Business letter according to DIN 5008

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    Foreword

    The video "Geschäftsbrief nach DIN 5008 in Writer - LibreOffice" (in German) links to this page here, which contains further information and details.

    Corporate Identity

    For companies, organisations, authorities etc. it is important how they are perceived from the outside.

    This is collectively referred to as corporate identity.

    See also: Corporate_IdentityWikipedia logo v3.svg

    Corporate Design

    Corporate design is a part of corporate identity and includes the appearance of the company/organisation.

    This also includes the business letters/paperwork.

    See also: BrandWikipedia logo v3.svg

    The DIN 5008 standard applies to business letters/paperwork.

    Business letter according to DIN 5008

    The creation of a Business letterWikipedia logo v3.svg according to DIN_5008Wikipedia logo v3.svg as a document template requires great effort in implementation.

    The arrangement and possible variations in the letter parts for address and sender are quite complex.

    Special attention must be paid to the entire page layout with the company logo and the corresponding lettering.

    The video and the following descriptions are intended to help you create your own letter template for "Business letter according to DIN 5008".

    Within these descriptions there are links to WikipediaWikipedia logo v3.svg, which provide additional information.

    Special feature

    In the typewriter world, the fields for address and sender were based on the existing line feed.

    In Writer, the entire area for address and sender is defined as a margin area, so that no continuous text is possible here.

    The fields for address and sender are defined by frames.

    Link to the video

    Form B - Top section of a page - principle view

    Link to the video (in German [DE]):

    Geschäftsbrief nach DIN 5008 in Writer - LibreOffice

    Page / Sheet - Layout / Business letter according to DIN 5008

    Letter-Forms

    Form A

    for private letters

    Distance to the upper edge: 0,27 cm.

    Form B

    for business letters

    At a distance of 0.45 cm from the top edge of the sheet the address field begins and at 9.84 (9.846 cm) cm the text field begins.

    Page / Paper Format

    "PageStyle DefaultStyle" dialog

    For normal business correspondence, DIN 5008 specifies the Paper sizeWikipedia logo v3.svg:

    Click Format ▸ Page Style… menu.

    For "Page|Paper Format": (DIN) A4

    width: 21,00 cm,

    height: 29,70 cm,

    paper quality should be at least 80 g/m2.

    Excluded from this are short letters and other special forms.

    Letterhead / -paper

    Stationery: blank, usually white

    LetterheadWikipedia logo v3.svg: Letterhead partially pre-printed or pre-printed, usually white with colour printing.

    Note pin.svg

    Note:
    The letterhead is an important element for recognition. In our example, we combine a frame as text field and an image for the letterhead and use a large colored logo that represents a row of houses. This is quite a large color area for output to a printer. This can lead to high costs of consumables (ink, toner). In many cases, it will therefore make sense to have the letterhead with letterhead and footer, sender identification and info block produced by a printing company.

    Margins

    Left: 2,50 cm,

    Specification according to DIN 5008: 2.41 cm. In many cases, the DIN 5008 specification is rounded up to 2.50 cm.

    In any case, the dimensions according to DIN 5008 should not be fallen short of in order to ensure a clean Hole punching of the letterhead.

    Right: 1,00 cm to 2,00 cm,

    The value results from practical use.

    If the value is reduced, check to what extent the printer can print to the outside right.

    For aesthetic reasons, values below 1.00 cm should not be used.

    Top: 9,84 cm,

    For business letters, the company logo, the company lettering, as well as the address field and the info block are placed in the upper area.

    The upper margin is thus set so that the text area begins directly below it.

    Bottom: 1,00 cm to 2,00 cm.

    Here it must be taken into account whether a pre-printed letterhead or blank paper is used.

    The company data is entered directly above the margin to be considered.

    For aesthetic reasons, no values below 1.00 cm should be used.

    Possible letterhead design

    Letterhead with logo and text field

    Basic possibilities

    • Text field only
    • Text field and graphic
    • Graphics only
    • - none - (remains blank), i.e. pre-printed stationery is used

    Create letterhead / page header

    The page header in the design as a graphic with text usually contains a logo and the company's lettering.

    For our exercise, we insert a frame in the page header.

    Frame for page header

    "Frame" dialog - page header

    From the menu, choose Insert ▸ Frame ▸ Frame….

    Tab "Type":

    Size

    Width: 16,50 cm, Height: 3,50 cm

    Position

    Horizontal From Left: 2,50 cm to Entire page,

    Vertical From Top: 1,00 cm to Entire page

    Anchor

    202105 Dialog Type Anchor To Page.png

    Tab "Options":

    For the function Protect we set a check mark at

    202105 Dialog Options Position.png and at 202105 Dialog Options Size.png

    Tab "Wrap":

    Settings

    Through

    Spacing

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Tab "Borders":

    Line Arrangement

    "Presets: Set No Borders"

    Padding

    Left: 0,15 cm; Right 0,15 cm; Top: 0,15 cm; Bottom: 0,15 cm.

    Insert logo

    We insert a prefabricated logo.

    In our example we use the file "Häuser-Reihe_02.png", see below Work files.

    We click on Insert Image and select the file.

