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Participant
December 2, 2024
Question

Static vs Dynamic Tables in InDesign

  • December 2, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 569 views

I am hoping to create a dynamic table using TableStart:LineItems and TableEnd:LineItems in Adobe InDesign.

 

I'm wanting to know if this is somehow possible or if InDesign only makes static tables?

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
December 3, 2024

@James_Tissot3404

 

There is nothing like that in InDesign's DataMerge.

 

You could simulate it by placing contents of the table as a text - with some unique separators for columns and rows - then convert to table as a post-processing. 

 

James Gifford—NitroPress
Legend
December 2, 2024

What — precisely — do you mean by a "dynamic table"? Dynamic under... what conditions?

Participant
December 3, 2024

So that I have the ability to place tablestart and tableend merge fields as well as other dynamic placeholder merge fields

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 3, 2024

Is the data coming from an Excel file, CSV file, or database?

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
December 2, 2024

Hi @James_Tissot3404,

 

InDesign primarily supports static tables, but dynamic tables can be created using Data Merge or scripting. For your case, you can integrate InDesign with XML or Data Merge tools for dynamic content updates.

 

Let me know if you have any further questions. 

 

Best,
Abhishek Rao

Participant
December 2, 2024
Hi Abhishek,

Thank you. Did you have any videos or could you record something to show me
what you mean?