Skip to main content
LaurentDesignbureau
LaurentDesignbureau
Inspiring
December 2, 2024
Answered

Import structured CSV data (into textbox not to multiple pages) using Merge Data (or other method)

  • December 2, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 1154 views

We would like to import structured data from a website to a print document. (artactuel.lu)

The developers could export the content the way me (graphic designer) an InDesign need it.

These 2 screenshots show the existing print document and a table I created to show the data structure.

I would at first like to know if this is possible. Any more detailed suggestions are welcome.
(sorry for may bad english)

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer LaurentDesignbureau

If it's TEXT ONLY - no Anchored / InLine graphics - then there is a 3rd option - InDesign Tagged Text.

 

It's kind of HTML - and you could export text fully styled from your database. 

 

You can then skip missing parts and still have everything styled correctly. 

 

There are not much specification about it - so the best approach is to prepare a sample layout in InDesign and export and then check contents of the produced file. 

 

There is also 4th option - IDML - but that would be rather too extreme solution for you. 

 


Oh yes that's cool!
I think Tagged Text is my solution. Thank you.
I have to experiment a little bit more...

2 replies

LaurentDesignbureau
LaurentDesignbureauAuthor
Inspiring
December 3, 2024

I am a Step further.
Still have to find out how to get nice multiple lines seperated by line breake for the info part...

Robert at ID-Tasker
Robert at ID-Tasker
Brainiac
December 3, 2024

As discussed in the thread provided - import it as a table - then convert to text - no need for DataMerge. 

 

You can either use my method - style each column first then convert to text - or convert to text then use Next Style method. 

 

    LaurentDesignbureau
    LaurentDesignbureauAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2024

    Please check this post from that thread: 

     

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/one-line-bold-in-a-list/m-p/15000659#M599107

     


    Ok I got that. Thank you.
    2 questions:

    1. So do I understand right that Data merge does not do the import into one Textbox thing I asked for above?
    2. Is it possible to include the paragraph style information in the tab-delimited file? Even if it would be a very complicate file (remember we will produce this file out of a web database)

     

    This will not be a one shot Job. I or even somebody else, will have to do this regurlarly. So I want be shure to use the right method and I want to automate it as much as possible. I want as much work to be done on the developers side during export.

    Robert at ID-Tasker
    Robert at ID-Tasker
    Brainiac
    December 2, 2024

    Please check this thread: 

     

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/one-line-bold-in-a-list/td-p/15000172 

     

    LaurentDesignbureau
    LaurentDesignbureauAuthor
    Inspiring
    December 3, 2024

    Thank you, the thread gave me some answers.
    I can not find out how to merge my data into one single text box instead of multiple pages.

    I was able to import my data and format it more or less to my needs but I always end up with multiple pages containing one line of the Excell sheet. I would like to to have the lines separated by a Return.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices