Importing Excel tables which include formulas

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
January 8, 2021
2 replies
1981 views

I am having a problem when importing a table from Excel to Indesign.

I am getting errors when there is a formula behind text in the table. If the formula results in a number, the number is imported and there is no problem....but if the formula results in text, the cell will be blank or a '-1' appears.

Does anyone know how to get around this?

This topic has been closed for replies.

Correct answer Barb Binder

Hi @Aoife5E96:

What version of InDesign are you using and what version of Excel?

This looks to be the same issue: https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/65160/data-missing-when-importing-a-spreadsheet-into-indesign

Specifically, "The issue is not how to import it, but rather that I'm importing a spreadsheet with formulas in them. If the formula results in a number, the number is imported, but if it text, the cell will be blank. This is where I have the problem". The answer was to save the Excel file as .xls and not .xlxs. Let us know if that works.

~Barb

Barb Binder

Correct answer

Community Expert

Hi @Aoife5E96:

What version of InDesign are you using and what version of Excel?

This looks to be the same issue: https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/65160/data-missing-when-importing-a-spreadsheet-into-indesign

Specifically, "The issue is not how to import it, but rather that I'm importing a spreadsheet with formulas in them. If the formula results in a number, the number is imported, but if it text, the cell will be blank. This is where I have the problem". The answer was to save the Excel file as .xls and not .xlxs. Let us know if that works.

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training