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Anonymous
Feb 20, 2011 1:48 AM UTC
Question

Can Illustrator increment labels?

Hi, we'll be getting a laser engraver, and have been considering Illustrator to format the designs. Some of our engravings will include serial numbers. So I was wondering (having never used Illustrator) if I could create a file containg, say 10 identical engravings - except for an automatically incrementing serial number (I would set the first serial number, and the 9 others would follow). The 10 engravings would be applied to 10 similar parts simultaneously.

Am I looking into the right kind of software?

Thanks!

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    21 replies

    JETalmage
    JETalmage
    Inspiring
    Feb 20, 2011 1:07 PM UTC

    This page describes two AI Javascripts that can be used to create serial numbers.

    Of course, it's also a trivial matter to use the Fill Down command of whatever spreadsheet program you already have on your computer (Excel, etc.) to generate a list of serialized numbers, select the column, copy, and paste into Illustrator:

    JET

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    AndreNgo
    Participant
    May 3, 2012 4:26 PM UTC

    Thanks for the response. Are those scripts hosted anywhere else by chance? I've tried looking and can't seem to find them anywhere. We are running a charity event and would like to add serially incremented numbers to the tickets.

    Thanks.

    Andre

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    rcraighead
    rcraighead
    Legend
    May 3, 2012 4:34 PM UTC

    If you have access to InDesign, you might find it's Data Merge feature much easier to use. Just place your AI graphic in InDesign and setup a variable based on a spreadsheet.

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    _scott__
    _scott__
    Legend
    Feb 20, 2011 1:54 AM UTC

    Illustrator does not do auto-incrementing.

    You may be able to implement something using variables and scripts. But by default, there's no mechanism in Illustrator for what you're seeking.

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    Wade_Zimmerman1
    Inspiring
    Feb 20, 2011 2:08 AM UTC

    A variable of that nature would require a data base that generates the sequence and a script to update the variable in Illustrator.

    However you could set up the numbers manually save it as a data set do the same for the next sequence of 10 numbers and save that as a data set and so on then when you load the art which can also be a variable, then load the data sets but this is worthless if the sequences differ from art to art and when printing you will have to do ten at a time oose the data set and print again.

    You can script this but it takes a very good script creator to do this. I am sure it would not be cheap.

    There might be a plug in.

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