Data Merge Layout Options

I am using 5.0.3. on my mac with Leopard 10.5.5
I created a master layout, with a table for a data merge. The table appears on the page one time, but there is definitely room to have it appear more than once.
I want to have the first record appear on the page, and then the second record appear on the same page.
When I click Create Merged Document, the RECORDS tab will not let me select Records Per Document Page; it is greyed out on Single Record. Therefore, when I select the Multiple Record Layout Tab, I cannot set margins or do anything, since it says the options are disabled because Single Record is selected for Records per Document Page.
How do I fix this?
Thank you -
Marion in Rochester

I figured it out.
My master layout was only 1 page but I had inserted about 26 pages in the document, in anticipation of the merge.
once I removed all but one page, everything was fine

Similar Messages

Data Merge: Layout Adjusting to Varying # of Fields?

Greetings all,
A friend is producing a PDF report for different countries to show what diseases exist in each country. I think a data merge might work, but she will want to list information only about diseases that are present in a given country. Right now, there are blank / null cells in the spreadsheet for non-applicable diseases. Essentially, we’d like to collapse the display of any missing data fields (and its accompanying table) so that only relevant data is shown. So if we had three diseases total (A, B, C) and only two were present in a country (A & C), we’d like to produce:
Table. Disease A
Info, data in table
Table. Disease C
Info, data in table
Is this possible using InDesign’s data merge (or another feature)? Perhaps using content placement options? Any other ideas? I think the goal is to have different tables for each disease, though I’m not sure if that will affect the process. Many thanks in advance for the help; my InDesign experience is very limited!
Sincerely,
Eric

Awesome, thanks Eugene! I'll do some reading on table looks and styles. It sounds like we may be able to suppress tables if all their fields are left blank (or something similar)? If another question comes up, I'll post a mock-up of the final product.
Many thanks for the prompt reply.
Eric

How to build conditional text from a data merge

Hi there
I'm hoping this is not a long shot but I do have a rather large ask (I think).
I cannot figure out how to create conditions on values.
We have two areas that require conditional text. See these areas on the attached image.
Features offered - up to 6. These are identified by defining each feature with a letter, eg 'n' stands for tent site and 'L' stands for seasonal work, and
Room type offered - four colour codes with this. These range from "not made up", "made up", "ensuite/madeup" and "ensuite".
The tab delimited file contains numerous columns for each room type - single, double, twin, share and dorm rooms that offer the 4 room type categories - see point 2 above.
I cannot figure out how to clarify the conditions I require for the conditional text.
Do I start with making 4 conditions for each room type colour and so-on for the rest of the room types ie single not madeup, single madeup, single madeup ensuite and single ensuite?
And if so, how do I create these using the correct conditional code?   Does GREP have anything to do with this and do I need to use its metacharacters like \?
Can someone perhaps start me off?
The same goes for the features. The features are displayed in the spreadsheet per column with either a 'yes' or a 'no' displayed.
I hope I have provided enough information to get some assistance.
Thanks so much.

