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Eric Lockwood
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Data Merge many records into one single text frame

Jan 4, 2013 11:26 AM

Tags: #data_merge

I've been working with the Data Merge function, which is great.  BUT I need to flow all my records into ONE contiguous text block...any ideas?

480 Views   7 Replies   Latest reply: Eric Lockwood, Jan 4, 2013 1:05 PM
 
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  • Jeffrey_Smith
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    1. Jeffrey_Smith,
    Jan 4, 2013 11:43 AM   in reply to Eric Lockwood
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    With data merge, you can not flow multiple records into one continuous text frame. You could use an XML workflow to import data into a continuous text frame. Or possibly, import the data while retaining table, apply necessary styling and modifications. Then convert table to text.

     
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  • Eric Lockwood
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    2. Eric Lockwood,
    Jan 4, 2013 12:11 PM   in reply to Jeffrey_Smith
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    Well, another idea is this. The standard data merge creates one page per record, with a single text frame. 

     

    Is it possible to take a 500 page InDesign document generated by the Data Merge, and automatically link the text block on each page with the next, thereby flowing all the text into one continuous body of text?

     
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  • Tom Usrey
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    3. Tom Usrey,
    Jan 4, 2013 12:17 PM   in reply to Eric Lockwood
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    Go here

     

    http://ajarproductions.com/blog/2008/11/28/merge-textframes-extension- for-adobe-indesign/

     

    to find a script that can link all the text frames in your document. It was written for CS4 (you don't mention what version you're using)

     
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  • Jeffrey_Smith
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    4. Jeffrey_Smith,
    Jan 4, 2013 12:31 PM   in reply to Eric Lockwood
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    The script that Tom mentions will assembly all text frames into one. If you need to leave the text frames on their respective pages, but have them threaded, you could use a plugin called TextStitch.

     
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  • Eric Lockwood
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    5. Eric Lockwood,
    Jan 4, 2013 12:33 PM   in reply to Jeffrey_Smith
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    That is a handy script, but yes, it doesn't quite do what I need. I'll try the TextStitch...

     

    Thanks for the help so far - I really do appreciate it! I'll let you know how things go.

     
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  • Jeffrey_Smith
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    6. Jeffrey_Smith,
    Jan 4, 2013 12:37 PM   in reply to Eric Lockwood
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    Here is the link for TextStitch

     
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  • Eric Lockwood
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    7. Eric Lockwood,
    Jan 4, 2013 1:05 PM   in reply to Jeffrey_Smith
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    Hey, that worked like a dream.  Now to out put the big file into a 500ish page InD file and see how that goes.

     

    Keeping my fingers crossed. 

     

    Well, except when I'm typing.

     
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