Data Merge PDF and merged document different?

Question

Good morning friends,

I'm new to using Data Merge, so I'm sure there is a small quirk I'm missing. I'm trying to set up a master template for a small team to use and make it as user-friendly as possible. I tested everything on the master template with a file and had no problems. However, when I tried it with a different test file (making a copy of the template), it showed previous rows information' on the PDF export.

I double-checked all of the placeholders were correct. The previews were all correct of each document, as were the documents if I created a merge document. It's just in exporting it to a PDF that each of the documents following the first used the first files text on some of the lines.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Peter Spier · Accepted Answer

Data merge has always been buggy, and using Preview is notorious for killing templates and causing the wrong data to appear in the actual merged file.

My recommendation has always been to create a new template file (once damaged, I've never seen a template work again), and if you must preview, immediately after UNDO. Better to just run the merge and if it has problems make your corrections and run again. I also would merge to a regular .indd, then export to PDF normally from that.

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