Charts/Graphs in InDesign

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
January 10, 2018
3 replies
10554 views

I work for a survey company and a few of their reports go to all of their clients (over 100). Basically a reproduction of the same report but with each client's data. I've used data merge for all of the text and tables, but as far as the bar charts that need to be updated for each client....is there a connection between mail merge and the illustrator graphs or do I have to manually update for each company? Just curious if I'm missing a graph feature in InDesign? I design the bar charts/pie charts in Illustrator and then add them to the indesign file but I don't see an option to data merge each image unless I've already created each bar chart for all clients.

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Correct answer Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Options...

Chartwell for basic charts as MW Design suggested.

Create per-client layers in Illustrator, hide all the client layers (keeping the base layer visible), and turn on layers per report/client. Tedious, but it might be more efficient than importing each chart.

Get a script for Illustrator that will export layers as separate files and use Data Merge to automatically import the appropriate file.

If the reports are content driven and not overly fancy, another option would be to generate custom reports using a database such as FileMaker Pro or Access.

R

Richard Andersen

Participant

Today we have Cacidi Charts CC, check it out at http://www.cacidi.com

Dave Creamer of IDEAS

Correct answer

Community Expert

Options...

Chartwell for basic charts as MW Design suggested.

Create per-client layers in Illustrator, hide all the client layers (keeping the base layer visible), and turn on layers per report/client. Tedious, but it might be more efficient than importing each chart.

Get a script for Illustrator that will export layers as separate files and use Data Merge to automatically import the appropriate file.

If the reports are content driven and not overly fancy, another option would be to generate custom reports using a database such as FileMaker Pro or Access.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)

BobLevine

Community Expert

Images can certainly be a part of a data merge. Is that what you’re asking?

cmckenzie-industryinsightAuthor

Participant

I'm asking if you can basically make graphs in indesign as you cannot mail merge the data in the image (bar charts) pulled in from illustrator. I know I can mail merge images but that means I'd have to create each bar chart.

BobLevine

Community Expert

In that case, the answer is no.

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