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drunk_irishman
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Script a find/change using a datasource

May 8, 2012 9:16 AM

Tags: #indesign #variable_data #scriping

So I wrote a program (C#) a few years ago that basically opens an InDesign Exchange file, does a find/replace based on a SQL table datasourse and then our graphics folks would just convert the completed INX file back to InDesign and ultimately to a PDF.  Too many steps.

 

There are upwards of 2500 pieces of variable data in each file, so a product like DesignMerge is not practical.  Our data file basically consists of 2 fields [LookFor] and [ReplaceWith], I'd like an Indesign script that will just run through the data file and do a Find/Change for each record.  Is this doable and does anyone have any suggestions or starting points?

 

Thanks!

558 Views   3 Replies   Latest reply: Kasyan Servetsky, May 9, 2012 7:11 AM
 
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  • Kasyan Servetsky
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    1. Kasyan Servetsky,
    May 9, 2012 6:09 AM   in reply to drunk_irishman
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    Yes, it's possible. In my oppinion the easiest approach is to export your data to a csv-file and read it by script. I posted an example in this thread.

    However, on PC, it's also possible to exchange data directly between InDesign and Excel, or Access (without csv). I did some tests: the main (InDesign) part was written in JS. Another (Excel) part that opens a workbook, reads records and closes it was written in VB (it is sent from the main part via doScript method). The VB script reads all used ranges puts, them into a string and returns it back to the JS via ScriptArgs.SetValue method (JS gets the string by app.scriptArgs.getValue method).

     
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  • drunk_irishman
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    2. drunk_irishman,
    May 9, 2012 6:57 AM   in reply to drunk_irishman
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    Since our data files come to us in tab delimited text format, would it be easier to just leave them as is or to convert to CSV?

     

    Thanks!

     
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  • Kasyan Servetsky
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    3. Kasyan Servetsky,
    May 9, 2012 7:11 AM   in reply to drunk_irishman
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    No, it doesn't matter which format to use: csv or tab delimited text format. Sure you can leave it as it is.

     
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