Indesign Data Merge repeating images, mixing up data, etc.

I'm using ID CC and using data merge for a catalog.
when i create the merged document it repeats some of the images, uses data for other products and repeats it.
I've started from scratch, I've avoided the "preview" mode like the plague, I've used CSV and TXT. I've searched for line breaks in Excel. What am i doing wrong?

"Show Import Options". , this will tell you what sort of data file you are uploading
@Shiv – only to an extend. InDesign cannot see a difference between Unicode UFT-8 or Unicode UTF-16 at this point, it just detects Unicode.
CSV is an old, can we really say, "file format"?
It's basically a text file with a csv suffix and some rules, that are or are not implemented. InDesign tries to detect the rules: what character for separating the fields? What character for a line of fields ending?
InDesign does not verify very much, if there is a orderly grid-like structure in the fields (a row and column structure) with an equal number of "cells" on every row. And a header row that holds the discription. In fact it cannot "see" a header, because the csv-"format" cannot provide a hint…
CSV is not a file format, see it more as a lose convention and not standardized very much…
I think Adobe should provide its own format for merging data and a converter tool together with InDesign where you could output to and input from a InDesign table with a header row using whatever formatting is available in InDesign.
Uwe

Similar Messages

Data merge with images! cannot get it to work

I have set up my spread sheet like i usually do for a data merge with an extra column for the images with i called '@images-
my images i named the following way
Macintosh HD:Users:myname:Desktop:test:imagesqrcode_AberdeenENG.png it didnt work
i tried
Users:myname:Desktop:test:imagesqrcode_AberdeenENG.png it didnt work
i tried with slashes
i placed the images in the same file as my in design file and just named it qrcode_AberdeenENG.png that still didnt work
doesn anyone out there have a solution

Try placing the images in the same folder as the source file (the .txt file).
Then you should just be able to use the exact name of the image (no path required).
I wrote this up in a blog post many years ago (but it hasn't changed):
http://indesignsecrets.com/data-merging-part-2.php
I went back to my source files for this example, and it still works in InDesign CS6.

Data Merge with images - how to link/embed?

My data merge is working beautifully but I cannot figure out how to properly include images in the data source so they appear in the target document. I'd love a tutorial on this. Anyone?

You can get detailed info about data merge or any content on indesign help itself
Add image fields in the data source file
By adding image fields to the data source file, you can allow a different image to appear on each merged record. For example, when you merge documents that include information from various companies, you may want to include an image of each company’s logo as part of the merge.
Open the data source file.
At the beginning of the data field name, type an “at” symbol (@) to insert text or paths that refer to image files.
The @ symbol is required only in the first line; subsequent lines should include the image paths. Paths, which are case-sensitive, must follow the naming conventions of the operating system in which they’re stored.
(Windows) Example of image references in data source file
Name                    Age                                       Photos
Bill Tucker            36                                          C:\Photos\BillTucker.jpg
Dat Nguyen         53                                          C:\MyDocuments\dat.gif

Data Merge Repeating a Single Row

I've been trying to use data merge and found it very useful. The only problem is, for no reason I can see, data merge is repeating row 8 from my document. Here is what happens:
I create a csv file from a 22 row Excel spreadsheet.
I use data merge to create a multiple record document. The preview looks fine, all records are correct!
I create the document, and all of a sudden almost all the entries use the data from row 8. The document contains the correct number of entries, they are just almost all a repeat of row 8.
And here something strange - row 1-3 show up as row 8, then rows 4-9 show up fine, and then the rest (up to the final row 22) show up as row 8 again.
I've tried switch row 8 with another row, but no matter what the content is it continues to repeat row 8 - including if it is blank. Any help would be appreciated. I am new to data merge so I may be doing something airheaded.

What version of ID are you using?
There were some issues like this that cropped up in early releases of CS4, so be sure you've downloaded the patches. If that still doesn't solve the problem, it could be an odd character or somthing similar (too many fields or not enough fields) in one of the records, so open the data file in a plain text editor, look it over, and resave.
Unfortunately, I've also seen data files that just didn't work in CS4, for no reason anyone was able to find.

Why won't data merge allow more than one data source at a time?

I need to number tickets, 8 up on a tabloid page, in InDesign (CS5)
I have found out how to use data merge, but it won't allow me to select more than one data source at a time, therefore, making me use 800 sheets of paper instead of 100. That's not acceptable!! Is there a way to merge the pdfs if I make 8 different ones in the places they need to be? Each file that I export will have 100 pages, so is there a way to merge the files to put all eight tickets on each sheet, sequentially? This is driving me nuts!!!!!!!

Past users have solved this frustrating problem. You can find their solutions with a Google search like "InDesign data merge multiple sequential items on one page" without quotes.
HTH
Regards,
Peter
Peter Gold
KnowHow ProServices
Frankie at Quad wrote:
I need to number tickets, 8 up on a tabloid page, in InDesign (CS5)
I have found out how to use data merge, but it won't allow me to select more than one data source at a time, therefore, making me use 800 sheets of paper instead of 100. That's not acceptable!! Is there a way to merge the pdfs if I make 8 different ones in the places they need to be? Each file that I export will have 100 pages, so is there a way to merge the files to put all eight tickets on each sheet, sequentially? This is driving me nuts!!!!!!!