Tag Design wrote:
Hi there
I'm hoping this is not a long shot but I do have a rather large ask (I think).
I cannot figure out how to create conditions on values.
We have two areas that require conditional text. See these areas on the attached image.
Features offered - up to 6. These are identified by defining each feature with a letter, eg 'n' stands for tent site and 'L' stands for seasonal work, and
Room type offered - four colour codes with this. These range from "not made up", "made up", "ensuite/madeup" and "ensuite".
The tab delimited file contains numerous columns for each room type - single, double, twin, share and dorm rooms that offer the 4 room type categories - see point 2 above.
I cannot figure out how to clarify the conditions I require for the conditional text.
Do I start with making 4 conditions for each room type colour and so-on for the rest of the room types ie single not madeup, single madeup, single madeup ensuite and single ensuite?
And if so, how do I create these using the correct conditional code?   Does GREP have anything to do with this and do I need to use its metacharacters like \?
Can someone perhaps start me off?
The same goes for the features. The features are displayed in the spreadsheet per column with either a 'yes' or a 'no' displayed.
I hope I have provided enough information to get some assistance.
Thanks so much.
Maybe I'm missing something, but I can't see why you need conditional text. I can see that you may want to color each property in each category differently, to stand out for quick visual communication.
If each feature (attribute) of each property or venue is represented in one spreadsheet row (record,) you can use data merge to create the whole entry for each property. For example, a property may offer two types of rooms - single and double, and the single may be available as "not made up" only, while the double is available as "ensuite/madeup" and "ensuite."
In the spreadsheet, in the row for the Acme Inn property, which only offers single not-made-up and single ensuite/madeup rooms, and for the Ajax Hotel property which offers single made-up, single ensuite/madeup, and single ensuite rooms, the cells that contain the data for the merge fields would look like this:
Property ID
single not-made-up
single made-up
single ensuite/madeup
single ensuite
Acme Inn
$50
empty cell
$75
empty cell
Ajax Hotel
empty cell
$65
$75
$85
On the data-merge layout, each room type's label would be followed by all four data-merge field placeholders, with colors applied, so the single would look like:
Sgle: <<single not-made-up>> (red) <<made-up>> (yellow) <<ensuite/madeup>> (green) <<ensuite>> (blue)
NOTE: The colors are applied with named character styles to the data-merge layout in InDesign.
[EDIT] BAH! I applied colors to the text when composing this post, but they were removed when I posted. [/EDIT]
When you set up the merge with Remove Blank Lines for Empty Fields enabled (checked) so the empty cells are ignored, the result resembles this:
For the Acme Inn:      Sgl: $50 (red) $75 (green) $85 (blue)
For the Ajax Hotel:    Sgl: $65 (yellow) $75 (green) $85 (blue)
The separator character between the prices in your example is a special issue. It could be solved in the spreadsheet by creating calculated columns between the price columns, with "IF" formulas that test for values or empty cells and display the separator or nothing. If you choose this method, you'd need to insert fields between the placeholder fields, to hold the calculated fields' contents.
Another approach here would be to follow the data-merge process with a GREP script that inserts separators where they're needed.
Search Google for terms like "InDesign data-merge tutorial," "InDesign data-merge remove blank lines," "InDesign multiple records per page," and similar phrases without quotes.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
Message was edited by: peter at knowhowpro

InDesign Data Merge / Image Frame Options

Hi! I am learning Data Merge and am trying to set-up some product sheets using it. I have done pretty well so far but have an issue with the way images are importing into the different image frames. There are a few different image frames on the layout (main product image, tech drawing, tech icons, etc.), and I need each image frame to have different frame options set.
So far using the general "Frame Fitting Options" for each has worked for all imported images except for my tech icons (which I can get to import correctly if I choose "Content Placement Options > Fit Frames to Images" from the Data Merge side menu --but when I do this, it applies to all image frames on the page and not just the one selected (which does not work overall).
Is there another option to get the icon image frames to "Fit Frame to Image" automatically without using the Content Placement Options from the Data merge menu? Is there a way to use the Content Placement Options so it works for individual frames vs all on the layout?
Any help is much appreciated!
Liz

Within the data merge, the frame fitting options apply to all frames that contain variable images, so if you want one variable image to fit image to frame, and another variable image to preserve its size, that cannot be done in the main file, but by manipulating the resulting merge file as P Spier suggests. With Data Merge, there are 8 ways an image can fit inside a frame - see the linked pdf: http://colecandoo.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/framefit.pdf
This is further complicated when importing ai or pdf images that contain different possible sizes to import (e.g. trim box, bleed box, bounding box, etc). If the "show import options" dialog box is used when placing an image into a data merge file, the settings used in those import options are maintained in the file for the importing of any pdf/ai files via the data merge. What this means is that a data merge containing pdf/ai images can go haywire quickly if the import options change.
There are some tricks that can be used to control a size of an image in a data merge, provided the images are pdf/ai. If images are being placed by bounding box size in the import options, a way is by drawing a no fill/stroke box behind (or on another layer) of the pdf/ai - this will be used to define the actual size of the image, instead of the top left/bottom right of the image. Similarly, if images are being placed by media box, a similar technique can be used by making the illustrator artboard the size used to define the incoming image size.
There are also other ways to control the way an image grows/shrinks when importing via the data merge. I have written about that elsewhere, but the trick relies on using making the variable image an anchored object in a larger text frame and controlling its coordinates with text and textbox formatting (e.g. top/bottom/center align; left/right/center, or tab position): Centering “fit frame to images” using InDesign CS6 | Colecandoo!

