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Participating Frequently
January 19, 2020
Answered

Indesign Google Sheets automation

  • January 19, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 20443 views

Dear community,

 

I am working with indesign and g suite and I am looking for a way to connect those softwares. 

Actually I would like to connect Google Sheets where some of my workmates contributes and tell automatically this Google Sheets cells is this part of my indesign document. I don't know how people works in newspaper company but I am pretty sure that there is a way to fix my demand. 

thank's in advance everyone. 

if my demand is not clear, feel free to ask more details 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Barb Binder

Check out DocsFlow from em software. 

http://emsoftware.com/products/docsflow/

 

DocsFlow, a plug-in for InDesign, for the first time combines the collaborative editing power of Google Docs with the layout power of InDesign, adding its own dynamic linking and sophisticated merge technologies to supercharge your editorial and production workflows.

 

DocsFlow Place menuWith DocsFlow, you place online Google Docs documents (including tables and graphics) and spreadsheets (Pro version) as InDesign story contents, just like normal text or spreadsheet files. (You can also place by dragging and dropping files from Google Drive.)

 

More importantly, DocsFlow maintains a dynamic link so it can intelligently merge Google Docs changes into the InDesign story contents on each link update, rather than just replacing the story. The Pro version provides a two-way link so you can push your InDesign story changes back to Google Docs.

 

So you can format, layout, and edit in InDesign, while your authors and editors continue creating and editing story content together in real time using Google Docs documents, all without ever losing work. Your authors and editors are no longer “frozen out” once layout begins.

 

~Barb

4 replies

shannonc19095354
Participating Frequently
January 31, 2022

I am struggling with something similar. I also am trying to figure out how to bring Google sheet cell contents into an InDesign table. I downloaded the DocsFlow trial, which doesn't help, as it essentially places the Google Sheet into the InDesign frame. Not what I'm trying to do.

I want to link cells in Google sheet to my InDesign doc. Ideally the destination is a table cell. But, it could be a text frame.

Is there no way to do this? Currently copying and pasting, which is tedious.

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 31, 2022

Please start a new discussion with full details. FWIW, you're far better off with Excel for spreadsheet linking.

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 21, 2020

You can link Excel spreadsheets (not Google Sheets) natively in InDesign documents. See Terry White's explanation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0guCSyq-Avs.

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
scarf29Author
Participating Frequently
January 20, 2020

Thank you for the answer. 

actually it doesn't fit exactly because the plugin is not free. Is there an other way?

with excel Sheets maybe if it is not possible with Google Sheets?

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 19, 2020

Check out DocsFlow from em software. 

http://emsoftware.com/products/docsflow/

 

DocsFlow, a plug-in for InDesign, for the first time combines the collaborative editing power of Google Docs with the layout power of InDesign, adding its own dynamic linking and sophisticated merge technologies to supercharge your editorial and production workflows.

 

DocsFlow Place menuWith DocsFlow, you place online Google Docs documents (including tables and graphics) and spreadsheets (Pro version) as InDesign story contents, just like normal text or spreadsheet files. (You can also place by dragging and dropping files from Google Drive.)

 

More importantly, DocsFlow maintains a dynamic link so it can intelligently merge Google Docs changes into the InDesign story contents on each link update, rather than just replacing the story. The Pro version provides a two-way link so you can push your InDesign story changes back to Google Docs.

 

So you can format, layout, and edit in InDesign, while your authors and editors continue creating and editing story content together in real time using Google Docs documents, all without ever losing work. Your authors and editors are no longer “frozen out” once layout begins.

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training