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Data Merge Shifting Records off the page...?

Aug 15, 2012 10:46 AM

Tags: #problem #indesign #troubleshooting #merge #shifting #cs6 #alignment #data_merge #data_merge_layout_problems

I am trying to do a data merge to create a member directory, finished size 5.5x8.5

I am doing multiple records (each sized 1.5x.1.5 inches) per document page, and when I  Preview the multiple record layout, it shifts all of the records down about 1 inch, and over to the left about 2. It does not seem to be lining up with anything. My margins for the data merge are set to .3 all around.

 

I have tried using a data source that is a CSV (comma delinated) and also a Text (tab delinated) file.

I have tried creating a new file and reseting the needed info from scratch, to help ensure there wasn't any possible file corruption.

 

Here's a picture of what's happening. Can anyone give me a clue why this shift is happening?

I am using CS6, and have never had this happen to me before with any previous work.

 

BEFORE.pngAFTER.png

1674 Views   14 Replies   Latest reply: daveb45, Nov 17, 2012 10:10 AM
 
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  • SRiegel
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    1. SRiegel,
    Aug 15, 2012 10:54 AM   in reply to qpokc
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    Can you include a screen shot of the Multiple Record Layout tab, and the Options tab? The key to the problem may be in one of those.

     
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  • qpokc
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    2. qpokc,
    Aug 15, 2012 10:59 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    That WOULD make sense.... here we go!

    Screen shot 2012-08-15 at 12.35.27 PM.png

    Screen shot 2012-08-15 at 12.35.54 PM.png

    Screen shot 2012-08-15 at 12.36.00 PM.png

     
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  • SRiegel
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    3. SRiegel,
    Aug 15, 2012 11:09 AM   in reply to qpokc
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    Everything looks fine there, so my best guess would be a stray item on the page could be throwing things off. If you could post a link to the InDesign file, I could take a look at it. (I will create a dummy data file to test with)

     
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  • qpokc
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    4. qpokc,
    Aug 15, 2012 11:21 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    See, that's what I thought. Which is why I created an entirely new document.

    Could it be corruption in the Excell file I created the Data Source from?

    Here it is, don't know how much help it will be!

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5635747/JLOKC12-3-Membership-Revised.indd

     
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  • SRiegel
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    5. SRiegel,
    Aug 15, 2012 11:26 AM   in reply to qpokc
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    Something went wrong with your dropbox link; it opens as an html page full of code instead of a link to download the file.

     
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  • Daniel Flavin
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    6. Daniel Flavin,
    Aug 15, 2012 11:29 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    I was able to d/l the ID file, but I am limited to CS5.5

    IE9

     
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  • qpokc
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    7. qpokc,
    Aug 15, 2012 11:30 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    Woops, forgot to zip it. Sorry. Thanks for all your help!

    http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5635747/JLOKC12-3-Membership-Revised.indd.zip

     
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  • qpokc
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    8. qpokc,
    Aug 15, 2012 11:31 AM   in reply to Daniel Flavin
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    And here's an IDML for earlier versions...

    https://dl.dropbox.com/u/5635747/JLOKC12-3-Membership-Revised.idml.zip

     
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  • Peter Spier
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    9. Peter Spier,
    Aug 15, 2012 12:09 PM   in reply to qpokc
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    I haven't look at your posted file, but a number of users of CS5 and CS5.5 have reported oddities after running the preview.

     

    What happens if you either take a leap of faith and DON'T run the preview, or Undo after running it so it's as if it never happened, then run the merge?

     
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  • Daniel Flavin
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    10. Daniel Flavin,
    Aug 15, 2012 12:18 PM   in reply to Peter Spier
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    After two InDesign lockups, it appears a custom page size has been applied to the live page, although I don't use the feature enough. Using the page tool informs me that the page size is 8.5 x 5.5; identicle to the document setup size...

     

    It being a end product multiple page, I added a second page to the master spread, applied the masters to the live page, where abouts ID informed of the custom page size. I applied the Master Page size, 8.5 x 5.5 to the live page and corrected the offset merge...I think.

     
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  • SRiegel
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    11. SRiegel,
    Aug 15, 2012 12:22 PM   in reply to Daniel Flavin
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    It seems to be connected to the preview, so that if it was previewed even once it didn't run correctly. The only way I was able to get correct behavior out of the file was to create a brand new file, copy the text block into it, set up a new data-merge info and run without preview.

     

    Any attempts to create a new file and preview before running resulted in offset records.

     
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  • qpokc
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    12. qpokc,
    Aug 15, 2012 12:47 PM   in reply to SRiegel
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    Great! Guess InDesign is trying to teach me to not second-guess myself? Tried it as you suggested, SRiegel & Peter Spier, and it worked perfectly. I had seen posts suggesting errors similar to this in CS5, but didn't think the hijink would have transfered to CS6. Should have known better. Having quite a long document to merge (and a somewhat slow computer) made me reluctant to try it without the preview, but looks like it worked out.

     

    Thanks to all of you for all your help and input! Much appreciated!

     
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  • Molly43205
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    13. Molly43205,
    Aug 24, 2012 11:17 AM   in reply to SRiegel
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    I am having a similar issue with multiple records on a single page resulting in the entire page ending up offset when merged. Using InDesign 5.5.

    I have tried starting over with a new file and skipping the preview step, but this doesn't seem to make a difference. My entire text block (with at the least the merges in the right place in the text) scoots over to the right and down a few inches. Any suggestions? I'm merging with an Excel csv file. Thanks.

     
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  • daveb45
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    14. daveb45,
    Nov 17, 2012 10:10 AM   in reply to qpokc
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    For what it's worth - here's what I dicovered ... the hard way :/

     

    I was having the same problem with the previewed and final text frames being off-set. After many hours of searching for answers and testing theories I remembered I started out the document with a landscape format - then changed to portrait. InDesign and/or the data merge utility still thought I was in landscape. I created a new document wich solved the problem!

     

    I'm using CS6 ...

     

    Dave

     
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