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Answered

Data Merge rejecting all source files

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
June 9, 2022
9 replies
804 views

I have used Data Merge in the past, but not for a while. I am trying to do a simple merge project, and could not get Merge to accept my data file. So I have worked backwards, with simpler and simpler files hand-edited in Notepad++, verifying that they only contain data, commas or tabs, and paragraph returns around one-word data... and ID is consistently telling me "this file has no records or is not a compatible type."

I've tried direct CSV and TXT exports from Excel, and hand-edited versions of both. I even found a file from a prior project a few years ago. Can't even get ID to open the Import Options menu on any of them.

Is 17.3/Win broken on merges? Could someone upload a simple test file they've validated?

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Correct answer James Gifford—NitroPress

Just to tack one more useful point onto this topic, although the problem seems to have been a glitch with my system: If the data file is open in Excel or a text editor, InDesign will throw a file-access error. Obvious, but this occurs even if you "save" an Excel spreadsheet in CSV or TXT form—the app holds onto the saved-not-exported file and will block other app access.

Close the file or Excel before attempting to load it in ID.

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James Gifford—NitroPressAuthorCorrect answer

Legend

Just to tack one more useful point onto this topic, although the problem seems to have been a glitch with my system: If the data file is open in Excel or a text editor, InDesign will throw a file-access error. Obvious, but this occurs even if you "save" an Excel spreadsheet in CSV or TXT form—the app holds onto the saved-not-exported file and will block other app access.

Close the file or Excel before attempting to load it in ID.

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C

ck_ny

Inspiring

In excel, save as a txt (tab-delimited file), then you can open it in TextEdit and add the @ for image, if required.

James Gifford—NitroPressAuthor

Legend

Yep, yep. It wasn't the actual merge and data but just getting ID to read the file, either for the import options pane or actual preview. Everything else is downstream. And it's now reading almost all of the test merge files I created to various models.

I closed and restarted ID a couple of times, just on general principles, and tried a few new and existing base files as well. Absolutely nothing would let me open a merge file.

But now it's fine; chalk it up to the angle of the gamma rays reflected from Venus, or something. 😛

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C

ck_ny

Inspiring

I just did a data merge last night with Indesign 2021. I used a plain .txt file, tab-delimited.
It also needs a header row. @971902 prefix for an image or ai file.
Attached is my validated txt file, it's just a dry run for a project.

datamerge.txt

James Gifford—NitroPressAuthor

Legend

And this opens, despite not having any image files at hand.

Okay, the problem is somehow with my merge files. At this point, having worked through all iterations, I can't imagine what...

Thanks!

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J

Jeffrey_Smith

Community Expert

Are the variable placeholders in merge document the same as the headers in data source?
Have you tried deleting the the variable placeholders, and reinsert from new data source?
Is the header in the first row of the data source?
Have you tried encoding txt or csv with UTF8 or UTF16?
Save IDML of the merge doc and reopen and try
Can you share data source or sample?

James Gifford—NitroPressAuthor

Legend

I haven't gotten far enough to have any placeholders in the merge doc. It's a brand new, simple test doc waiting for the markers to be available for placement.

I have considerable experience with merges in multiple tools and fully understand the merge file requirements. I have worked through all the iterations of TXT, CSV, tabs, spaces, and pararaph returns. I get the same error on every attempt.

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J

Jeffrey_Smith

Community Expert

Have you selected "Show Import Options" and checked the settings are the same as the data source?
Have you tried the data merge in older versions of ID?

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