Data Merge error message

[KPinta]

I keep receiving this message when selecting Data Source in InDesign: "The data source cannot be opened. Confirm that the file exists and that you have rights to open it, then choose the Select Data Source command again." I saved my excel file as a .csv file. What else needs to be done or isn't being done right?

[Peter Spier]

make sure you've also closed it in Excel.

[KPinta]

Below is a sample of what I am trying to merge into InDesign. Do the fields look right to you? Or are the comma and dollar signs a problem when it comes to merging?

Item #	Description	Reg price	Sale Price	$ Saved
00015	Garbanzo	1.75	1.48	$0.27
00019	Great Northerns		1.49	-$1.49
03112	Mango		7.69	-$7.69
03309	Raisins, Flame	3.19	2.71	$0.48
00504	Barley, Hull Less	1.99	1.69	$0.30
01322	Greenwheat Freekeh, Crack’d		2.69	-$2.69
01330	Almonds, Hickory Smoked		4.49	-$4.49
01332	Almonds, Honey Roasted		4.69	-$4.69
09301	PnutBtrStkSplts/Rst/BlncdUSA		2.54	-$2.54
02550	Sesame, White, Hulled		2.79	-$2.79
11358	Black Cherry		0.79	-$0.79
11362	Blueberry		0.79	-$0.79
11357	Boysenberry		0.79	-$0.79
11361	Lemon Twist	0.99	0.79	$0.20
11342	Vanilla	0.99	0.79	$0.20
11343	Blueberry	0.99	0.79	$0.20
13105	Plain	3.99	2.99	$1.00

[Peter Spier]

The text file would be more useful, but that looks OK...

[michael_ettershank]

I am also getting this exact same problem, were you able to find a way to fix it?

[Colin Flashman · Accepted solution]

The answer was in the first reply to the post on this thread - this message (i've attached it below)

Can occur when the txt/csv file being opened is currently open somewhere else. Typically this is when it is still open in software such as Microsoft Excel. Close the software that may have that file open and try importing the data again.

[3Data]

So the error message should simple say "confirm the document is not open in another application" instead of this message. Typical Adobe -- no one is paying attention to details.

[Colin Flashman]

The error dialog boxes that can appear during a data merge can leave many users (particularly first-time users) scratching their heads, and there's no troubleshooting guide to explain what the errors mean.

To that end, I wrote a piece on indesignsecrets that attempts to bridge that gap: http://indesignsecrets.com/troubleshooting-data-merge-errors.php

[architectonicker]

Just close the file-Excel file that you need to import the data from, before importing the data, and it will work.

[rachelology]

I'm still having a similar issue. Even when Excel is not open anymore I get the same error. Any other fixes?

[Vivek12]

Hi, Sorry for the trouble. Please try the steps suggested in this link and share the outcome.

^VS

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I'm still having a similar issue. Even when Excel is not open anymore I get the same error. Any other fixes?

By @rachelology

Could you please describe exactly what is the problem?