Data merge options

Hi everybody. Does any one know of a good tutorial or article on how to use the data merge option in INdesign cs5? I am makeing business cards for a large company and am looking to use date merge to populate all the names, phone numbers and email address. I have had limited success with using data merge to make single record layouts with one card per page. However every time I try to use the multiple record layout I run into isuues. One of which being the whole document moves down and to the left. I am sure it is something simple I am doing wrong but I am having trouble finding any good information on the subject. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks.

fwiw, I find designing multiple up leads to more complications than it's worth. Unless you're going to be doing the final press run, you're effectively trying to impose these cards to early.
Consider doing the merge to a business card size document -
You won't have to meddle with the multiple records per page dilemna .
You can send proofs of the cards as designed at actual size.
You'll eliminate redundant stories and graphics. (The logo stays on the master page in my bcd files. You will have 10 - 100 + instances of the logo in you file. Thinking about it, I'd leave it out of the merge source doc and drop it in the final merged document on a master page)
Future runs are not going to entail the exact qty's and persons (99% certain on this).
Occasionally, not all the persons in company are going to receive the same number of cards initially; Sales staff may receive double the qty as HR and the shipping clerk.
You're not going to have crops marks for these cards. (You could merge 2 wide by 5 down to a 7 x 10 document and print that with crops or add crops after the merge of course.)
It's been a long time, but I'm not fond of grouping and picking apart stories and graphics for cards from a final imposed document for reprints. Rather, I have BCD files that have one page per person, and the source file or pdf proofs get imposed as needed.
Just my thoughts, I manage many business card documents.
This forum can get you over a standard merge document or a mutliple records per page doc in half a day.

Data merge frame placement options

Hi
I'm using data merge for a layout which needs a series of black frames stacked on top of each other.
If I have a black keyline all the way around, I get a double thickness line between the frames.
If I have a black keyline around the top and two sides, it works fine apart from the frame at the bottom of the stack as it has a missing line.
The way to get around it to my mind would be to be able to put a negative measurement between the frames, but it's not an option:
Any ideas?
Thanks

It was ticked, but unticking it makes no difference I'm afraid.
It's not a massive issue, it just means I have to add a horizontal rule at the bottom of the stack each time.

Digital Magazine layout & data merge issues

If anyone can help or offer some advice on the following I would be extremely grateful. My main problem is applying a data merge to either an existing layout I have created or creating a layout from scratch but having varying box sizes containing merged data and specific numbers of records on particular pages.
The brief is:
Create a 28 page digital magazine.
The magazine will be published either weekly or fortnightly and contain around 500 'listings'. Each listing has an image, and 4 pieces of variable text.
My initial plan was to manually enter the listings information - this will take far too long each week. I am hoping to keep the same layout each week but just change the data on the listings pages by creating a new .csv file each week and applying it using the data merge feature.
22 of the pages contain 'listings'. The remaining pages are editorial.
I'm relatively new to data merge in InDesign. My knowledge of it's feature is limited to being able to create multiple records but they are all the same size and I don't see any options where I can designate how many records I would like to appear on a particular page and to then keep that layout so I can come back to it each week with a new .csv file and literally just drop it in and i'm done.
I need the layout of the 'listings' pages to vary so that in some cases there are 30 listings (records) on one page and on other pages there are 23, some are to have 35 etc. Also on the pages where there are 23 listings - the first 3 listings are to take significantly larger amoutns of space on the page (as featured listings of the week).
If anyone has used data merge in this way before and can help please let me know. I have produced a complete layout of the magazine but i'm guessing i'll have to scrap this and start again if I'm going to start using data merge.
thanks in advance!
Mark

