Data Merge Multiple Entries in Single Text Box

[timw63166087]

Is there a quick and easy way to set up the data merge so in will insert multiple entries into a single text box? As an example, a phone directory is set up in an Excel file with different fields for name, phone and address. I want to merge the entries with particular formatting (bold for the name, italics for the address, etc.) and also want all of the entries in a single text box that I can flow from one page to another. I am trying to avoid linking the text boxes are copying and pasting after the merge as there are many entries and would be rather time consuming.

[Laubender · Accepted solution]

Hi timw63166087,

there is no option in the user interface for this kind of work.

However it can be done by script.

Do your data merge with a template that has one single text frame holding the data merge fields.

Do a data merge so that for every result is one single page.

Run the ExtendScript ( JavaScript ) code below that will thread all text frames to one story.

Then select all text in that story and copy it over to your target text frame.

Prerequisites for the script:

[1] Active InDesign document.

[2] Exactly one text frame on every page.

var doc = app.documents[0];
var numPages = doc.pages.length;

for( var n=0; n<numPages-1; n++ )
{
	doc.pages[n].textFrames[0].nextTextFrame =
	doc.pages[n+1].textFrames[0];
};

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )