In InDesign, open the Data Merge panel by clicking Window > Utility > Data Merge. So, your spreadsheet is now filled with all the data. This technique is especially useful for images stored on a server, where it can be hard to guess the absolute path. Right click and select Copy Info and then Copy Platform Style Path. Select the image in InDesign and go to the Link panel. Place in InDesign one of the images you are going to link (the image should be in the folder where you will store the images for the data merge, but it’s not mandatory). Let's use a quick trick to avoid mistakes and wasting time. It’s also OK to have empty cells in the body of the file. It's OK to have data (like the image names in my spreadsheet) that you won't use in your InDesign as long as you don't leave the header cell empty. The paths of your images must follow the conventions of the operating system in which the images are stored (paths are case-sensitive). Write a " ' " in front of the field name (i.e., and, when you exit the Excel cell, make sure that you don't see the " ' " you just typed. If you are using Excel, and it prompts you with an error while writing the field name with a up front, it is because you need to set the Excel cell to text type. The field name should look like this: add to my spreadsheet. Create the field in the spreadsheetįor fields that list images, you need to place an symbol in front of the field name. But if done right, you can make it work and the payoff will be incredible. Most of the times, images are the single issue that makes you give up on data merge. It’s OK to have empty cells in the body of the file, but make sure that each column has a description in the header row. To list them you just write the field name, and then fill the records with the data you want InDesign to import. My file at the moment has product_name, product_description, and price columns. Make their name descriptive (and understandable) because InDesign will use those name to indicate the sets of data inside its interface. In the first row of the source file you should list all the fields you are going to use in your layout. You can create it with Excel, Numbers, OpenOffice, or any similar application. Prepare the data file for import (.csv or. If you don't already have a layout in mind, you can start from a catalog template or any other InDesign template. You can automate many different types of documents, from business cards, to flyers, or catalogs. It has the name of the product, its picture, a short description, the price, and a barcode. We need to create a prototype, in InDesign, of the layout we want to use in the data merge process. So, If you are looking for a way to create several business cards in just a few seconds, you should definitely read that post.
#How to do a data merge in indesign cc 2015 how to#
Update 2020: I recently wrote a new tutorial on how to make several business cards using InDesign Data Merge.
When should you use data merge?ĭata merge is great when you have to lay out a document (or part of a document) that has a "prototype example" (repetitive layout) that needs to be repeated in a grid or one record per page with different data. However, she doesn't talk about data merge with images, so for that (and because this guide goes more in depth), I invite you to keep reading even after you've seen the video. It's great content, explained very well, and Teela’s voice is calm and clear. She explains in eight minutes how to create a certificate using data merge. If you prefer a video guide, see this video by Teela Cunningham. Read further in the tutorial to create documents with a structure-layout similar to these: Run a preview to make sure of the result.Add the placeholders to the prototype design in your document.Select the data source in InDesign using the Data Merge panel.Create a prototype in an InDesign document.Create the data source file-in the first row, name the fields (use in front of the field name for images).In this tutorial, I'll show you the basics and then I'll highlight possible issues you might encounter and their solutions, so that you can master this feature in no time.
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