Dropdown Menu in InDesign 2024 Remains Empty

[andre_5823]

Hello Adobe Community,

I am experiencing an issue with creating a dropdown menu in Adobe InDesign 2024. Despite following the steps to set up a dropdown menu using the data merge feature, the dropdown menu remains empty.

Here’s a brief overview of the steps I followed:

1. Created a CSV Data Source: I prepared a CSV file with a single column containing the dropdown options.
2. Opened InDesign 2024: I started a new document and opened the Data Merge panel.
3. Selected Data Source: I successfully selected my CSV file as the data source in the Data Merge panel, and I could see the data in the preview.
4. Added Dropdown Menu: I created a rectangle to serve as the dropdown menu and converted it into a dropdown field using the interactive form tools.
5. Linked Data to Dropdown: I attempted to drag the relevant placeholder from the Data Merge panel into the dropdown menu.

Despite these steps, when I export the document as an interactive PDF, the dropdown menu does not display any options; it remains empty.

I have double-checked the CSV file for formatting issues and ensured that there are no extra spaces or errors in the headers. I also confirmed that I have the latest version of InDesign installed.

If anyone has experienced a similar issue or has suggestions for troubleshooting this problem, I would greatly appreciate your help!

Thank you!

Best regards,

Andre Baust

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @andre_5823, 

Thanks for reaching out. As you have mentioned that you work on 2024, could you test this with the 2025 - 20.1 version as well? Before exporting to PDF, do you check the Preview button in the Buttons and Forms panel to check if the dropdown is populated correctly. To help investigate it further, would you mind sharing the details of the OS you use, the CSV file, the respective InDesign file, and the exported PDF? I will perform the test and get back to you. 

Will wait to hear from you. 

^

Abhishek

[andre_5823]

I am using the version shown in the screenshot. Unfortunately, I do not have the option to test another version. Attached is a screenshot of the button settings. I can provide you with the CSV file, the PDF, and the InDesign document. Here is the link to the files.

https://web.tresorit.com/l/EKTs9#hcenH0C6VujAzL7EHd6uUQ 

[leo.r]

Unfortunately, I do not have the option to test another version.

By andre_5823

You can install InDesign 2025 (20.x) from the Creative Cloud app - only make sure to uncheck the option to remove older versions so that you install InDesign 2025 in addition to your existing InDesign 2024.

[andre_5823]

Unfortunately, I cannot install the 2025 version because the software in my company is managed by the IT service. Is there any other solution?

[Derek Cross]

Are you sure, given all the various kinds of PDF Readers being used by people on various devices, this is a realistic possibility – you might be better using another format, such as FXL ePub, Publish Online or dropping the idea1

[andre_5823]

The approach does not apply to me, as the form is used only internally within the company, so everyone has the same PDF reader.

[Derek Cross]

Fair enough. Maybe also post in the Acrobat Forum to see if they have any ideas.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@andre_5823

Can you post some screenshot showing your exact steps and settings? And contents of the CSV file. 

[andre_5823]

Here are the Links to the original files:

https://web.tresorit.com/l/EKTs9#hcenH0C6VujAzL7EHd6uUQ 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Can you post link to the tutorial you've been using?

[andre_5823]

What do you mean with tutorial?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

What do you mean with tutorial?

By andre_5823

From your opening post: 

"Despite following the steps to set up a dropdown menu using the data merge feature, the dropdown menu remains empty." 

What steps have you followed? 

[andre_5823]

1. I created a CSV Data Source
2. I created a new Indesign File
3. I selected in Data Merge the CSV File and added to InDesign
4. I created a Dropdown Menu
5. I linked the Data with the Dropdown Menu
6. I exported to PDF(interactive)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Maybe I'm missing something - but I never heard about an option to populate drop down list with data from DataSource? 

Were you also expecting to get the rest of the data automatically populated in other places - based on the element selected in the drop down list - when viewing PDF in Acrobat? 

[Derek Cross]

As I mentioned, the OP is wasting his time hoping to implement this feature in an Interactive PDF. 