like i said, the XML learning curve is steep as indesign's ability to handle XML on its own is pretty user unfriendly, but ID does get the job done.
depending on how dirty you want to get your hands, there is an additional book in conjunction to the title i'd mentioned earlier, and it is called "InDesign CS5 Automation Using XML & Javascript" by Grant Gamble which you may want to read. however this is a LOT to digest and certainly not for anyone unfamiliar with programming in javascript.
is the data for the publication exclusively coming from excel or is it coming from Management Information Software (MIS) which can export XML information? excel on a PC can generate XML but it is useless as a jelly pickaxe as there is a lot of extraneous information saved with the exported XML file.
there are several people on this forum with a wider experience on this topic than me, and hopefully they are reading this and can carry on with more detailed explanations.
i'm used to using online converters to take csv files to convert them to XML but the only real advantage of using XML generated this way is to create variable data which flows on in the same text box. This is opposed to ID's data merge which would not flow on the information but instead start the next record in a brand new text box, meaning if an entry has to move from the start to the end, it means making the merge again, whereas if an XML file was used i could simply open up the structure pane and move the record from record 1 to the last record.
AFAIK apart from indesign and the MIS used to generate the data, i believe that a piece of software called oxygen XML would help in editing the XML once it is generated, but i do not use oxygen XML myself, but perhaps other readers do and can assist you.
FYI, the project you are talking about is remarkably similar to one which i deal with at work... but we only ever receive the finished art as a PDF, but it appears that the construction method was the same as your idea - that is, take database file, parse it through indesign using different templates and then output it to a media, in my case a printed magazine. unfortunately i can't tell you exactly how they made it as it is proprietary to the client.

Option to auto-fill data merge text?

Is there a way to auto-fill or auto-shrink/enlarge my data merge text entry so that the font size changes automatically and each entry can perfectly fill my text box space? I haven't been able to locate this option...I'm hoping it is possible. Thanks!
I forgot to mention - I'm using InDesign CS4.

Thanks! I did some digging and found a link to scripts...now I just need to figure out how to use scripts!
http://in-tools.com/article/scripts-blog/fun-with-text-fitting-in-indesign/

How do I tailor a data merge to reverse the layout for facing pages?

I have used multiple record data merge to create a product catalog. I would like to reverse the content on only one side (i.e., the left pages) so that facing pages are mirrored. I can do this easily one page at a time using Flip Horizontal (and Clear Transformations), but I have not found a way to apply this to half of the document in a more automated way.
Any help would be much appreciated!!

Data merge with multiple records doesn't work that way. All the pages will be identical after the merge, no matter how you set up the template (and the template itself can have only one page).

Data Merge - Is there a way to selectively hide rows/columns from layouts based on cell values?

I'm using data merge to generate pages from a product spreadsheet. The complication is, some columns should exist for some products (like "qty per bundle") but need to be hidden for others. Is there a way for InDesign to automatically include or remove rows for some pages but not others, based on something like "qty = 0"?

For logic-based data merge, I use Em Software's product InData.
Depending upon the design, ID's merge can remove blank fields thereby removing there paragraph or position on a line. Unless, of course, you have static text along with it. Which I almost always do. that's why I use Em Software's solution. It has a trial version. One needs to get familiar with the language statements. But for me it was worth the price and learning curve.
And there are other plug-ins but for "simple" merging they are overkill in my circumstances (and so cost more).
Mike

Data merged text into boxes assigned for InCopy doesn't display merged text, only the placeholder

I think I found a bug.
I created an InDesign document for use in InCopy for a client. The end goal is to data merge a whole array of documents for the client, who can open them in InCopy and update the text.
I designed the layout
I created the assignments for InCopy (which stories and images the InCopy user could edit)
I then set up a data merge to pre-populate content like contact details, portrait photos etc
When I merged the final document, two things happened.
The images didn't respond to the Content Placement Options (fill proportionally), they all just got placed at 100% size ratio (they did centre though)
The data merge fields didn't populate the placeholders with the relevant text. All of the fields just came up as their placeholders <<Phone>> <<Fax>> etc
As soon as I deleted the assignments and re-merged, the image settings were being applied and the fields were populating the documents.
I'm using the latest version on CC, 10.0.0.70.
Anyone else had this issue? It's very specific but it is a bug.

A couple of other users have reported similar problems, and it appears to be a bug when you go from preview to merge. If you undo out of preview, or skip it entirely, before hitting themerge button, does it work?

