Placing multiple graphics in a document (VARIABLE DATA)

Hello All I need your help
I have a graphic that is setup 9 up on a 12x18, now these people want 500 with 500 different barcode which was provided in a PDF with 500 pages.
i need a script that would place those 9 up and create the pages and continue placing it automatically.
is there such a script or program that can be added on indesign cs5 thank you

You could probably do this with Data Merge by listing the paths to each barcode in your data file.

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Loading/Placing multiple graphics in the correct order

Hi. This might be hard to understand but... On a Mac (OSX 10.5.5) when placing multiple graphics at once in InDesign CS3, is there a way to have the graphics loaded/placed in the same alpha-numeric order that they show up in an open folder window (sorted by name) in the Finder? They are in correct order in the finder window with the absolute value of the file number taken into account instead of the number of decimal places (for instance 8000 comes before 12000) but they seem to load up in the placement cursor by referencing the first digit instead. I know this has been how it's always worked, but Apple has fixed the dilemma. Is Adobe just behind in this idea? Is there a better way for me besides renaming all the files or placing them one by one? I just tried changing the links palette to "Sort by name" but they go into old school computer alpha-numeric order based on the first number unfortunately. Any ideas would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
Mike

I don't have a real answer, but my "peanut gallery" comment is that alphabetizing has been eff'd up in OS X since 10.0 (Finder and other apps), and never works reliably in all instances. Though it has been fixed up "better" by now, 10.5.
Makes me long for the good old days of OS 9 where everything worked right.

How do I create multiple-up pages populated with variable data?

I am trying to create a variable data Illustrator file but with a catch, I have to create multiple points of data on one artboard. I am using a template with 36 identical shapes, and I'm trying to add a different image to each based off of using variable data. I understand the premise of creating multiple output files based off of an illustrator file and data, but I have to create a single output file using 36 points of data, all QR codes. The reason is that this 36-up 14.5" x 14.5" sheet will be printed on a large format inkjet and then be fed into another machine (not a cutter) that requires that specific layout for it's process. I cannot create individual files, I need sheets based off of my 14.5" x 14.5" 36-up template.
Any suggestions other than making each shape in the template a separate variable (even though they are all the exact same shape) would be greatly appreciated.
My goal is to populate each of these shapes with a different QR code and then output the whole sheet as a single .EPS or .PDF file.

My goal is to populate each of these shapes with a different QR code and then output the whole sheet as a single .EPS or .PDF file.
You're barking up the wrong tree for this with Illustrator's Variables palette.
Think of it like this:
Imagine a typical spreadsheet with multiple rows of the same kind of data, except for the first row which serves as the "labels" of the columns.
The on-page objects which you define as Variables in Illustrator correspond to the first row; the column labels.
The datasets correspond to the following rows of values below the label row.
Cycling through the datasets simply moves up and down the rows, revealing one row's data at a time for each of the column labels.
Your multi-up array does not fit that data model. You are essentially trying to make a layout showing all the individual cells below the single label of one column (downward across all rows). (Illustrator's Variables feature doesn't even let you put multiple instances of a single variable in the document, so that the same value occurs in multiple places.)
You're trying to build the functional equivalent of a typical "gang up" press sheet, like a 10-up layout of business cards, each showing the same kind of data (name, phone, etc.) for multiple employees, so that you don't have to do separate press runs for each employee. That's certainly a common need, and one quite appropriate to a program like Illustrator. But Illustrator's Variables feature does not do that.
Essentially, what you are wanting to do is to replicate the basic functionality of any program which is used to print labels from data (like the typical mail merge function for address labels which are ganged up with some number of different labels on a page). What you want could be done in Illustrator via a custom JavaScript, but it would be a pretty silly exercise in reinventing the wheel. If it were me, I'd probably build the solution in FileMaker Pro (a database program), depending on the specific graphics requirements. However, you should be able to do it in InDesign, using its data merge feature.
JET

InDesign Place Multiple Graphics in a grid

I really like new feature of placing multiple graphics all at once into a grid, simply by holding the Command+Shift. This seems to be limited to only working when multiple files have been chosen in the Place dialog and loaded into the Place cursor. It would be really beneficial for this grid ability to be extended to instances when a single file that contains multiple pages is chosen (ex:multi-page InDesign document or PDF). Each page is loaded into the Place cursor as if they were separate graphics to be placed, just the grid keyboard command doesn't work since only a single file was chosen from the Place command.

That's a great idea. Post it on the official form: Adobe - Feature Request/Bug Report Form

How can I do a multiple record data merge, but specify that a specific text frame with variable data only merges on the first record?

I'm doing a multiple record data merge, I have 2 frames both with variable data placed inside.
I would like to specify that one of the text frames only merges once(first record) and the other frame multiple times for each record in the data file.
Is it possible?
I thought that perhaps if I place the text frame that must merge once on the master page, it would work. But you are not allowed to place variable text on the master and on the document page.
I'm going to try it through scripting next, but thought that perhaps there is an easier way that I'm not aware of.
Thanks,
Suzanne

Suzanne,
If you were trying to post a screen shot, you would need to return to the forum and post it using the "camera" icon at the top of the post editing windows.
I use a plug-in from Em Software called InData. One of the benefits for what I do is there are no individual frames on a page to deal with post-merge. Individual frames are great for simple merges (address labels, post cards, etc.). But I typically do more other types of merges.
That said, there is a drawback--one needs to come to an understanding of writing expressions that actually parse the incoming data. So in the spice price list example, that looks like:
It's reasonably easy once one does it a few times. And it can be far more complicated. The above is from Em Software's samples that has been tweaked. The best thing I can recommend would be to download the trial and see for yourself. They are good at responding to specific questions if you get stumped.
I imagine this all could be scripted somehow in ID. But I have no idea how and the plug-in just lets me keep working.
Mike

Japanese characters alone are not passing correctly (passing like ??? or some unreadable characters) to Adobe application when we create input variable as XML data type. The same solution works fine if we change input variable data type to document type a

Dear Team,
Japanese characters alone are not passing correctly (passing like ??? or some unreadable characters) to Adobe application when we create input variable as XML data type. The same solution works fine if we change input variable data type to document type. Could you please do needful. Thank you

Hello,
most recent patches for IGS and kernel installed. Now it works.

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.

Variable Data in Symbol

Windows XP AI SC3
Not sure if AI is suited for this or not...
I would like to be able to create a symbol, that when placed in a document, it can pull from a dataset to populate certain data. The customers phone number and address for example.
I have played around with variable data for some things, but trying to accomplish this has been less than fruitful...

function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
Specifically, I was referring to AI's "Variable" panel and Dynamic object. Dynamic Text to be more exact.
So all the Variables are text Variables? There are no GraphData, Visibility, or LinkedFile Variables involved?
For my own purposes, I have devised a Javascript that populates the Variables Palette with DataSets from ordinary tab-delimited text. But again, I would have to see a thorough description of your problem to tell you if it is applicable to your situation.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
I am pretty sure I can get the Dataset file to load when a file is opened (custom plug in).
Assuming the XML file is formed to Illustrator's liking, you could also probably accomplish the auto-import with a Javascript that runs at launch. But that would, of course, just load one row (one DataSet) of the data into the bound objects. What's the big deal about using the Import XML command when the file is opened?
So, if I have a template that has Dynamic Text elements, I should be able to open a file and have the data pulled from the XML dataset on open, automatically populating the variable text elements.
Again, I don't know what you mean by "have the data pulled." The bound objects on the page will only contain one DataSet (one "row" of the data, were it tabular data) at a time. You could then use a mere Action (macro) to cycle through the DataSets and export the versions, if that's what you're talking about. But a startup script would only import the data Variable Library into the Variables Palette. Again, that's a one-shot deal; I don't see what's the big deal about invoking one command in the UI to load the whole Library.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
This will work well for variable text elements that are in the document. However, if I create an Illustrator symbol and try to make the text dynamic, it does not appear to work. I can go through the motions, but loading different datasets doe snot appear to affect the symbol.
Ilustrator Symbols cannot be bound as Variable objects. There are four types of Variables: Text, GraphData, LinkedFile, and Visibility. Why do you need this to be a Symbol? Is it required that multiple instances of the same column from the DataSet occur in various places on the page? If so, the Variables Palette is probably not your best solution. You would have to have multiple columns in your DataSet containing the same value, because even with ordinary textFrame objects, you cannot bind several to one Variable.
function(){return A.apply(null,[this].concat($A(arguments)))}
First, I would like to accomplish this within AI if possible, so whatever tools AI may give me, is what I am talking about.
Workarounds are conceivable. But frankly I probably wouldn't bother (again, depending upon the specifics of the problem). InDesign provides a proper and straightforward data merge feature that works with ordinary tab delimited text, so you can enter the same placeholder as many times as you need on a page, and anywhere within a textrange (whereas Illustrator's Variables feature does not allow binding of multiple variables within a single textFrame).
JET

An internal error occurred while writing imported graphics in this document. The file has been saved

