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kevob4557546
Participant
June 8, 2022
Answered

variable layout controlled by a data merge switch

  • June 8, 2022
  • 1 reply
  • 288 views

hi - wonder if anyone can offer any suggestions - i currently work on static artwork 600mm square - i have 8 of these imposed up together to which i then apply a dat merge file to populate all 8 panels with corresponding prices.

I currently have three of these panels as variable which i got round by genrating pdfs of the base artworks - then calling the artwork in via the data merge as an image placeholder, unfortunatly the client has altered one of the other panels which is posing me an issue - looking for suggestions please

I have two copies of a panel both different but they require the same pricing to be populated but in different positions - e.g. panel type 1 - has price box a at coord 50,50, panel type b has the same price box at coord 200,200

previously as mentioned i utilised pulling in the panel as a pdf image and then having pricing on different layers - on this one though i need the different image pulling in but also the price box locations to move - dependant upon the data switch. I cant dupe the price boxes btw and rename them as P1boxa,P2boxa etc as too many prices and formulas that these are linked to

any suggestions gratefully accepted

thanks

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer kevob4557546

Could the data source include another column with the duplicate prices, while leaving no price for the versions that will not need it. Then in the data merge have 2 placeholders, and leave blank for those records not needing duplicate price.


hi thanks for the suggestion - i utilise this method on the other panels which i drop in and out - unfortunatly the panel im "struggling" with has too many prices / variables and formulas in the background to effectively duplicate  - may end up being the only solution  though unfortunatly - or create duplicate complete sets one with option a other with b - would then need to split the data in half and reformat / resequence everything - catch 22 scenario thanks

1 reply

J
Community Expert
Jeffrey_SmithCommunity Expert
Community Expert
June 8, 2022

Can you provide any screen captures?

From your description, it seems as though this would be accomplished in a workflow where prices are updated in a data file, which in turn would update the Indesign layout, rather than using a data merge workflow.

    K
    kevob4557546Author
    Participant
    June 9, 2022

    hi thanks for the reply this isnt iintended as a workflow as such - the end result is exported to pdfs for print and despatch to correct locations - hopefully with the correct content and prices ::)  - to elaborate - i have 50 stores in a data file - all with 300 prices - all different. these get merged to  - in general - common artwork panels - three of them i switch the background artwork on the fly using image controls and pull in from the data file. the one im querying is one panel which has two variants on base artwork, utiliises the same prices but in different locations on the templates so i need to pull in the correct artwork as the image from the data, but also change where the placeholders for the prices are located. - that make sense? ty

    J
    Community Expert
    Jeffrey_SmithCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 9, 2022

    Could the data source include another column with the duplicate prices, while leaving no price for the versions that will not need it. Then in the data merge have 2 placeholders, and leave blank for those records not needing duplicate price.

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