Help fromatting Excel Charts in InDesign

[melissav15699928]

I am working on an InDesign (2017--subscription based) with a ton of Excel charts. I import and style the charts, apply Paragraph Styles, Table Styles and Cell Styles, but when I update the Excel file, formatting is lost. I've tried importing both .xlsx files as well as an .xls files. Information and column width update, but the type and spans change even though paragraph and cell styles have been selected for all cells. (Preferences are updated to create links when placing text and spreadsheet files.)

HELP!

Melissa

[BobLevine · Accepted solution]

Place them and link them as unformatted tables.

[melissav15699928]

I tried AGAIN with the unformatted table option clicked. Made type and cell changes, updated/changed text in Excel Doc and updated in the LINKS panel. STILL not saving the formatting. All cells have character styles and paragraph styles applied and the chart is brought in with a defined Table style.

Am I missing something???

[BobLevine]

What version of Excel are you using? Are these XLSX or XLS files?

[melissav15699928]

I am doing edits in 2011 for Mac. I've tried saving as both XLS as well as the XLSX. Original files are from a PC running current version--I'm just trouble shooting and testing before we start project.

[BobLevine]

Do you still have an earlier version of InDesign installed?

[melissav15699928]

It's up to date. I have a CC subscription.

[BobLevine]

What if you bring in the Excel file as saved from a Windows machine?

[melissav15699928]

That seems to work for the basic text, but the merged columns don't hold or translate correct typeface. Deleted rows also reappear. Any advise on these items?

Appreciate your help!!

Thanks!

[BobLevine]

If you’re merging cells and deleting rows/columns in InDesign then this is pretty much what I would expect.

[melissav15699928]

I can have accounting delete columns, but the merged headings are already merged in the Excel file. Any hint on how to accomplish merging cells? Client hoping to take over the final document changes (using InCopy workflow) and I want it to be pretty seamless...

Thanks!

[BobLevine]

I thought you were merging/deleting in InDesign.

I’m not sure what’s up with this and without seeing the files and really testing it out, I can’t be sure of what’s going on.