An internal error occurred while writing imported graphics in this document. The file has been saved, but has lost some image data. Please report this error to Adobe Technical Support.
How do i fix this, there are no images in the document
thanks
emma

We are running FM version 7.2b144 on MS Win xp Pro (32 bit), and I did not notice this until service pack 3 was installed. I believe I have found a work around to the situation and another contributing cause. If graphic files are placed directly in an anchored frame instead of importing by reference, the file somehow becomes misplaced. If you right click the graphic and open the Object Properties dialog box, and see the phrase "no referenced file" below Main Editor: Referenced File: in the lower left hand corner, this has happened. I found if I removed all graphics files without references and imported them by reference, the source file may then be properly saved. I am also using a program called CCleaner, which removes cookies, temp files, browsing history and the like from a system. If the program settings are chosen too aggressively, and the application runs when FM has a file open, this same error will occur, even if all files are referenced properly. I don't know if SP3 has some similar application which is now running in the background and causing this.
To summarize, if you want to retain SP3, I have eliminated this error by confirming the links to referenced graphics files and avoiding using 3rd party "cleaners" while FM is open.

Multiple node selection in Hierarchy Variable

Hi Experts,
I have a requirement for the capability to select the multiple node in the BPS variable of type hierarchy. This is required in the data slice where my administrator want to select the more than one node at a time for the purpose of locking the transaction records of deferent departments with slice. I see only option to select one node in variable but I would like to know if there are any ways to enhance this variable to select the multiple node...some exit or some thing.
Any valid suggestions will be fully rewarded with points.
Thanks,
Raj.

Hi Jain
Thanks for your input. Following is exact requirement for me.
I have fund center hierarchy and each text node represents one department and all the fund centers under it. Plan administrator wants to lock each department when they are done with the planning. I can achieve this by preparing one data slice for each department and administrator can activate this when they want to lock department but this generates lot of data slices, which may impact the performance of the system a lot.
Other option I am thinking of is the possibility to use hierarchy variable in data slice to select the multiple departments that are required to be locked at any point in time, so that I can manage this with one variable.
Other option is selecting individual fund center values in variables but that is completely ruled out for the given volume.
If I understand your suggestion right, you are suggesting to create the custom table to store different node values from the hierarchy and use the exit variable in data slice. IF you have any document/code to achieve this, please let me know.
let me know if you have any other simple way to achieve this.
Thanks,
Raj.
Message was edited by: Raj G

Merging variable data using data merge plug-ins for In-Design

Has anyone had any experience with merging variable data (such as articles for a newsletter) with either of these plug-ins:
DesignMerge, www.meadowsps.com/site/marketing/productinfo/designmerge.htm
or Pageflex Studio ID, www.bitstream.com/publishing/products/studioid/index.html

Only Pageflex Persona (cut down version of Studio - doesn't require InDesign Server).
Variable stuff is extremely customisable, but design stuff is !@##%. Like Quark 3 simplicity... Customer support is poor in my experience. Program is clunky - they've only just added keyboard shortcuts to access tools... woohoo. Spot colours aren't fully supported - you have to specify them as CMYK and tell your printer to substitute later... you can't design across a spread at all - any two-page graphics have to be placed twice... I could go on!
For a newsletter, I'd just find a way with InD CS5. Maybe with the Copyfit plugin if you want more functionality, but not with standalone software. For complex variable areas in InD, I just create pdfs or separate InD files of the variable area, and list these as you would images in the csv file. The free LayoutZone addon (Thanks Martinho!) makes region exporting very simple - beware of some occasional bugs with strokes changing.
I did a job recently with 36 variables per entry, including 2 embedded InD files. The layout was a 3-fold A4 double-sided flyer, with each 3rd page being a few mm shorter to allow for the fold-in. CS5 multi-page size and 3-page spreads made this quite simple to set up.

How do I create an interactive PDF file with variable data

We would like to basically do a 'mail merge' of our list of customers with an interactive PDF file (including videos, menus, etc - not just form fill out and web links) to create a single PDF file that contains multiple mail pieces ... one for each customer ... with each mail piece being customized for that customer. Customizations would include different greetings (Dear Bob, Dear Dana, etc), as well as different charts based on data unique to the customer, different photographs, etc.
I've seen that InDesign and Acrobat Professional can be used to create an interactive PDF (such as from http://tv.adobe.com/watch/ask-the-adobe-ones/14-calling-rufus-about-interactive-pdf-making). However I don't understand how I can insert data from a database, csv file, excel file etc into the PDF file so that each page, or each set of pages, within the PDF can be customized.
Can anyone point me to a tool to use for this?
Thanks,
Bob Kendall

