Export product data from NetSuite to InDesign

Question

So I have in front of me a catalogue, that requires product info to be assembled in tables. Easy.
Something in the order of 1500 line items, with different sets of specifications depending on the product category... Less easy. 😕😕 Especially when it comes to making changes after the original layout, as I'm discovering.

The raw data lives in NetSuite; company has provided a PDF of all the info as a starting point. My preference is copying the info from an Excel sheet into a table framework and formatting from there. Is there a better way?

Thanks in advance

James Gifford—NitroPress · Accepted Answer

If this is a one-time conversion, and all further work will be done by updating the contents — that is, you aren't expected to take the same raw data everytime — I'd just dump it into a suitably arranged table in ID and start formatting. You'll be done, with ongoing adjustment of styles and layout and first-round proofing, by the time some more "technical" solution could be found, chosen and implemented.

If it's a persistent task, it may be better to look into the conversion tools, plugins and scripting support. But don't get hung up on the latter when a day's work will get the project past the hurdle.

And then, if there is a long term need, work with the client to see if some configuration or extension of their software can generate more suitable data. Too often, it's accepted that however a client can do something is a required starting point. It doesn't need to be.