InDesign 19.5 Not Recognizing Image Paths from CSV Files

Report · Jul 26, 2024

Let me start by saying that I have done this literally hundreds of times so not sure what the problem is. I have watched and looked at websites with no luck, shows exactly the same thing that I have always done. The top field is labeled @psd and @AI and the path is /Links/[filename].psd or .ai. The links folder is found within the same folder that my csv file is in. Will not find ANY of the images. I do this catalog every other month and I have been doing them since 2021 with no issues with the last one from May. Any ideas or help would be appreciated. Not in a super rush for an answer but within the week would be great.

Thanks,

Cesar

Report · Jul 26, 2024

In InDesign 19.4, Adobe quietly changed the way some file paths are handled in InDesign on Mac, which also affected data merge (which initially disrupted workflows of many users).

HOWEVER, you've been already using POSIX paths so, in theory, your CSV files should not be affected.

BUT it appears that some other issues were also introduced, which affected some POSIX paths as well.

First, check these links, they may list a solution for your issue:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/data-merge-not-working-absolute-paths-macos.html

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/data-merge-issues-when-upgrading-to-indesign-19-...

Report · Jul 27, 2024

@El Monte Printing

What is InDesign showing when you highlight link?

What is the displayed path? Is it different to what you have in your CSV?

What if you use it in your CSV?

Report · Jul 27, 2024

Hi @El Monte Printing ,

that's a known bug with InDesign 19.5.

@leo.r wrote: "…HOWEVER, you've been already using POSIX paths so, in theory, your CSV files should not be affected. "

Well. There we have the bug. Old syntax does not work because the change to POSIX. New syntax does not work because of a bug (or missing implementation with data merge).

What to do?
Either go back to the old feature by disabling POSIX paths or go back to version 19.4.

Details: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/data-merge-not-working-absolute-paths-macos.html

Or put the data source file, your *csv or *.txt file, in a folder together with all image files you like to use for the merge and use only the names of the image files in the data source instead of the paths.

Also note that the names of the column heads must not contain a colon : character or the word table (that's no joke!).

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )