Auto Inserting Various Text

[TYPE A]

Does anyone know if there's a way to take text from one place and have it auto inserted someplace else? I have an Excel file that's brought into InDesign and converted to text and the attached image shows what I'm starting with and what I'm trying to do. The top half, on the left side is what I'm trying to get auto inserted. The Year and O/B code. The O/B code is constantly changing throughout the pages and right now I'm copying and pasting the text from the 4th and 7th columns.

I have over 1,000 pages to do and any assistance is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Peter

[BobLevine]

Have you tried linking the Excel sheet? Beyond that, I have no idea what you want to do based on that description. Please be more specific.

[TYPE A]

Thanks Bob for the reply, I could link the Excel file but that won't take the text from the 2 columns within the text and place them in the first 2 columns as needed.

[TYPE A]

If you look at the attached image I'm looking to take the text in 4th (Year) and 7th columns (O/B, I/B, S/D codes) and have them auto populate into the first 2 columns. The attached image, the top part columns 1 and 2 are blank and the bottom part I've manually inserted the text. I only need to place the first instance of the year and every time the O/B, I/B, etc., codes change.

[Derek Cross]

There's an article in the December issue of InDesign Magazine (issue 116) about Excel for InDesign users, which you may find useful. https://indesignsecrets.com/issues/issue-116-excel-tips

[TYPE A]

Derek thanks for your response as well, I don't subscribe to InDesign Magazine so the article isn't available to view.

[Steve Werner]

I believe you have the option to purchase an individual issue if you're interested. The magazine is well worth it for almost all regular InDesign users, in my opinion. (Fact check: I've been a contributor to InDesign Magazine for a long time.)

[TYPE A]

I came to this forum for help, wasn't expecting to be directed to a website that I had to pay for a possible solution. Not sure why people have the need to respond to someone with a link and not a solution.

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

I think the point of the article Derek is pointing to is that InDesign isn't a database or spreadsheet application. Lots of times, it's better to massage the data before placing it in InDesign because a program like Excel is designed to move and change data. The article points out several ways to do that using methods like formulas, Flash Fill, and other (to me, who doesn't use spreadsheets very often) archane ways of manipulating data. InDesign doesn't natively provide functions like for moving data en masse.

In InDesign, you would probably have to write a script (or pay to have someone write a script) to move data on that scale.

In case you don't get a satisfactory answer in this forum, you might also ask in the InDesign Scripting forum:

InDesign Scripting

[TYPE A]

Thanks Steve, I know InDesign well enough to know it won't act like at spreadsheet/database. I was hoping there might be something new that would do what I'm trying to do, that I wasn't aware of. I can manually edit the Excel file to get what I need, but its probably about the same amount of manual work in InDesign. Thanks for the suggestion to check out scripting, would or could you recommend anyone that does hire out their talents?

Thanks,

Peter

[Steve Werner]

No, but you'll get the best responses in the InDesign Scripting forum that I referred to. I'm not a scripter nor do I ask others to do scripting.