No matter how I sort my contacts, labels ALWAYS print last name first.

This worked for me as well after every other suggestion failed, and I'm using Sierra. Allow me to add one cautionary note.

First, as stated above, follow this sequence:

Open Finder > Home folder > Library > Preferences (not Preference Panes)

Look for com.apple.addressbook.plist and com.apple.addressbook.plist.lockfile, and move them to the trash.

Here's the caution: there were a couple of similar-looking listings, all starting with com.apple.addressbook. However they contained SYNC or SOURCESYNC or other words followed by .plist or .lockfile. I don't know if it'd be a problem if you remove any of those by mistake, but why take a chance? Just double check the names you need to trash to prevent a possible adverse consequence.

Hopefully, your address labels will print as you wish them to. Good luck all.

"

I know this is older however here is a solution that might work

in finder go to folder

~/Library/Preferences/

look for com.apple.addressbook.plist, if there is a com.apple.addressbook lock file as well move both to trash and relaunch contacts, you might find that the settings are reset for contacts application and you can now print correctly."

was having the problem where contacts would not print a label with the first name first. So I tried the suggestion noted above and it worked. Helpful hint, I had to go t o the library under my user name. Hope this helps.

Not sure if you noticed it and changed it, but there are two different settings on that screen in Contact Preferences -- the "sort" that you mentioned and there is also the "Show First Name" -- "Before Last Name"

I also have this question. Tried to change both the sort settings in preferences, and still have the same problem where last name shows up before first name on the print out. Did you find a solution to this? Also using El Capitan.

I have the same problem. Trying to print envelopes. Contacts always prints LASTNAME first, vice versa. Its a problem. It doesn't really matter if you change your sort inside of contacts. If someone has done it send a screen capture. Because we keep getting the same advice over and over on these settings and it doesn't matter.

Jim Jarvie wrote:

... It doesn't really matter if you change your sort inside of contacts. If someone has done it send a screen capture. Because we keep getting the same advice over and over on these settings and it doesn't matter.

You are right -- it doesn't matter if you change the sort -- as my reply stated you need to change the "Show First Name:" preference, not the sort preference.

See the red arrow in the screen capture below:

Thanks for sending the screen capture. My question is still open. Did you print this contact? If so, did you get FIRST NAME first? That's what we are trying to do here. The whole point of the question is PRINTING the contact.

Kindest,

Jim Jarvie wrote:

Thanks for sending the screen capture. My question is still open. Did you print this contact? If so, did you get FIRST NAME first? That's what we are trying to do here. The whole point of the question is PRINTING the contact.

Kindest,

Yes, I understand that the question is about printing -- changing that setting changes how the contacts display in the Contacts app and also how they print -- or at least it should and it does work for me.

OK, thanks for posting your settings capture. Something must still be missing because you'll see in my screen cap which also includes the print dialogue, the envelope shows "Brian" last and this is the first name. GIven this information, why do you think a computer setting works for you but not for the people here posting the issue? What do you believe is different? Thanks for your help.

I just did a bit of searching and found that some others having a similar problem are finding that they need to change each contact individually. I haven't experienced that myself -- i.e., any change I make in Preferences to "Show First Name:" is immediately reflected in all contacts and I've tried doing it with only one contact selected and all contacts selected. I also tried it with one Contact selected and in Edit mode.

The only other thing I might note is that I don't have any Contact Groups and they are mentioned in the following: Contacts not handling names correctly.

I'm not able to replicate any of what is in that discussion but hope it might help.

Hi Everyone

I know this is older however here is a solution that might work

in finder go to folder

~/Library/Preferences/

look for com.apple.addressbook.plist, if there is a com.apple.addressbook lock file as well move both to trash and relaunch contacts, you might find that the settings are reset for contacts application and you can now print correctly.

Cheers,

Kali

I've tried every solution offered in this discussion with no relief. I even downloaded a product from Avery that was supposed to do the job but it requires that you be able to export your contacts in a specific format that Contacts won't do. Contacts is a seriously handicapped product.

Same here. Nothing works to change this.