Find text and replace with image

[Kevin_Brunner_85]

Hello,

I want to find a text, let's say "test" and replace it with an image (ideally .png). Is that possible? Ideally I would like to have an image anchored within the text. I've found the find/change tool under edit, but it seems I must maintain the format. From text to text or image to image; not changing. 

If I have to write a script, that's not a huge issue.

Thanks very much!

[Peter Spier]

I would say maybe. Try replacing the text with clipboard contents after copying the image to the clipboard

This is going to give you an inline anchored object, if it works, which might not be what you have in mind.

If you provide more info about waht you are doing we might have other suggestions.

[Kevin_Brunner_85]

I have 73 pages (game cards) where I want to have several different images anchored within the texts. I have all the information I need in excel, it's merged into indesign. 

I can't place images into excel cells, so I was hoping to write several strings and just replace them all in indesign. I know I can do it manually, but I'd have to repeat the process about 1,000 times, no exaggeration. Because there is so much to replace, I doubt working with a clipboard will solve it any faster. 

I've been working with ChatGPT to write a java script for this, but it's slow and I know little programming. 

Thanks very much for any help!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

DataMerge should be able to import images in place. 

Or you need custom tool for that - few years ago I've done something like this for PlayFusion - Lightseekers card game - but it requires PSD file with all objects on layers to turn on visibility as required - so you would get final card - texts of course done in InDesign on top. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

And forget about ChatGPT. 

[Peter Spier]

To do this wuith Data Merge your cell should contain the name of the image file you want to use. If the images are in the same folder as the data file you don't need the complete path, just the filename, but you must include the full path for anything not in the same folder. Image field names must be prefaced with the @ symbol in the name row of the data file.

[Kevin_Brunner_85]

Close, yes. I am using that trick to place images. But I also want images (icons) anchored within text. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

You can replace search results with contents of the clipboard - I think it's "^c" - so you need to copy your image into a clipboard first, then do Find&Change.

But you can't do it dynamically - in this case only through scripting. 

[Kevin_Brunner_85]

Thank you.

Yes... it will replace the text with an image loaded onto the clipboard. I'll see if I can execute this painfull solution.

I'll take a look into ID-Tasker too. 

Thanks

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

This kind of functionality - DataMerge and turning on / off layers in the images / PDFs - isn't implemented yet - but if you would like to be a beta tester please let me know. 

[jmlevy]

First, import the image you need, on the pasteboard and copy it, using the selection tool (the black arrow). Then run a find-change, searching for the word you need to change and replace it by “other > clipboard content”  (see screenshot in French).

[Peter Spier]

I get the sense you want a different image on each card, so the clipboard methos is going to be slower than just placing the images manually. See mey previous response about how to set it up ini Data Merge.