[Joel Cherney]

I don't think so; I perform similar tasks, all the time. If I'm using ExtendScript or JS to build interactive PDF forms, which is something I've literally been doing six to seven days a week for the last nine months, it's neither hard nor a waste of time. I'd expect to populate a dropdown from CSV, using JS in Acrobat, at least in my own workflow. I'm not a particularly skilled or fast JS scripter, either, so if I look at a task like this and say to myself "Sure, I could write that in an afternoon," then it's not that hard.

If 100% of the users of said interactive PDFs are forced to open them in Acrobat, I'd argue that it's not a waste of time for the end users, either. There are plenty of good arguments against relying on interactive PDF, but no one has yet made such a case in this thread that could apply to the OP's case of an internal company form where everyone is using the same PDF reader. (I suppose that the OP would have to specify that they were all using the same compliant PDF reader, which would have to be Acrobat, or perhaps Foxit?)

I've never tried to populate the contents of a dropdown in InDesign with a script, but I've certainly done so with many other form field properties. However, I don't believe that there is a way to automatically populate the contents of a dropdown field from CSV using Data Merge. (Andre, that's your "Step 5" in response to Robert; "5. I linked the Data with the Dropdown Menu.") When I do it, I use a script parse the CSV and loop through all of the relevant form fields, using the CSV data to e.g. assign font sizes or alignments or descriptions to form fields. 

Andre, does any of this sound like it would be useful to you?

Derek, I think that Publish Online is a fine solution to an issue like this, but I'd argue strenuously against using FXL EPUB. Maybe you've had successes with this format? Honestly, I'd be surprised & impressed.  

[Jeffrey_Smith]

I do not know of any way to use datamerge to populate the options of a list box or combo box. There are scripts that can autopopulate list/combo boxes, but not in the data merge process. Here is the link to view scripts.

[andre_5823]

Since it is not directly possible in InDesign to link a dropdown menu to the Data Merge feature in such a way that selecting an option from the dropdown automatically displays a specific row from the Data Merge, I have taken a different approach:

I have created a dropdown menu filled with data from the "Tag_Nr" column. In the form, I also have the Data Merge entry labeled "Tag_Nr." Is it possible for the selection made in the dropdown menu to be reflected in the Data Merge entry "Tag_Nr," allowing the other Data Merge fields to be populated accordingly?

Perhaps this could be achieved through a script.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@andre_5823

It's doable - but not with InDesign alone - there are extra steps required in Acrobat.

[andre_5823]

Ok no problem. Have you a tutorial for me?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Ok no problem. Have you a tutorial for me?

By andre_5823

Unfortunately not "in one piece". 

It requires creating PDF in InDesign in a specific way - then injecting JavaScript in Acrobat. 

[andre_5823]

I wrote a JavaScript with an if statement. Unfortunately, it does not work. My JavaScript is as follows:

// Funktion, um die Auswahl im Dropdown-Menü zu überprüfen und das Data Merge Feld zu aktualisieren
function updateDataMergeField() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;

    // Zugriff auf das Dropdown-Menü
    var dropdownField = doc.formFields.item("myDropdown"); // Ersetzen Sie "myDropdown" durch den Namen Ihres Dropdowns
    var selectedValue = dropdownField.selectedItem; // Wert aus dem Dropdown-Menü

    // Zugriff auf das Textfeld für das Data Merge Feld
    var dataMergeField = doc.textFrames.item("dataMergeField"); // Ersetzen Sie "dataMergeField" durch den Namen Ihres Data Merge Feldes

    // Überprüfen, ob eine gültige Auswahl getroffen wurde
    if (selectedValue) {
        // Hier setzen wir den Inhalt des Data Merge Feldes auf den ausgewählten Wert
        dataMergeField.contents = selectedValue; // Übertragen der Auswahl auf das Data Merge Feld
        alert("Das Data Merge Feld <<Bau Nr.>> wurde aktualisiert mit: " + selectedValue);
    } else {
        alert("Bitte wählen Sie eine Bau-Nr aus dem Dropdown-Menü.");
    }
}

// Skript ausführen
updateDataMergeField();

Where could my mistake be? The following error message appears:

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@andre_5823

ChatGPT?