Data Merge: Cannot get multiple records per page

I am working with a client who is trying to do a directory in Indesign. There are about 1,800 people with information like address, title, employer, phone, etc. This info is on an Excel spread sheet. I made a text, tab delimited and a CSV file from the spreadsheet. I set up a two column text box on each page and want these entries to fill the columns. I am only able to get one person's information per page. Multiple records per page yields no different result. I also had the multiple records option grayed out on a couple tries. I have tried this many times, even tried setting up a simple spread sheet with 9 items. No luck. HELP! I'm brand new to this feature.
Chris

the data merge function in indesign doesn't make "next record" merges like word does, but instead merges to fields within fixed text boxes, so one frame = one data merge result. when doing mailing labels in word, there is a field called "next record" which then calls in the next piece of information.
the "next record" field is a vital field which indesign doesn't have and i'd like… but that doesn't answer your question. i can see four ways of doing what you want to do:
1) do a mail merge in word and use the "catalog" feature and do the merge in word. format the word file appropriately using stylesheets, and once the merge is made, save the file and close it. THEN, place the file in indesign and then change the imported stylesheets into something which resembles more like what you want.
2) use indesign's data merge but make sure that multiple record layout is selected in the first dialog box when creating merged document; and that when previewing the records, the records appear to be in one column (even though they are still in separate text frames). merge the document, and in the new document, select all the text frames in the page and then run the MergeTextframes_ID.jsx script which can be found at http://ajarproductions.com/blo…..-indesign/ .this will have to be done page by page and then rethreaded each page, but it's a workaround
3) if the data in the datamerge is a csv, convert the csv to xml. if the csv is small (less than 100K) there is a converter online where the contents of the csv is copied into the converter. it is at http://www.creativyst.com/Prod/15/ . The next step is complicated and needs some knowledge of XML. my advice is to get hold of a book called "Designer's Guide to Adobe InDesign and XML" by James Maivald, and specifically read chapter seven and base your merge on this.
4) visit the third party providers link within the indesign page of the adobe site and have a look at products marketed there... i think teacup software and cacidi software sell products which do more advanced merges within indesign. they're not free though but are designed to handle big catalogues.
hope that helps.
colly

Data Merge Multiple Records Per Page Greyed Out

I am using InDesign cs5.5. I am attempting to create a catalog with the data merge option. I am attempting to do a data merge from the Master Page.
As you can see in the image, I have inserted my fields from the data source file. All images, original file, and data source file are in the same folder. I am inserting this info on the left sheet of the master file. When I select "Create Merged Document" the "select multiple records per page" is greyed out, however, there is plenty of room on the page for the 8 records I want it to show. See image below.
After watching tutorials, reading, etc. I made sure that my document does not have facing pages. I deleted my "page 2" to avoid that conflict. I made sure that the placeholder "allows overwrite from the master". I also deleted my "cache"/settings" by doing "ctrl, alt, shift" when reopening the program. I read that it may be because the files need to be on the right hand sheet of the master, however, when I move my info to the right sheet, I get the following message.
I have watched the tutorial videos, read the entire help section regarding data merge, and have correctly created my data source file. I've tried everything I've seen on the forums, apart from uninstalling and reinstalling. Please tell me that someone can help me figure this out as soon as possible. I'm in crunch time!
Thanks a lot.

Thanks Peter. That helped me un-grey the multiple records. I was able to complete a data merge, however, this is what happens.
As you can see in this image, I have the margins setup the way I prefer, and the data merge previews correctly.
Once I click to merge, this is the new document I get - it's only putting one record per page (even though the multiple records per page is selected), and it inserts this layout, not onto actual pages in indesign. It looks reall odd.
And when you scroll down,
Any suggestions on fixing this?
Also, my InDesign freezes up when I try and do a merge of my entire sheet (182 items). The images above are when I tested doing just records 1-32.
Thanks in advance and thanks for being so prompt yesterday. Very helpful.

Multiple Data Merge - Problem Resolve... Sort Of

I've researched this issue all morning and found issues dating back to 2012 regarding the problems with Indesign's Multiple Record Data Merge. Many of the issues are answered with the basic set up. Create a new page as a single page and non facing page document. It appears that an earlier bug was resolved that caused data merge documents to be placed off center when produced. The issue that I was experiencing was similar to what I had seen but not covered or not answered when it appeared someone was posting a question about it.
I started with a single page document, non-facing page, no initial text box, and sized to 8.5'' x 11''. I'm layout out name badges 10-up on a page. I had a previous template that had some graphics in the background for alignment purposes. I created a blank master page and a record holder for the name badge then loaded my data source, placed my data entries, and styled accordingly. Upon creating a data merge I selected Multiple Record and then previewed the data merge and positioned the elements on the page using the data merge controls top, left and column placement commands.
The preview looked perfect. The problem came when I finished the final data merge. The resulting page was not correct and looked nothing like the preview. Records were strewn about the page and excessive amounts of pages were created. I spent 4 hours trouble shooting this, far more than this project was billed. At this point it was a mission. In a reply dated back around 2013 I found that someone had removed a layer from their document. I had no layers. The only thing that was not a part of the actual data merge was the graphics that I had on the page for positioning that were not tied to the data merge at all.
I decided to delete these graphics and try to apply the data merge again. The results were perfect. I'm deducing from this experiment that the data merge needs to be done on a blank page. Which is counter productive to the Indesign mater page template. Any elements on the page need to exist as a a part of your data entry group and no other elements on the page. You only create one data entry group in the top corner of the page then use the data merge panel to position and duplicate. Otherwise, you will get a single page for each record you have with each record set 10-up in my case.
Recap:
Create a single non-facing page document with no intial text box. (if you have more than one page the Multiple Records option will be grayed out)
Only have 1 layer in this document
Set a single data entry set/group on the master page.
Do not include any other graphics. Put them in after the data merge.
Click the Create Merged Document button in the data merge panel
Select "Multiple Records" from the drop down list
Click the Multiple Record Layout tab at the top of the Data Merge panel
Click "Preview Multiple Record Layout" at the bottom of the Data Merge panel so you can see the Entry Sets with the data in place
Use the Margins and Layout or Records inputs to position the elements on the document (see note below)
Click OK when everything is in place the way you like it.
After the data merge is complete you will have a new document that should look like you want it to. Now you can go into this document and start adding your design elements.
NOTE: Positioning the content without the base graphics can be tough if not impossible. What I did in this situation is placed my positioning guides on the page then went through Steps 1-9 to set up the document for merge. Once my settings were set I then clicked "Cancel" and deleted my positioning guides and graphics. The problem I was having was due to these elements being on the page. Once I created the document I then pasted my template guides back into the final data merged master page for production.
Request to ADOBE: Fix this issue so we can design our layouts and position our data merge elements without having to backtrack.

If you insist in multi-record data merge, you can have static/variable graphic and text components work. But, create a 3.5 x 2 frame (3.75 x 2.25 card w/bleed) around all of these components, and make sure nothing extends beyond this bounding frame. If the composition prevents you from enclosing all components, then make a PDF of content that is imported in as one graphic.
Another suggestion: don't combine the functions of variable data merge with imposition.
Create a 1up layout of business card to data merge the variable info.
From this file, export to PDF.
Then impose the individual cards with: an imposition app, PDF plug-in, Indesign script, or even manual placement into another document.

Data Merging Preview Error CS3

I am attempting to merge the names and position of people into nametags through InDesign and Excel.
The excel file seems to work fine.
When I go through the steps to create a data merge I chose to preview the results before clicking ok.
My setting use Multiple records so I wanted to make sure everything was in the right order.
After I set the layout options and previewed I clicked ok and after a few minutes a new document was created with pages of the name tags and filled in information. However instead of using all of the different name and positions as it had shown in the preview it only repeated the same name and position for all 15 pages.
My question is what steps can I take to makes sure all the names are used instead of getting 60 tags with the same name?

I have done that with the same results.
If it is helpful to note, it always chooses the 8th row and repeats that data. If I ask it only to insert specified rows and there are more than 8 it will take the 8th from that number. For example if I want it to insert rows 11-29 it will choose row 18 and repeat.

Data Merge Layout Options

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