Hello Adobe Community,I am experiencing an issue with creating a dropdown menu in Adobe InDesign 2024. Despite following the steps to set up a dropdown menu using the data merge feature, the dropdown menu remains empty.Here’s a brief overview of the steps I followed:Created a CSV Data Source: I prepared a CSV file with a single column containing the dropdown options.Opened InDesign 2024: I started a new document and opened the Data Merge panel.Selected Data Source: I successfully selected my CSV file as the data source in the Data Merge panel, and I could see the data in the preview.Added Dropdown Menu: I created a rectangle to serve as the dropdown menu and converted it into a dropdown field using the interactive form tools.Linked Data to Dropdown: I attempted to drag the relevant placeholder from the Data Merge panel into the dropdown menu.Despite these steps, when I export the document as an interactive PDF, the dropdown menu does not display any options; it remains empty.I have double-checked the CSV file for formatting issues and ensured that there are no extra spaces or errors in the headers. I also confirmed that I have the latest version of InDesign installed.If anyone has experienced a similar issue or has suggestions for troubleshooting this problem, I would greatly appreciate your help!Thank you!Best regards,Andre Baust

Participating Frequently

Question

Dropdown Menu in InDesign 2024 Remains Empty

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
January 27, 2025
26 replies
3745 views

Hello Adobe Community,

I am experiencing an issue with creating a dropdown menu in Adobe InDesign 2024. Despite following the steps to set up a dropdown menu using the data merge feature, the dropdown menu remains empty.

Here’s a brief overview of the steps I followed:

Created a CSV Data Source: I prepared a CSV file with a single column containing the dropdown options.
Opened InDesign 2024: I started a new document and opened the Data Merge panel.
Selected Data Source: I successfully selected my CSV file as the data source in the Data Merge panel, and I could see the data in the preview.
Added Dropdown Menu: I created a rectangle to serve as the dropdown menu and converted it into a dropdown field using the interactive form tools.
Linked Data to Dropdown: I attempted to drag the relevant placeholder from the Data Merge panel into the dropdown menu.

Despite these steps, when I export the document as an interactive PDF, the dropdown menu does not display any options; it remains empty.

I have double-checked the CSV file for formatting issues and ensured that there are no extra spaces or errors in the headers. I also confirmed that I have the latest version of InDesign installed.

If anyone has experienced a similar issue or has suggestions for troubleshooting this problem, I would greatly appreciate your help!

Thank you!

Best regards,

Andre Baust

Bug

J

Jeffrey_Smith

Community Expert

I do not know of any way to use datamerge to populate the options of a list box or combo box. There are scripts that can autopopulate list/combo boxes, but not in the data merge process. Here is the link to view scripts.

A

andre_5823Author

Participating Frequently

Since it is not directly possible in InDesign to link a dropdown menu to the Data Merge feature in such a way that selecting an option from the dropdown automatically displays a specific row from the Data Merge, I have taken a different approach:

I have created a dropdown menu filled with data from the "Tag_Nr" column. In the form, I also have the Data Merge entry labeled "Tag_Nr." Is it possible for the selection made in the dropdown menu to be reflected in the Data Merge entry "Tag_Nr," allowing the other Data Merge fields to be populated accordingly?

Perhaps this could be achieved through a script.

Masterdatei.csv

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@andre_5823

It's doable - but not with InDesign alone - there are extra steps required in Acrobat.

Robert at ID-Tasker

Legend

@andre_5823

Can you post some screenshot showing your exact steps and settings? And contents of the CSV file.

A

andre_5823Author

Participating Frequently

Here are the Links to the original files:

https://web.tresorit.com/l/EKTs9#hcenH0C6VujAzL7EHd6uUQ

A

andre_5823Author

Participating Frequently

Masterdatei.csv

Community Manager

Hi @andre_5823,

Thanks for reaching out. As you have mentioned that you work on 2024, could you test this with the 2025 - 20.1 version as well? Before exporting to PDF, do you check the Preview button in the Buttons and Forms panel to check if the dropdown is populated correctly. To help investigate it further, would you mind sharing the details of the OS you use, the CSV file, the respective InDesign file, and the exported PDF? I will perform the test and get back to you.

Will wait to hear from you.

^

Abhishek

A

andre_5823Author

Participating Frequently

I am using the version shown in the screenshot. Unfortunately, I do not have the option to test another version. Attached is a screenshot of the button settings. I can provide you with the CSV file, the PDF, and the InDesign document. Here is the link to the files.

https://web.tresorit.com/l/EKTs9#hcenH0C6VujAzL7EHd6uUQ

leo.r

Community Expert

Unfortunately, I do not have the option to test another version.

By @andre_5823

You can install InDesign 2025 (20.x) from the Creative Cloud app - only make sure to uncheck the option to remove older versions so that you install InDesign 2025 in addition to your existing InDesign 2024.

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.