Apply master to pages with Data Merge?

[nickdclements]

Is there any way to specify a "Master Page" when using data merge?

i.e. In your data file, you might have a column labeled "%Master" where you specify the name of the master you want to be applied for the page with that set of data.

[MW Design]

No, not natively. Likely it is able to be scripted (and possibly one exists already).

I use Em Software's data merge plug-in. One can assign master pages during the merge and upon conditions being met. I do this frequently. It is also far more capable for merging than ID's merge capabilities.

Mike

[Colin Flashman]

As Mike says, no it can't be done natively.

It can do the next best thing, which is to import an image into the background. This is fine if the variable text will fall perfectly into position with the background, but if the variable text has to move to new positions to match the background, then it can't do that.

Claudia McCue has a video on Linked-in Learning that (at the time of writing this post) was freely accessible without the subscription and describes how to data merge images: Using InDesign Data Merge with images

[manishap12605575]

In response to

"No, not natively. Likely it is able to be scripted (and possibly one exists already). I use Em Software's data merge plug-in. One can assign master pages during the merge and upon conditions being met. I do this frequently. It is also far more capable for merging than ID's merge capabilities".

Hi Mike

Thanks for sharing this with the community! I have downloaded the Demo version of the software to test out. Do you know if there are any training videos showing how to use the software, the manual is quite chunky!

[MW Design]

You're welcome...I think! ;^)

I've never looked for videos, informational or training ones. If they exist I would suspect they are on YouTube. I like the manual, actually. There have been a few times over the years I couldn't figure something out and have written Em. Never once did they call me an idiot...but I can imagine it may have been thought.

I don't know if there is an updated PDF manual since I last downloaded one. In my copy, chapter 9 is the pertinent chapter. The info about the master pages follows the header/footer stuff. On the first page in my copy, it is mostly informational. At the bottom of that page (page 132 btw), it has a heading about a more advanced prototype. Page 133 has the fuller example.

What I often do with this plug-in (and the one for XTags) is copy/paste them into a text editor and then alter those examples to fit my needs. If it is a function I haven't used before, then it may take a time or two to get it right.

I would be happy to help on your prototype. Either I could whip up an example or, better yet, you could give me the scenario and some dummy data.

Take care, Mike

[MW Design]

Edit to add a couple screen shots.

The merge file itself was first manipulated in Excel to automatically add a numeral to a new column every time the company name cell changed. So in the screen shot below, the data looks like this:

The next screen shot is the EmData code for the merge.

For this example (which is based upon a real job), the Master Pages simply have a different color for each name badge. So when the merge happens, the code looks for the numeral (the key statement) and chooses the appropriate master page. The result, once merged and imposed, looks like: