Find/Change after Data Merge

[jason.wester906]

I have a CSV document that I'm using for a data merge. In the original XSL document, the customer designated text in one column as different colors. This is a list of wedding guests and the color-coded column represents their meal choice. The resulting InDesign product needs to show this column in three different colors. I think that Find/Change might be a good way to do this.

I've tried to set it up so that I can find the unique character and set it to change colors. This works on the first page, but won't continue to "change all" throughout the 80-page document that resulted from the data merge.

Since my explanation makes sense to me, but maybe not to you; I've attached screenshots. In this image, I need to keep every "B" as red and change every "S" to pink.

Any help would be appreciated. This is only my second month using this software, so any alternative ideas would also be great!

[Colin Flashman · Accepted solution]

I would do this with a GREP style. If you haven't used them before, have a look at this tutorial: Use Grep Styles in Adobe InDesign - YouTube

I wrote an article about doing something similar to this here: https://indesignsecrets.com/changing-colors-during-a-data-merge.php

[jason.wester906]

Great, thanks! I'll take a look.