Python Script to Automate the Data Merge Process

You'll find all the options and preferences in the template document if it is ready for a data merge.

Means, the placeholders are there and the data source is loaded. Well, and the document is saved.

var templateDoc = app.documents[0];
var dataMergeOptions = templateDoc.dataMergeOptions;
var dataMergePreferences = templateDoc.dataMergeProperties.dataMergePreferences;

Look up all details in the DOM documentation:

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DataMergeOption.html

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DataMergePreference.html

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Professional )

Hi @美声25342612b6z1 ,

I have no idea at what point in the data merge workflow you want to start scripting a data merge process.

All things below refer to InDesign ExtendScript (JavaScript) and not to Python. If you never wrote a script for InDesign in ExtendScript it will be hard, maybe impossible?, to get what you want. At least you need a deep understanding of InDesign's data merge workflow.

So where to start?

Do you want to create a data source file? Do you want to create a new InDesign document, the template document for the data merge process? All doable with ExtendScript for InDesign. The document object model is vast.

Do you want to add the necessary data merge image place holders, the text place holders and the QR code placeholders? Do you want to load or update the data source file?

Or do you already start with a template document where the diverse place holders are already in place and the data source is loaded and you just want to run the data merge? If that's the case you could run the data merge with:

Merge records and export to PDF. Check the parameters for the method in DOM documentation:

app.documents[0].dataMergeProperties.exportFile()

Merge records and optionally produce an overset report ( same applies to necessary parameters ) :

app.documents[0].dataMergeProperties.mergeRecords()

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DataMerge.html

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DataMergePreference.html

To add diverse sources use the add() method that also comes with diverse parameters.

Here the example for text place holders without defining any parameters, so this will not work, just dummy code:

app.documents[0].dataMergeTextPlaceholders.add(); // You need to add parameters to the method. See:

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DataMergeTextPlaceholders.html#d1e72998__d1e73047

IMPORTANT: only after you loaded a data source file you have access to data merge fields

And you need data merge fields with the add() method for e.g. data merge text place holders.

As you see, scripting data merge is not that easy…

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Professional )

Maybe these threads are helpful, but probably just faster to learn Extendscript, which is just essentially Javascript ECMA 3 with the InDesign DOM (the API you referenced) layered on top. I myself have no experience manipulating the DOM through Python. 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/scripting-indesign-with-python-on-mac-os-using-indesign-extendscript-api/td-p/11563398

It doesn't have to python, it can be in java or C#, I just have another script that is running on python. I would like to just find a way to automate the data merge process.