Merge - keep formatting (from excel)

[ogutuie]

Hello,

I have many excel files everyone with multiple sheets so it's time to use the fabulous merge function.

The problem that I have is that some words are formatted with bold, italic, etc

Well, how to keep them considering that tab-delimited, csv, utf, keeps only simple text?

I found somewhere on the internet that there is a way to "export that formatting from excel" somehow "including it" and then importing it to indesign. There were no details specified.

Can it be done?

Also, can you select multiple words in one paragraph? random words, not continous.

Thanks.

*I'm a very tidy person so I can assure you guys that first I've serched the internet and then I came here

[SJRiegel]

If the specific words that need formatting are the same ones throughtout any given paragraph style, you could use GREP styles.

[ogutuie]

More or less they are the same but not quite :), they are ingredients which need to be very visible because they are allergens.

[S Hopkins]

Hi,

Have you thought of importing the Excel file and then converting the table to text. You can set the table formatting property of excel import preferences to excel formatted table. This keeps the formattting intact. Just a thought...

[ogutuie]

Hello, I know that the table keeps the formatting but I need to put that information in a layout design, I can't keep it a table. That's why I use the merge function.

[S Hopkins]

It sounded as if you were working with blocks of text (not data fields) so converting the placed table to tab/return delimited text in InDesign might work for you.

[ogutuie]

I put a picture in the post, can it be seen?

[ogutuie]

[S Hopkins]

I created a quick test concept script to see how using the table converted to text would work. This means, of course, that you would use a scripted solution rather than merge (sorry). Below is the screen capture of a sample Excel file as placed and converted to text. To the right is the styled text.

[ogutuie]

Wow, I work in indesign but I never did get that far in creating a script all by myself, essentially this would work, I just have to import one "table" at a time from excel. Could you give me thar script please to test it on this job?

[S Hopkins]

Hi, I did say it was a proof of concept (not error proof). I will need to finalize it. Are you on Mac or Windows?

[ogutuie]

🙂sorry, as I said I have no idea about creating a script and the work behind it, I don't want you to work probably quite some hours. I know that these things cost, and I respect work, so thank you for your answer and help, I will get my job done the best way I can and perhaps with baby steps I will begin learning how to create indesign scripts. Plus, this job of mine is for work so it wouldn't be fare to use someone else's work.

Maybe you will create this script and put it on sale, thus helping other people who need this. 

Thanks again for all the help guys.

[S Hopkins]

One reason that I did the proof of concept was that I thought it would be a good subject for my blog next week (yourscriptdoctor.com/blogs). However, it currently is written for Mac (AppleScript).