    The graphic will not fit immediately.

    We double-click on the graphic and enter:

    Image: Houses

    "Image" dialog - Graphic

    Tab "Type":

    Size

    Width: 13,00 cm, Height: 2,18 cm

    Position

    Horizontal From Left: 2,65 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: 1,65 cm to Entire page

    Anchor

    202105 Dialog Type Anchor To Page.png

    Tab "Options":

    For the function Protect we set a check mark at

    202105 Dialog Options Position.pngand at 202105 Dialog Options Size.png

    Tab "Wrap":

    Settings

    Through

    Spacing

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Tab "Borders":

    Line Arrangement

    "Preset: Set No Borders"

    Padding

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Frame as Text field in the page header

    "Frame" dialog - as Text field

    From the menu, choose Insert ▸ Frame ▸ Frame….

    Tab "Type":

    Size

    Width: 2,20 cm, Height: 2,20 cm

    Position

    Horizontal From Left: 16,65 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: 1,65 cm to Entire page

    Anchor

    202105 Dialog Type Anchor To Page.png

    Tab "Options":

    For the function Protect we set a check mark at

    202105 Dialog Options Position.pngand at 202105 Dialog Options Size.png

    Tab "Wrap":

    Settings

    Through

    Spacing

    Left: 0,20 cm; Right 0,20 cm; Top: 0,20 cm; Bottom: 0,20 cm.

    Tab "Borders":

    Line arrangement

    "Preset: Set No Borders"

    Padding

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Address field

    Frame (Address field)
    "Frame" dialog - Adress field

    Overview

    Return information 1)

    Additional and note zone

    Recipient address

    Address field frame

    From the menu, choose Insert ▸ Frame ▸ Frame….

    Tab "Type":

    Size

    Width: 8,50 cm, Height: 4,50 cm ( resp. 4,00 cm + 0,50 cm )

    At 202105 Dialog Type AutoSize.png, ( no Checkmark )

    Address field - Example 1
    Address field - Example 2
    Address field - Example 3
    (1) Anschriftenfeld-Rücksendeangabe - Beispiel: Max Mustermann

    Position

    Horizontal From Left: (2,41 cm) 2,50 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: 4,50 cm to Entire page

    Anchor

    202105 Dialog Type Anchor To Page.png

    Tab "Options":

    For the function Protect we set a check mark at

    202105 Dialog Options Position.pngand at 202105 Dialog Options Size.png

    Tab "Wrap":

    Settings

    Through

    Spacing

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Tab "Borders":

    Line Arrangement

    "Presets: Set No Borders"

    Padding

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Return information ( Return address ) 1)

    One line, height: max. 0,50 cm,

    Font size 6 - 8 resp. 7 - 9 pt,

    The return information usually contains in short form:

    • Company / First Name Last Name
    • Street / P.O. Box
    • Postal Code City

    with an underline

    Addition and Note Zone

    Examples:

    • Registered mail
    • Book shipment
    • Goods shipment
    • Personal
    • If undeliverable, please return with new address

    Address

    The address can look very different. See examples 1 - 3 on the right.

    When designing your own business letter, look at business letters from other partners to make your choice.

    Addressing letters correctly

    Weblinks: Korrekte Adressierung|Wikipedia

    Font size for the address

    Font size at least 8 pt, from 10 pt with serifs possible, otherwise use e.g. Liberation Sans.

    Information block

    Information block

    Overview

    Conversation partner:
    Department:
    *
    telephone:
    telefax:
    E-Mail:
    *
    Date:
    

    Information block frame

    "Frame" dialog - Information block

    From the menu, choose Insert ▸ Frame ▸ Frame….

    Tab "Type":

    Size

    Width: 7,50 cm, Height: 5,00 cm

    Position

    Horizontal From Left: 12,50 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: 5,00 cm to Entire page

    Anchor

    202105 Dialog Type Anchor To Page.png To page

    Tab "Options":

    For the function Protect we set a check mark at

    202105 Dialog Options Position.pngand at 202105 Dialog Options Size.png

    Tab "Wrap":

    Settings

    Through

    Spacing

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Tab "Borders":

    Line Arrangement

    "Presets: Set No Borders"

    Padding

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Date

    The year should always be written with four digits.

    The international notation provides for the sequence YEAR-MONTH-DAY. (see also ISO 8601).

    Example for the notations:

    • 2018-04-25

    Font size for the information block

    Font size at least 8pt, from 10pt with serifs possible, otherwise use e.g. Liberation Sans.

    Text area

    Structure of the text area

    Text area
    • Subject line
    • Salutation
    • Letter text
    • Greeting
    • Signature
    • Enclosure(s)

    Example: Overview text area

    Our top offer just for you - fresh tomatoes from Italy
    * 
    * 
    Dear Sir or Madam,
    * 
    we are pleased to present a top offer just for you.
    From the new harvest 2018 we offer you fresh tomatoes from Italy.
    Please see the attached price list for prices. Only for you, minus 5% discount.
    The offer is limited until 31 August.
    We will be happy to take your order.
    You can find out about other products from Italy in our enclosed flyer.
    Call us if you need any help.
    * 
    Kind regards
    * 
    * 
    * 
    Guiseppe Italiano
    * 
    Attachments
    Price list for large customers
    Our current flyer with more products from Italy
    

    Subject line

    The subject line, e.g. "Our top offer only for you - fresh tomatoes from Italy, is created below the address field.

