How to Use Data Merge for Multiple Layouts in InDesign

[abdulla_4095]

I have a list of 250 records in excel and including different images to prepare an auction booklet, all data has a typical format but different information.

is there any way that I can use data merge to have a different layout for each record, for example the first page showing the images on the right and the text on the left, the second page showing the flip of the image to have it on the left and the text on the right.

or any other suggestion to help doing so?

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Unfortunately no - DataMerge can be used to either built one long table - or same template filled with a different data - same style "business cards". 

Or... maybe... but I can't check right now - as long as DM would be able to fill Anchored Objects - you could do Multi Record Layout and use Spine Alignment for Anchored Objects. 

[abdulla_4095]

Dear Robert

thank you for your reply. I will search for options maybe i will find something . I am thinking to split the datas into extra columns in excel sheet and to run master page A and different layout in master page B.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

It won't work that way - you can't have multiple layouts during DMing.

[Peter Spier]

But you could do two separate merges to two files, then move pages into one file.

[Laubender]

Hi @abdulla_4095 ,

hm… could you show a screenshot of the result of a single record (of one single row of data in your Excel file) ?

FWIW: It's possible to set up a template for data merge starting with a spread of two pages, one left, one right to the spine.

With a resulting InDesign document after the merge that is showing a multiple of two-page spreads. One spread for each row of data.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[abdulla_4095]

Dear @Laubender 

Thanks for passing by. I have attached the screen shot for sample of the original data from coloumn A to I which title in orange color, another picture for the assumption of the data in one line but double columns orange and blue where orange for even records and blue for the odd records.

I have tested on Microsoft publisher by such way and it it works fine as attached in PDF file and how I was looking to have it in Adobe Indesign.

I will drop the file to our designer to test it again on master A and master B I hope temporary will work.

[Laubender]

Hi @abdulla_4095 ,

well, I see no issue at all to set up two pages in the first (and only) spread of a datamerge template document.

To mirror the image one could set the graphic container frame to -100% for the width, so the recieving image after the merge will be the way you want. But I'm not sure if this will be the right set up for you, because from your screenshot of your data I see that two different (?) images are used, like 562.JPG and 561.JPG. Initially I thought that only one image file is used, left from the spine and again right to the spine only transformed by -100% in width…

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Laubender

OP wants to mirror layout - not the image itself.

[Laubender]

Hi @Robert at ID-Tasker ,

well yes, but this is doable with a frame that is tagged for the same column in the template, only that the frame is set to -100% in the width. Currently I see no issue at all. One could use the same datamerge tag several times in one template layout.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[abdulla_4095]

On real we would like to mirror the layout and if we succeed we can prepare the image box to flip the image as well . This is what I did as a try in thr pdf file.

[abdulla_4095]

Actually each record has its own data and image.

[abdulla_4095]

I guess no direct way to let the Data merge recognizes layout based on the raw sequences , only what comes to mind is to have seperate columns in the data for each page aligned with the layout required.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I guess no direct way to let the Data merge recognizes layout based on the raw sequences , only what comes to mind is to have seperate columns in the data for each page aligned with the layout required.

By @abdulla_4095

No, there isn't, and like I've said earlier - it's either one long table or bunch of the same looking business cards / leaflets.

Have you tried my idea with InLine / Anchored Objects? 

[abdulla_4095]

Dear @Robert at ID-Tasker 

Actually I haven't try Ancored object as our designer not too much aware about how it will work , but I have tried my last method of having double coulmnes for the records and we creat one Mater A and it has two layout with each has different record data and it seems worked fine so far.

attached the resukt of single record in each line with one layout (one way direction of the camle and the text box)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@abdulla_4095

Yes, that's how DM works - and it looks like you have the same design of a "business card" - Text on the left and image on the right - duplicated twice and filled with data from 1st and 2nd record / row of your database, right? 

[abdulla_4095]

Actually it is working for normal layout as a repetitive for each record
with different information and different image, but I was looking for the
way to let record 1,3,5,… image box on right and text box on the left and
the face direction towards the text box . While records 2,4,6… image box on
the left and text box to the right and the image flip vertically so the
camel face towards the right to the text box.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@abdulla_4095

Yes, I know - but you can't do this automatically with built-in DM - so either you'll have to create a design, that spreads both pages AND combine records - or if you can confirm layout of your Pages - maybe my idea with InLine / Anchored Objects will work.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@abdulla_4095 

I might have solution for you - no, not based on my IDT - just a layout that could meet your requirements - but could you please send a "raw" screenshot - with visible edges of the pages, page objects, etc. to confirm if you need real spreads - or fake spreads.

And how will you be printing it?

[abdulla_4095]

I will get that from the designer soon.