Data Merge not picking up all data fields

Hi,
I've been having a problem, posted here: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1217090
Essentially, I have been using the script 'CSV2Tables' to prepopulate simple 2 column tables with information drawn from a CSV data source.
The tables consist of a title, and a block of information about that specific subject. Many of the blocks of information I am importing also contain data tags (<<DataTag>>)
The plan is to use CSV2Tables to populate the tables, then change data source and run a normal ID Data Merge to replace all of the <<tags>> within the tables with information from a second CSV data source.
The problem is, CSV2Tables is importing the data and prepopulating the tables just fine, but the data tags that are found within each body of text are being picked up as plain text (as Peter Spier has pointed out, they are being drawn from a plain text stream rather than being dragged from the Mail Merge panel) so when I try to run the ID Mail Merge, none of the fields are found within my document.
My question is - is there a method, or script available out there that can essentially do a Find/Change within a document, and replace plain text that appears like this <<PlainText>> with a Data Tag that is recognised by ID, which will allow me to run a Data Merge?
I have been told to check out some of the commercial plugins available out there, but registering and setting up demo's would require me to contact our IT provider for each, and that would be an exhaustive process.
Any help is much appreciated.

Hi,
is modyfied
Array.prototype.find = function (string) {
    for (var s = 0; s < this.length; s++)
        if (this[s] == string) return s;
        return -1;
var mFrames, mFile, mDoc, mFields, mFieldsNames, mStory,
     mPlainTxt, mNameToCompare, mField_ID;
// edit this with proper .csv path
mFile = File(Folder.myDocuments + "/" + "Merge.csv");
mDoc = app.activeDocument;
mDoc.dataMergeProperties.selectDataSource(mFile);
mFields = mDoc.dataMergeProperties.dataMergeFields;
mFieldsNames = mFields.everyItem().fieldName;
mFrames = mDoc.textFrames.everyItem().getElements();
for (var i = 0; i < mFrames.length; i ++) {
    if (!mFrames[i].name.match(/TF\d*$/) ) continue;
    // script assumes a targered text boxes are named like: TF1, TF2...
     // (TF plus any integer) or just TF (no integer)
    // - they could have the same name
    // any other name exludes frame from this loop
    mStory = mFrames[i].parentStory;
    app.findGrepPreferences = null;
    app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = "<<.+?>>";
    mPlainTxt = mStory.findGrep(true);
    for (var k = 0; k < mPlainTxt.length; k++) {
        mNameToCompare = mPlainTxt[k].contents.slice(2,-2);
        mField_ID = mFieldsNames.find(mNameToCompare);
        if (mField_ID > -1) {
              mField = mFields[mField_ID];
            mDoc.dataMergeTextPlaceholders.add (
                mStory,
                mPlainTxt[k].insertionPoints[0],
                mField
        mPlainTxt[k].remove();
script assumes a targered text boxes are named like:
TF1, TF2... (TF plus any integer) or just TF (no integer) -
- they could have the same name.
Jarek

CS4 Data Merge tag not replacing with data

I have a directory with multiple tags that my client updates weekly. Suddenly, one <<tag>> refuses to populate with the data.
On my clients windows machine it is the first tag (A column) that remains a tag.
On my mac it is the W column.
I have tried re-running with an older csv file and the problem persists.
I have looked at the csv file with text wrangler and see nothing of suspect.
Anyone else seen this issue?

I's check to see if perhaps there's an extra field that's been introduced. You might need to open in a spreadsheet to make this obvious.

CS3 Data Merge - Missing Fileds in Data Merge Dialog Box

Indesign CS3 5.0.1, XP SP2
Hi all,
I have a document that I have applied a Data Merge to.
I use a table in Excel 2003 with contact details, name, address etc...
When I open the Automation> Data Merge Dialog box I no longer see the list off all the fields as in Excel.
However, I can preview and create the mail merged document and place items using tags e.g <<Field 1>>.
When I try to remove the Data Source InDesign always crashes But I can relink to a new Data Source, this does not solve the problem.
Thank-you all for your time and help!
Alu

>>Did you perform the merge? Once you do, ID creates a new document. Which document are you looking at?
I am using the original document, not the product of the mail merge.
>>I assume it's a CSV file. ID can't use and Excel file for data merge.
Correct.
I have tried saving the document as an .inx file and then re-opening, but I still cannot view the .csv data merge fields from the Automation> Data Merge dialog box.
Any Ideas? - thx for the response Bob & K

Create data merged document with data on every second page?

Is it possible to create a data merged document with the variable data only on every second page?
I have set up the pages with the variable data as a master page (on every odd page) with the text box and paragraph style all set up, and I have set 'override master page items' so the data can be placed, but InDesign seems to freeze up when I try to create the merged document?

