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September 5, 2017
Answered

merge multiply cells

  • September 5, 2017
  • 5 replies
  • 3066 views

Hi All

Is there a way to merge specific cells in a table into 1 cell all around the table at once in Indesign?

in many rows, i have 3 repeating cells that i need to merge into 1 cell.

is there a way to merge these cells with a script or a method in Indesign?

tnx

Amir

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Laubender

    Hi Amir,

    see into this here where Marc Autret wrote a script for merging cells:

    Indiscripts :: Improve the Way you Merge Cells in InDesign

    Perhaps it's not exactly what you want, but I think, you could benefit from it.

    Here a use case of this script. Supposed all cells that I colored should be merged vertically.
    With adjacent columns we can use Marc's script to our advantage. Select nothing. Double-click the script in the Scripts panel to do some preferences:

    Now select adjacent cells—unfortunately one cannot select cells that are not next to each other—and run the script:

    After running the script:

    In effect all that means, that working on all other merges would require 5 additional steps.
    In this case the script can be used, but it will not diminish the required number of steps.

    The main problem in writing scripts like that is how one can identify cells that should be merged.
    When your only means is to do selections of cells you can minimize the steps by using Marc's script. In every other case a new script has to be written, provided you can formulate a common rule what cells should be merged.

    E.g.: Merge all adjacent cells vertically that are colored with color "x".

    Regards,
    Uwe

    5 replies

    LaubenderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    November 21, 2017

    Hi Amir,

    see into this here where Marc Autret wrote a script for merging cells:

    Indiscripts :: Improve the Way you Merge Cells in InDesign

    Perhaps it's not exactly what you want, but I think, you could benefit from it.

    Here a use case of this script. Supposed all cells that I colored should be merged vertically.
    With adjacent columns we can use Marc's script to our advantage. Select nothing. Double-click the script in the Scripts panel to do some preferences:

    Now select adjacent cells—unfortunately one cannot select cells that are not next to each other—and run the script:

    After running the script:

    In effect all that means, that working on all other merges would require 5 additional steps.
    In this case the script can be used, but it will not diminish the required number of steps.

    The main problem in writing scripts like that is how one can identify cells that should be merged.
    When your only means is to do selections of cells you can minimize the steps by using Marc's script. In every other case a new script has to be written, provided you can formulate a common rule what cells should be merged.

    E.g.: Merge all adjacent cells vertically that are colored with color "x".

    Regards,
    Uwe

    Srishti_Bali
    Legend
    November 20, 2017

    Hi amirt78,

    I would like to know if the steps suggested above worked for you, or the issue still persists.

    Kindly update the discussion if you need further assistance with it.

    Thanks,

    Srishti

    Obi-wan Kenobi
    Legend
    September 6, 2017

    Hi,

    ???  Screenshots, please? Thanks!

    (^/)

    Loic.Aigon
    Legend
    September 6, 2017

    //given myTable is a proper reference to an indesign table object and has at least two cells

    myTable.cells[0].merge ( myTable.cells[1] );

    John Mensinger
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    September 5, 2017

    If it can be scripted, and I have my doubts, I'm not the guy who'll write it. Unfortunately, I suspect this can only be done manually as described in the help file linked by amaarora.

    amaarora
    Inspiring
    September 5, 2017

    Hi,

    Check out the merge cells section here: Format tables in Adobe InDesign

    -Aman