Using Data merge, you can merge a data source file (CSV or TXT) to create multiple versions of an InDesign document. It is possible that you encounter error messages in this process. See the table below for the common error messages associated with data merge and how to troubleshoot them. Error Message Reason Solution The data source cannot be opened. When the source file (exported from Microsoft Excel as a CSV or TXT file) is still open in the application. Close the Microsoft Excel document and try again. The selected data source has one or more empty field names. One or more field name in the header row is missing. These include blank columns as well which must have a field name. Check the source file for missing field names. Remove any blank columns. The data source file you selected either has no records or is not a supported file format. Importing a Microsoft Excel file instead of a CSV or TXT file. Importing blank or incomplete TXT file. Check the file name and save it using the format dropdown in the save dialog box. There is a least one data placeholder that cannot be found in the data source. Mostly occurs when updating data sources. Common causes include: Renaming field headers Incorrect data source selection. Corrupt field name. Start a new Data Merge project. Re-link the updated data source. Check the field names and field headers. Not well-formed Two or more colons are in the field name (neither at the start or end of a field name). Delete colons in field names when creating a database for a Data Merge file. Content contains characters that cannot be encoded. The data source is a PDF or Ai file that isn’t intended to be used as a Data Merge database. Select CSV or TXT file instead. Generic extended parser error. The data source is an HTML file that isn’t intended to be used as a Data Merge database. There’s a colon within the field name. Select CSV or TXT file for Data Merge. Keep the colon at the start or end (or both) of the field name. The data source references one or more missing images. Referenced links in the image fields of the data source are missing. Fix the links in the Data source and then update the data source. Import failing without any error message. The first line of the file has no value. Mismatch in fields of the header rows and database rows. Add a header row with field names. Update missing field names Thanks to our ACP, Colin Flashman who had authored this information on indesignsecrets.com where you can find more information. If these solutions do not help and you need more assistance, reply to this post providing details of the Error Message and the procedures you performed before it. We will do our best to help.

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Fix Data Merge Errors in InDesign

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
August 21, 2020
13 replies
53205 views

Using Data merge, you can merge a data source file (CSV or TXT) to create multiple versions of an InDesign document. It is possible that you encounter error messages in this process. See the table below for the common error messages associated with data merge and how to troubleshoot them.

Error Message	Reason	Solution
The data source cannot be opened.	When the source file (exported from Microsoft Excel as a CSV or TXT file) is still open in the application.	Close the Microsoft Excel document and try again.
The selected data source has one or more empty field names.	One or more field name in the header row is missing. These include blank columns as well which must have a field name.	Check the source file for missing field names. Remove any blank columns.
The data source file you selected either has no records or is not a supported file format.	Importing a Microsoft Excel file instead of a CSV or TXT file. Importing blank or incomplete TXT file.	Check the file name and save it using the format dropdown in the save dialog box.
There is a least one data placeholder that cannot be found in the data source.	Mostly occurs when updating data sources. Common causes include: Renaming field headers Incorrect data source selection. Corrupt field name.	Start a new Data Merge project. Re-link the updated data source. Check the field names and field headers.
Not well-formed	Two or more colons are in the field name (neither at the start or end of a field name).	Delete colons in field names when creating a database for a Data Merge file.
Content contains characters that cannot be encoded.	The data source is a PDF or Ai file that isn’t intended to be used as a Data Merge database.	Select CSV or TXT file instead.
Generic extended parser error.	The data source is an HTML file that isn’t intended to be used as a Data Merge database. There’s a colon within the field name.	Select CSV or TXT file for Data Merge. Keep the colon at the start or end (or both) of the field name.
The data source references one or more missing images.	Referenced links in the image fields of the data source are missing.	Fix the links in the Data source and then update the data source.
Import failing without any error message.	The first line of the file has no value. Mismatch in fields of the header rows and database rows.	Add a header row with field names. Update missing field names

Thanks to our ACP, Colin Flashman who had authored this information on indesignsecrets.com where you can find more information.

If these solutions do not help and you need more assistance, reply to this post providing details of the Error Message and the procedures you performed before it. We will do our best to help.

Correct answer wahyuariprasasmita

Ohh, I already know what the problem is. Because of the multiple paragraphs that have entered into my sheet data, I solved it with a different sheet for that sentence. Sorry for the disturbance, guys!

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alexb67591152

New Participant

You are just repeating the obvious answers, but not offering any real solutions. Typical of adobe

C

Cherelyn247425606lqm

New Participant

No they're not repeating the obvious answers. This post was vital for me yesterday when tracking down a data merge issue.

I for one am very grateful for the post.

Colin Flashman

Community Expert

I'd written a similar article for IDS: https://indesignsecrets.com/troubleshooting-data-merge-errors.php

If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!

Sheena Kaul

Author

Community Manager

Hi Colin,

I'd seen your post on InDesign secrets and I completely liked the way you've collated the information there and I wrote a similar post in Adobe community because we did not have any dedicated help article for the same.

Regards,

Sheena