There should be no problem doing the merge with a two-page master and a two-page template document with fields only on one page (and off the top of my head there's no reason to move them off the master page if that's where you put them). I think the problem here is that rachrachm already has a file of 500 pages (based on another thread asking how to apply masters to every other page).
It's potentially possible to simply place the data file (without the header row) as a text file and auto-flow through the master page frames (can't say for sure without seeing the files), or if the pages without the merge fields are the same just, remove all but the first two pages from the template and do the merge.
As I metioned earlier, though, this is a very inefficient method of producing that sort of document. A true variable data print flow would be better (you'd need to find a commercial printer who can do it with your data file), or the home version would be to make one single page file for the static content, print 250 copies (plus a few extras, just in case), then make a single page merge template, do the merge, and print that on the back of the already printed pages, or as a separate page. It is immeasurably faster to print multiple copies of a document than it is to print a document that has multiple identical pages.

Data Merge - Problem with multi paragraph text

Hi. Does anyone know how to use Data Merge for automating say a newsletter. The reason I ask is that when I produce a .csv file that contains stories with paragraphs, data merge reads the para returns as the next row/record of data. I have contained the story within " " marks and it reads OK into a demo of easy catalog, but data merge just gets all confused. Is anyone using data merge to automate newsletters / catalogues that have lots of text with para returns etc. I read in the adobe online manual that there cannot be any para returns in text because that's how data merge recognises a new record. Just thought someone might know a trick at the data source stage to get around this. Might be a stupid question but had to ask because it's annoying the hec out of me!
Thanks in advance.

wouldn't use data merge for this kind of automation, but rather XML, which is a bigger learning curve but worth the effort. a book by james maivald called
A Designer Guide to Adobe InDesign and XML.
data merge is great when the data being replaced is the same size, shape and position on each page, but with a newsletter, thats not normally the case and there is no way of threading the merged stories. i'd also imagine that having the stories within a CSV would limit characters which could be used such as " , and tabs (anything which separates the fields). as you say in your post, indesign doesn't have what a lesser program (word) DOES have, which is the "next record" field, allowing text to thread from one story to the next.
an alternative would be to use a word file with styles and use the mail merge (catalogue merge) which allows the "next record" field, merge it in word, and then bring the word file in. it's a yucky alternative but it does work.

Data merge quesiton

hello indesigners,
Id like to know how often or how important is the data merge used in indesign?is it for magazine catalogue usage?
thank you.

it's one of indesign's hidden gems which is often unexplored.
my employer uses it to generate everything from catalogues, diaries, business cards, targeted mail campaigns, raffle tickets.
however, using data merge "out of the box" doesn't do much - it is once it is combined with GREP styles, using DM to import pictures, and taking advantage of excel formulii to build useful instructions as to what to do with the data that data merge becomes useful.
IMHO data merge is better for many individual pieces such as business cards or raffle tickets rather than catalogues... for catalogues i'd suggest using XML, despite the steep learning curve associated with XML based publishing.

Data Merge, description field data with comma in text

I work with Data Merge, but my description field data have comma in text, occurring a problem when load to Indesign, when i exclud de field description with comma the action occur perfectly. Have solunction to this?

Hi Peter, i dont have problems with =concatenate on excel, and i think who you formula is wrong. i use exactly =CONCATENAR(A2&","&B2&","&C2) and works perfectly.
My problem is with commas in texts, see comma B2
indesign recognizes it as the delimiter and wraps the text to another field, ok?
i use quotes eg: B2( "Dias melhores, para sempre") to delimiter text like the example
when I load the data source InDesign does not recognize the quotes and breaks lines
the text "Dias melhores, para sempre" have to show on <<slogan>> but

Data Merge Hyperlink Automation

Is there a process or script(s) to automate assigning hyperlinks to anchor text during a data merge? I use the data merge process for print catalog production, which is then loaded to viewer online via PDF, but I would like to add URLs to the 800-1000 products included in each book.
I'm comfortable tweaking the basics of scripts, but do not have experience writing them from scratch. Appreciate any help!

Try the script mentioned in this thread. I haven't but maybe it'll get you started...or there altogether.
Data Merge with Hyperlinks

Extracting an image data merge field using only an indesign file and not document.dataMergeProperties.dataMergeFields

Hi,
I have kind of a weird requirement but I hope you guys can help out.
I need to extract all the custom fields used in an indesign file without referencing the dataMergeProperties of a document. Sorry if this is a weird request it is just what I've been told (our system needs to not crash when people upload a variety of in design documents to generate high resolution jpg preview documents).
I can already get all the text custom fields by looking for "<<" and ">>" in the text frames of a document but I'm having a really hard time finding the image custom fields.
I tried looking at the rectangles for a given page but that didn't seem to help (but maybe i'm missing some there). I also tried looking at the graphics and images collection of a document but this seemed to return only graphics that are hard coded on the in design document and not the custom image fields.
Any help would be appreciated!

Uggg....
Found the answer after I realized I was looking at the wrong SDK (5.0 instead of 6.0)
I'm using the doc.hyperlinkPageItemSources property to get these images. It also looks like you can get the image data merge fields from DataMergeImagePlaceholder (but rememeber I couldn't access this).

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!

Indesign Data Merge repeating images, mixing up data, etc.

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