11 Replies Latest reply: Jul 7, 2009 4:15 PM by Bill Vojtech RSS

    Issues with data merge

    Bill Vojtech Community Member

      I set up master pages for the front and back of a card so that I could import data from a .CSV file.

       

      The persons first name appeared on the back and in 2 places on the front. Most of the cards merged correctly. A few cards didn't.

       

      On those cards the correct first name appeard on the back and in one spot on the front, but on the other spot the first name of the next person in the database appears.

       

      I checked the database file, and it seems ok. I had 2 different databases for 2 lots of names. The error happened in the first one. The second one was fine.

       

      Has anyone experienced this? If so, what caused it and how did you fix it?

        • 1. Re: Issues with data merge
          P Spier CommunityMVP

          There have been posts about a variety of DataMerge related problems in CS4. Most of them seem to me to be related to having null data or some sort of odd character in a field somewhere. In cases where the merge fails, the best workaround has seemed to be to move the project into CS3 if you can.

           

          Are you trying to do this as one document or two? Are the fronts and backs on the same page (for folding)? I've never attempted to merge more than a single page layout, and I suspect multiple pages could casue some glitches.

          • 2. Re: Issues with data merge
            Bill Vojtech Community Member

            I start out with a 2 page InDesign document, 1st page is front, last page is back. When I'm done importing the database of 70 records I have a 140 page file, odd pages front, even pages back.

             

            I had 2 database files with identical field tags, just different info. The first one scrambled a number of records, while the 2nd one did not. When they got scrambled, they would take info from the next record on the list and use it in place of the proper info.

             

            I'm wondering if it's an InDesign problem or if there's some sort of hidden character embedded in the data file that's causing the problem, since it worked with the 2nd data file, but not the first.

            • 3. Re: Issues with data merge
              P Spier CommunityMVP

              That error has been reported a couple of times. Take a close look at the data file to see if there is anything at all you might consider odd.

              • 4. Re: Issues with data merge
                P Spier CommunityMVP

                You might want to report it as a bug, too, and offer the data file for examination.

                Adobe - Feature Request/Bug Report Form

                • 5. Re: Issues with data merge
                  Bill Vojtech Community Member

                  I did report it as a bug, and I tried doing the merge again, using the same exact files and this time it seems to have worked, or at least the mistakes are not in the same places.

                   

                  My original guess was that there was some hidden character(s) in the database file that threw it off, but since it worked this time, that does not make sense.

                   

                  Next theory is this: The original database file resulted in the errors. When I switched the data source to the second database file I got a warning about what might happen if I switch data source files, which I dismissed, and the second file came out fine. Then I switched back to the 1st database file, got the same warning, dismissed it and the file came out correctly. So maybe I need to switch source files for it to work properly?

                  • 6. Re: Issues with data merge
                    PETER MALPAS Community Member

                    I have experienced exactly the same issue creating a a 3-up document on one A4 page.

                    • 7. Re: Issues with data merge
                      Bill Vojtech Community Member

                      It's been suggested to do the data merge in CS3. Is there any reason to worry about installing InDesign CS3 on a Mac that already has CS4 on it?

                       

                      The procedure for designing/merging would be to design it in CS4 suite, including InDesign, when design is approved, save an exchange file, open it in CS3, merge in the data and save the file. I'm assuming it would be ok to open the file in CS4 once the merge is done.

                       

                      Am I correct?

                      • 8. Re: Issues with data merge
                        P Spier CommunityMVP

                        I don't know if there are any side effects to installing versions out of order on the Mac, but it isn't a great idea on PC. It messes up file associations and double-click-to-open behaviors.

                         

                        If you are palnning to d the merge in CS3, I'd do the whole project in CS3. Differences in in the text engines between versions can cause changes in how lines of text wrap within their frames, for starters, and of course you can't use any CS4 features if you plan on opening in CS3. If these are not going to be a problem, then you can work wherever you like.

                        • 9. Re: Issues with data merge
                          Bill Vojtech Community Member

                          I've had multiple versions of programs installed before, but only sequentially– newer after older. To be safe maybe the best thing to do is set up a new account on the Mac and keep the programs in their own accounts.

                           

                          Of course when I installed CS4 I think I recall telling it to make it's self available to all user accounts on the computer.

                          • 10. Re: Issues with data merge
                            BobLevine CommunityMVP

                            Unless something has changed you will have to uninstall CS4 before installing CS3 on the Mac.

                             

                            Bob

                            • 11. Re: Issues with data merge
                              Bill Vojtech Community Member

                              Here's an update on our data merge issues. I don't think the issue is with InDesign. I had someone at work filter the data file to get rid of any invisible non-printing characters. He saved it as a plain text file fields separated by commas. That merged just fine. We did several mailing lists that way and no glitches.

                               

                              The data started out as an Excel file and was exported as a .csv file. That's what gave us trouble. It was either invisible characters or something embedded in the formatting of the .csv file that did it.

                               

                              If you can, save it as plain text, then try it.