Excel into InDesign

[ohare0512]

Is anyone aware of a way to import an excel table into InDesign? The table must be editable in InDesign after it's imported.

[SJRiegel]

File>Import will do this. You have the choice of selecting Import options to choose what part of the sheet to import, and whether to format it to an InDesign table style.

[ohare0512]

Thanks for the quick response – do I save the excel in a certain format? I’m not having any luck; when I save the excel and import it into inDesign I cannot modify the imported info. Any thoughts on that?

[SJRiegel]

No idea. When I import exel into InDesign, I get an editable, formattable table. If the file is something you can share, you could upload it to usendit or another file-sharing service and post the link here. I or someone else here could take a look.

[ohare0512]

This is the file I¹ve been trying to import into indesign ­ thanks so much

for all your help!!

[SJRiegel]

The forum does not allow attached files; can you upload it to a server and send me the link?

[ohare0512]

https://www.yousendit.com/download/M3BuS3duTkE4Q1FYRHNUQw

Here you go; thanks again!!

[SJRiegel]

When I put that into my InDesign file, it was editable. Would it be possible to send the InDesign file in question?

[ohare0512]

https://www.yousendit.com/download/M3BuS3dsT01sUi81SE1UQw

[SJRiegel]

Are you using copy>paste to get the excel info into InDesign? That is the only way I could replicate your problem.

From your InDesign document, go to the File menu, and chose Place. Be sure to check the box for Show Import Options, and choose Formatted Table. that will get you the result you need.

Please let me know if this works for you.

[ohare0512]

Thank you!! Thank you! I was doing it wrong; duh!!!

[SJRiegel]

You're welcome.

File>place is the way all content from other applications should be added to InDesign. Save copy>paste for moving things from one InDesign document to another, or one page to another.

I'm glad I was able to help.

[phrogg108]

When I try this, I get little red dots and no data appears.  Is that beacuse I am trying to import a table that has formulas in it?

[Peter Spier]

Little red dots mean the text is overset in the cells, i.e. they are not large enough to hold the data as it is formatted.

[phrogg108]

Even though it came straight from Excel like that?  I am trying to import a table that has a 6pt font and keep it same size in InDesign.  I had a feeling this was going to be the answer.

[Peter Spier]

Are you placing, or pasting? Have you defined cell styles with the correct formatting?

[phrogg108]

I was trying the "place" option, using the instructions above.  The "paste" option doesn't bring over any of the grid lines - unless I am missing something, which is entirely possible!!

The cells are formatted in Excel how we want them.  It is basically a table/chart of tool sizes and diameters that I wanted to get into InDesign so we can do layouts for our formal catalog.

[Peter Spier]

Show the import options when you place and make sure you've selected Formatted Table...

[BobLevine]

That could still result in overset cells because of InDesign's

insistence of having cell insets as the default.

Bob

[phrogg108]

I have tried formatted, unformatted and formatted only once options and I still get the red dots.

Bob - Is it safe to assume there is really nothing I can do other than copy and paste the info and just have to mess with the grid lines some other way?

[Peter Spier]

Try selecting the table and set the cell insets to 0.

[BobLevine]

Dave Saunders wrote a script long ago that set the insets of all linked tables to zero. Not sure it would work with CS6.

[phrogg108]

Peter - THAT WORKED!!!  I think I love you!!!

Thank you SO much for your suggestions everyone!!!!  You all just saved me a LOT of anguish!!!

[ZWise918]

I'm having the same issue, where after I place the formatted excel doc into Indesign, I get a red dot and no data. The excel file I'm trying to place is directly exported from Quickbooks Enterprise Solutions. I've tested placing other excel docs and they seem to work fine. Any Ideas why export from Quick books isn't working? Thanks.

[BobLevine]

You’ll need to make the cells bigger. The red dot indicates overset.

The problem is most likely the cell insets. Change them to zero.