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watermelon5
watermelon5
Inspiring
January 30, 2018
Answered

Arithmetic in InDesign?

  • January 30, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 6604 views

Is InDesign capable of basic arithmetic when you have a table full of data, like an Excel sheet? Let's say I have a table full of numbers, but no totals. Is there a way InDesign can do the math for me? Add/Subtract/Divide/Multiply?

Or is this done via script?

Anyone know a good script?

Thanks.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Barb Binder

    No, not within the basic feature set of InDesign. As I have learned on this forum, scripting often renders my "how InDesign works out of the box, er, just downloaded from Adobe.com" answers incorrect.

    You might want to ask here: InDesign Scripting

    What you can do though, is link an excel spreadsheet to an InDesign doc, so that editing the spreadsheet updates the numbers in the layout. Excel is great at math, so that may do it for you. See https://redokun.com/blog/link-indesign-tables-to-excel-spreadsheets​.

    ~Barb

    3 replies

    Colin Flashman
    Community Expert
    Colin FlashmanCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 1, 2018

    Depends how many tables you have. David @ IDEAS-Training has suggested a robust solution, note though that it is a paid plug-in.

    There's a script I use called Calculs Raynaux that does basic maths to tables: Calculs Raynaux - Calculating script for Indesign

    If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!
    D
    default9b12x20gqvij
    Participant
    May 19, 2021

    The link doesnt work

    Colin Flashman
    Community Expert
    Colin FlashmanCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 19, 2021

    Looks like the link was out of date. Try this link: https://labdal.net/en/hello-and-welcome-on-labdal-net/

    If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!
    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    January 30, 2018

    Take a look at DTPtools.com

    DTP Tools - DTP Tools Cloud for Adobe InDesign

    Specifically, the Active Tables plugin.

    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    January 30, 2018

    No, not within the basic feature set of InDesign. As I have learned on this forum, scripting often renders my "how InDesign works out of the box, er, just downloaded from Adobe.com" answers incorrect.

    You might want to ask here: InDesign Scripting

    What you can do though, is link an excel spreadsheet to an InDesign doc, so that editing the spreadsheet updates the numbers in the layout. Excel is great at math, so that may do it for you. See https://redokun.com/blog/link-indesign-tables-to-excel-spreadsheets​.

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
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