Mac Indesign CS3 and Variable data.

[brent]

You could do a find and replace and turn the multiple spaces into one space.

 

[prepressguru]

yep thought about the find and replace.. but of course there is a place on the cards I need 3 space...

 

[Stephen Marsh]

In CS3, the preview shows blank spaces when an unused variable is encountered, despite the checkbox being active for removing unused fields. When the datamerge is performed and a new merged InDesign file is created, the empty fields are removed and all is well, despite the preview.

I don't think this is your problem though.

After you merge the document, do a find/replace and quickly zap all those multiple spaces into a single space with a replace all, find ## replace # or whatever.

Another option is to fix up the database file, so that these three columns are combined into a single column and then when you merge you only have a single variable field (this is done with a formula).

Stephen Marsh

 

[Stephen Marsh]

yep thought about the find and replace.. but of course there is a place on the cards I need 3 space...

Where you need three spaces - be creative, used fixed white space...such as a combo of an "en" space and a "thrid space".

Now when you search and replace for the three word spaces, the en/third space combo will be missed.

---

As briefly mentioned in my previous post, another way around the issue is with a new column for the combined columns and a formula.

In Excel/OpenOffice/NeoOffice the formula to merge three cells together is as follows:

=A1&" "&B1&" "&C1

(Presuming that A1 is first name, B1 middle name, C1 last name). This formula will put a word space between each column.

Then you can just datamerge this single column.



Stephen Marsh

 

[prepressguru]

Excellent tips, thanks all.

p

 

[Jason G]

Hi there...
I hope you don't mind my hijacking this forum with a question regarding 'Data Merging in InDesign CS3', as I tend to run or design jobs accordingly for digital print via our Digital Printer that can take SRA3.
My question is this:
I am getting a source document saved in whatever format I need to place into my text placeholder windows to allow the data (5,000 or 10,000 Certificate names) to flow, which obviously means if planned 1-up on an SRA3 sheet means 5,000 or 10,000 passes. I would like to place the variable data into a page set-up that is 2-up where by the information can be run so that two different names appear per spread. How do I do this?
I have tried to select source data per place holder text window to no avail as when I select the source I have a window message appear stating that it will need to be redone (words to that effect), I have tried to create two text sources but again I can not bring in the two sources onto my data merge window pane to select either source where necessary. The data will flow but only one up...
Any suggestions.......

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Jason G, a couple of quick things spring to mind...

1) You can cut half of the names and paste them into a second column in your spreadsheet file (column header of "Name 1" & "Name 2" for example). Now you can use two variable fields for the "same data" in your merge, manually creating a 2up.

2) Create the file 1up, then use imposing software to make a 2up (N-Up).

If your copier RIP has has a VDP option (such as FreeForm on Fiery), then you only have to do the merge in InDesign using the names. The "boilerplate" or "template" does not have to be merged and this can be sent to the RIP separate and only RIPed once...then the RIP combines the 5000 variable merges from InDesign with the single RIPed template data (rather than RIPing the whole document 5000 times).

If you are doing it all using InDesign, then only do the data merge with the text names, as you wish to keep this fast/simple. Then after you have your merged document, apply the "boilerplate/template" data to a master page to automatically apply it to all the merged pages.

P.S. You may need to split the datamerge into separate groups, perhaps only feeding 1000-2000 names at a time into the merge (Datamerge in InDesign is not meant for "industrial" merges!).


Hope this helps,

Stephen Marsh

 

[Jason G]

That was Brilliant Stephen

The remedy I used was to cut and paste in Excel half of the names to create a second column of names, then I was able to select the source data in one placeholder window with the data from the one column and I was able to see and place the data source information of the other column in the data merge pane which previously I couldn't do because of not setting it up as two columns in Excel!! Great!

It will enable me to print as I want to and for future jobs too

- a huge, huge help, many thanks again Stephen

 

[Stephen Marsh]

Thanks Jason, not brilliant (but perhaps illuminating?) - I have just had to learn how to use lateral thinking and have jumped through a few hoops over the years!

Glad to be of help.


Stephen Marsh

 

[assinippi]

In InDesign, in Data Merge use in the Multiple records layout tool instead. With it and it's options you can create multiples up without having to edit your database into multiple columns.

 

[Stephen Marsh]

In InDesign, in Data Merge use in the Multiple records layout tool instead. With it and it's options you can create multiples up without having to edit your database into multiple columns.

assinippi, I original included this option then edited it out...as I have never been able to get it to work as advertised, however that could very well be operator error!

I will have to see if I can get it to work.

More here:

InDesignSecrets � Blog Archive � Data Merging – Part 3

EDIT: OK, I managed to get this to work by adjusting the page size of the document and placing the old elements in the first position, leaving enough space for the layout to flow into the correct positions. Seems like a bit of a pain to set-up (although it may become easier with practice) for the step and repeat to work as expected. It may just be easier to use imposing software and to leave the layout as is.

Anyway, thanks assinippi for "forcing" me to look deeper into this issue that has always annoyed me as I could not get it to work.


Regards,

Stephen Marsh