    The word "subject" or similar is no longer used, it is omitted.

    The subject line does not have a full stop at the end, etc. Usually the subject line is highlighted in bold.

    The salutation

    The salutation, e.g. "Dear Sir or Madam," is two lines apart from the subject line.

    The actual text of the letter

    Insert a blank line after the salutation and then we can write our text.

    Font size for the text area

    Font size at least 10pt to 12 pt with serifs possible, otherwise use e.g. Liberation Sans.

    Greetings

    With a blank line to the text, we write the greeting formula, e.g.:

    • "Kind regards"
    • "Kind regards from Milano"
    • "Kind regards and have a nice weekend"

    Signature

    After the greeting, we (usually) leave three lines of space for the signature.

    After that, the signature can be inserted in typescript, as not everyone necessarily has a legible signature.

    Kind regards
    * 
    * 
    * 
    Guiseppe Italiano
    

    Attachment(s)

    Example:

    Kind regards
    * 
    * 
    * 
    Guiseppe Italiano
    * 
    Attachments
    Price list for large customers
    Our current flyer with more products from Italy
    

    Font size for the greeting

    Font size at least 10pt to 12 pt with serifs possible, but as in the text area, otherwise use e.g. Liberation Sans.

    Letter footer / footer design

    Letter footer

    According to DIN 5008, there are no specifications for the bottom margin or the footer height.

    You may need to adjust the bottom margin.

    The footer should contain all important company data and mandatory information:

    • Name of the company
    • Legal form
    • Registered office
    • Name of the managing director / members of the board of directors / supervisory board
    • Registry court
    • Bank details
    • Value added tax identification number
    • Possible supervisory authority
    • etc.

    Footer frame

    From the menu, choose Insert ▸ Frame ▸ Frame….

    Tab "Type":

    Size

    Width: 16,50 cm, Height: 1,00 cm

    Position

    Horizontal From Left: 2,50 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: 27,70 cm to Entire page

    Anchor

    202105 Dialog Type Anchor To Page.png

    Tab "Options":

    For the function Protect we set a check mark at

    202105 Dialog Options Position.pngand at 202105 Dialog Options Size.png

    Tab "Wrap":

    Settings

    Through

    Spacing

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Tab "Borders":

    Line Arrangement

    "Presets: Set No Borders"

    Padding

    Left: 0,00 cm; Right 0,00 cm; Top: 0,00 cm; Bottom: 0,00 cm.

    Folding and perforation stamps for envelope DIN lang

    Folding and perforation marks - Measurements from the top page margin

    Envelope

    An EnvelopeWikipedia logo v3.svg is the packaging of a letter.

    Hole and folding marks (also folding marks) are used to prepare the Letterhead DIN A4 for a double cross fold.

    After folding, the letterhead is usually placed in a window envelope (if the address field is correctly positioned). DIN langWikipedia logo v3.svg.

    Folding mark_1

    Right-click the line and select "Position and Size" from the context menu.

    Position and size

    Width: 0,50 cm, Height: 0,04 cm

    Horizontal from left: to 0,40 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: to 10,50 cm to Entire page

    Hole mark

    Right-click the line and select "Position and Size" from the context menu.

    Position and Size

    Width: 0,50 cm, Height: 0,04 cm

    Horizontal from left: to 0,40 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: to 14,85 cmto Entire page

    Folding mark_2

    Right-click the line and select "Position and Size" from the context menu.

    Position and Size

    Width: 0,30 cm, Height: 0,04 cm

    Horizontal from left: to 0,60 cm to Entire page, Vertical From Top: to 21,00 cm to Entire page (or from below: to 8,70 cm).

    Further Informations

    Work files

    Geschäftsbrief nach DIN 5008_V3 - to the video

    Geschäftsbrief nach DIN 5008_V3 - with 2nd side

    Geschäftsbrief 5008 - SCHLAU+BAUER_V3 - prefilled

    Signature - Dr Klaus Schlau

    Values in the dialog boxes - Geschäftsbrief nach DIN 5008_V3

    Graphic/Image: Logo (Houses)

    Compatibility

    A letterhead created in LibreOffice with inserted frames is not suitable for transfer to MS-Word or saving as a doc/docx file.

    Change pages

    If page 1 of a letter is not enough, continuation pages are needed.

    For this purpose it is necessary to make a page 2-ff.

    This page 2 is typically created with a corresponding style sheet (page template) so that the enlarged top margin of page 1 is not adopted when the page is changed.

    For this purpose, a new page template for page 2 ff. must be created, deviating from the standard page template.

    Detailed descriptions of page formatting can be found here:

    English documentation

    More sources

    in German
    Schreib- und Gestaltungsregeln

    Documentation / Manuals

    Here you will find the Documentation / Manuals:

    Documentation / Manuals

    Any questions?

    For questions on this topic go to:

    Ask.LibreOffice

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