Excel - Update in Indesign and keep styles

[Elisabete Pereira]

Hello!

I'm trying to import an excel sheet to Indesign so I can update data in Excel and automatically get uptdated in Indesign. I read some topics here and I already get to import a table keeping the style (with the import options). I also read that to be able to update data in Indesign I had to import the table with no format, but, when I do that and change in the Excel, it does appear any alert about the changes and does not update the data in Indesgin. Can you help to understand what i'm doing wrong? Thank you! BR, Elisabete

[jmlevy]

Did you tick this checkbox in the preferences?

I also read that to be able to update data in Indesign I had to import the table with no format

It is not exactly that: you can import a formatted table, but if you modify the format in InDesign and then, if you change the data of the Excel file, you will loose the local InDesign format modifications.

[Elisabete Pereira]

Hi!

Thank you very much for your help and quick reply.

In fact, the problem it was exactly that check box. Now it's working perfectly. 

And thanks for the clarification about the styles and formats.

[Elisabete Pereira]

Is there any way to keep that checkbox selected? Because everytime I close InDesign and reopen it I have to tick that option again.

Thank you!

[jmlevy · Accepted solution]

Do it without any opened document. Quit and relaunch.

[Elisabete Pereira]

Perfect! Thanks again. 

[Abby Musardo]

Hi! Do you know if there is a way to KEEP the local InDesign format modifications when the excel file updates? Thanks!

[BobLevine]

You need to use table/cell styles for this to work.

In the future, please do not hijack old threads. It makes it harder for everyone including you to get answers. I'm going to lock this thread. If you need more information, please start a new discussion.