For that kind of volume and unattended operation, you want InDesign Server – which is the server/high volume edition of INDD.
From: Adobe Forums <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Reply-To: "[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>" <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Date: Thu, 3 Nov 2011 06:58:07 -0700
To: Leonard Rosenthol <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: How do I create an interactive PDF file with variable data
Re: How do I create an interactive PDF file with variable data
created by Ti26E31DSxxx<http://forums.adobe.com/people/Ti26E31DSxxx> in PDF Language and Specifications - View the full discussion<http://forums.adobe.com/message/4005459#4005459

Using variable date in a VIEW

Can I create a view in Oracle whereby the date I use to select the records can be a variable?
For example:
select * from marketer_account
where '30-NOV-2009' between mka_eff_dt and mka_exp_dt
and mka_service_type = 'E';
I want to get a list of all records on the marketer account table that were active on 30-NOV-2009.
But more importantly the users want a view that they can run every month to get this information, so in another month we may need the same query but:
select * from marketer_account
where '31-DEC-2009' between mka_eff_dt and mka_exp_dt
and mka_service_type = 'E';
So I want to replace the '31-DEC-2009' with a generic date. I tried this:
select *
from marketer_account
where last_day(add_months(sysdate,-2)) between mka_eff_dt and mka_exp_dt
and mka_service_type = 'E';
This will take the last day of 2 months ago from current: ie. If they run it now, they will get 31-JAN-2010 here.
Is this OK to do? Or is there a better way? Maybe the users want to change the date and run it for a date of their choosing?

Hi,
Besides SYS_CONTEXT, you can also store the base date in a table. If you make it a Global Temporary Table, then different sessions can use different parameters at the same time. You can even have multiple copies of the the same view in the same query, all with different parameters.
If the variable date is always the same distance from today's date, then you can simply use SYSDATE in the view.
For example, to find what was active on the last day of the month 3 months ago:
select *
from marketer_account
where   ADD_MONTHS (TRUNC (SYSDATE, 'MONTH'), -2) -1
        between mka_eff_dt
        and     mka_exp_dt
and     mka_service_type = 'E';If you run this any time in March, 2010, it gets the same results as:
select *
from marketer_account
where   TO_DATE ('31-Dec-2009', 'DD-Mon-YYYY')
        between mka_eff_dt
        and     mka_exp_dt
and     mka_service_type = 'E';but in April, it's as if the magic date was automatically changed to '31-Jan-2010'.

Place multiple graphics in numerical order

Hi all,
I am having a problem with the order in which indesign inserts placed multiple images (graphics).
I have a folder of images labelled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.....and so on. Say I select the first 30 images in bridge (or in the finder) and drag them to indesign and pull out a grid for 10 images. All flows in fine, but the order becomes not quite numerical.
For example the order I see the images now placed down in is:
1, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 2, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 3, 30, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
I can't imagine this is expected functionality really and am hopeful that there may be an easy solution without having to do something like number all the images 001, 002, 003, 004 etc. etc. as this would take longer than simply placing down each image into a grid one by one! (I realise i can batch rename in various programs including bridge, but this probably won't help me as my numbering sometimes skips a few numbers (ie 1,2,3,7,8,10,13,17...) and therefore auto (batch) renumbering sequentially would actually break my numbering which need to remain unchanged)
I hope this explanation makes sense and please let me know if i've left any detail that may help define the problem further.
I am using a Mac + CS5 InDesign (& CS5 Bridge).
ps. just tested it on CS4 and found the same issue also.
Thanks.

It has been remarked (and commented upon) before.
That's because the Adobe programmers didn't really expect someone to actually use numbers to organize their files ... If you look at your list of files, you will see that the order is alphabetical instead -- '1' comes before '10' comes before '11' comes before '2'.
The Low-tech solution is to rename all files with a single digit to one with two digits -- add a '0' in front of '1' to '9', and you'll be allright.
(The High-tech solution is for Adobe to re-write their file sorting. For chrissakes, nowadays even Windows sorts files correctly!)

Disappering cursor when placing multiple file in Indesign.

When placing multiple file (jpeg, tiff's, pdf files,etc.) in a indesign document, my cursor disappears. If you can get to the desktop and click on it, it will come back.
first started in Indesign CC 2014, Any fix for this?
Thanks, Dennis

Hi,
This is an expected behavior, when you place an image in InDesign then it display the preview of the image however you this has no impact on the output unless the image placed is of low-resolution itself.
In order to have good resolution of images, you may switch to View > Display Performance > High Quality.
Thanks,
Manish Sharma

Placing multiple graphics in a document (VARIABLE DATA)

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