, Title, Default, labelrows, labelcolumns, i As Integer, j As
Integer, k As Integer
Message = "Enter the number of labels in a row" ' Set prompt.
Title = "Labels per Row" ' Set title.
Default = "3" ' Set default.
' Display message, title, and default value.
labelcolumns = InputBox(Message, Title, Default)
Message = "Enter the number of labels in a column" ' Set prompt.
Title = "Labels per column" ' Set title.
Default = "5" ' Set default.
labelrows = InputBox(Message, Title, Default)
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns.Add
BeforeColumn:=ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns(1)
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows(1).Range.Cut
k = 1
For i = 1 To ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows.Count - labelcolumns
For j = 1 To labelrows
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Cell(i, 1).Range.InsertBefore k + (j - 1) *
labelcolumns
i = i + 1
Next j
k = k + 1
i = i - 1
If k Mod labelcolumns = 1 Then k = k - labelcolumns + labelcolumns *
labelrows
Next i
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Sort FieldNumber:="Column 1"
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Rows(1).Select
Selection.Paste
ActiveDocument.Tables(1).Columns(1).Delete

If the data source is not a table in a Word document, you can use a
Directory type mail merge main document to get the data into a table in a
Word document so that you can run the above macro. To do that, in the
Directory type mail merge main document, insert a one row table into the
cells of which you insert the merge fields from your data source. Then when
you execute that merge to a new document, that document will contain a table
with a row of data for each record in the data source. Insert a row at the
top of the table and insert names for the merge fields. Then use the above
macro.

Another way that you might be able to use is to set up the mail merge main
document as a Directory type and format it so that it has three columns and
in the first column, insert a one cell table whose dimensions are fixed to
match those of the labels that you are going to use. You would also need to
set the top and bottom margins of the main document to match those of the
labels. Then insert the merge fields into that one cell table in the
configuration that you want them and then execute the merge to a new
document.
--
Hope this helps.

Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
services on a paid consulting basis.

Doug Robbins - Word MVP

"GJ Rick" wrote in message
...
I'm using a label mail merge to create a 3 column product list. The
products
should be arranged alphabetically down each column. Word fills the merge
across the rows, then down. Can I change that and if so, how?

Thanks for your help.

Rick