Inspiring

Answered

Data Merge Error: Multiple Records duplicates one random entry

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
April 23, 2018
5 replies
5144 views

Need some help here - I'm pretty sure I've set everything up perfectly, and most baffling the preview looks perfect.

I have 80 different card prototypes in CSV file, everything looks primo. But when it comes time to actually create the file, it does the most random thing (every time). Exporting straight to PDF does the same. CSV file looks extremely ordinary, nothing weird there. And why card 21??

Can't find any other instances of this happening on the forum.

Here is a very rough screen recording:

Suggestions? Really keen to start playtesting! Thank you wonderful people

Correct answer SJRiegel

There is a chance that this is the result of a long-standing bug in the Multiple-Record preview. Previewing the layout can introduce random errors that don't go away.

If this is indeed the cause, then the only cure is to create a new template layout document, and generate the merge without previewing first.

A

Andrew22671041fduz

Participant

I'm having the same issue as the user who made this original post and creating a new document without previewing did not solve the problem for me as was suggested here. This is so frustrating. If anyone has any other troubleshooting advice or guidance, I would greatly appreciate it!

A

Andrew22671041fduz

Participant

I figured out the solution to my issue. I had been exporting to PDF directly from the Data Merge toolbox. I was able to have things populate properly when I created a merged document before exporting.

cristianc52204977

Participant

I have the same issue but my document is 10k + pages at the end, creating a merged document and than save it would take a crazy long time. The first trick did work for me.

I sill cant beleave Adobe hasn't fixed this and the problem is known since 2018..

J

jerseydudjek

Participant

Can confirm that as of Oct 21 this is still a thing and the fix below worked for me.

D

dunelucy

Participating Frequently

I'm having the same problem but the fix isn't working for me. I've started over several times. I've updated to the latest version of Indesign. I'm on a deadline and this is totally stressing me out, because it sounds like it's a bug, and not just that I'm doing something wrong. Any other suggestions??

N

NourishingMediaAuthor

Inspiring

Thanks SJRiegel - you're unfortunately totally correct.

Restart didn't help - but creating a new document, and pasting in my already made box and styles into it (and not previewing) did.

You say this is a long-standing bug? It makes data merge almost unusable!

Please let me know if there's something I can do to help inspire movement on this.

Colin Flashman

Community Expert

Best way to inspire movement on this is to prepare a bug report here: Adobe InDesign Feedback

When submitting the report, point to this forum thread, and if possible, attach actual samples of the artwork with the fault.

If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!

N

NourishingMediaAuthor

Inspiring

Done! Thanks Colin

S

SJRiegelCorrect answer

Legend

There is a chance that this is the result of a long-standing bug in the Multiple-Record preview. Previewing the layout can introduce random errors that don't go away.

If this is indeed the cause, then the only cure is to create a new template layout document, and generate the merge without previewing first.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded