Skip to main content
T
trobinson
Known Participant
August 9, 2017
Question

Data Merge with Multiple Master Pages

  • August 9, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 3243 views

I have an InDesign document for a tear away calendar that has 6 master pages. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sat & Sun on one.  I need to add quotes to each page. Monday's master page links down to the other master pages so I placed a text box on Monday's page, added my 2 data points, and it automatically added to the other days of the week. When I hit create it just repeated the same first row of text in each box in my pages pallet. How do I get it to recognize multiple rows from my excel file. Do I need to un-link all of the text boxes from the masters?

Thanks in advance.

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    2 replies

    Roy Marshall
    Roy Marshall
    Known Participant
    August 10, 2017

    If you post this in the Scripting forum, you should get some help.

    Post some screenshots if you can too.

      MW Design
      MW Design
      Inspiring
      August 10, 2017

      Merge fields belong on the regular page. It would help to see a screen shot of both the regular page a master page. I cannot tell from your description if you even need to do a merge.

      ID's native mail merge has no facility to choose a master page based upon a condition. There is a plug-in that can do this from Em Software (InData, I am using the QXP version below). I use it all the time for merging instead of ID's simplistic merging capabilities.

      I suspect master page selection could be scripted. But I ain't smart enough.

      The below is from a sample file I prepared for someone else. The name tags are a single 4" x 3" page size with bleed. When the company name changes, it applied a new master page (the difference is the color). The screen shot is from after I imposed it.

      I've used this facility on real jobs, though, and it works well.

      Mike

        T
        trobinsonAuthor
        Known Participant
        August 10, 2017

        Thanks. Below are my screen shots. There are 300+ pages here which all get different text. Am I understanding if I place that text box on the actual pages vs the master this will work?

        1. Pages

        2. First Master Page

        3. First Page in Layout

        4. Excel doc set up (This is just a test sample, there are over 300 different verses)

        Roy Marshall
        Roy Marshall
        Known Participant
        August 10, 2017

        Personally I would tackle this with a Javascript. I am not too familiar with the Data Merge tool in InDesign as i have always built a script for my own requirements for anything like this.

        It should be a fairly straight forward script. Do you have scripting knowledge?

        If this is possible with Data Merge, then hopefully someone can help you. If not, if you send me the InDesign File I can see if I can assist with a script.

        Cheers

        Roy

        Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
        Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices