script to export a PDF from a data merge

[samir_4316]

"I am attempting to create a script to export a PDF from a data merge, but nothing is working.

[brian_p_dts]

Can you show your script?

[samir_4316]

// InDesign Script to Merge Data and Export as PDF

var savePath = "C:/Users/Samir/Desktop/Sam/Merged_Output.pdf";

// Check if a document is open

if (app.documents.length > 0) {

    var doc = app.activeDocument;

    // Check if Data Merge is set up

    if (doc.dataMergeProperties && doc.dataMergeProperties.dataMergeFields.length > 0) {

        var dataMerge = doc.dataMergeProperties;

        try {

            // Set Data Merge to merge ALL records into a new document

            dataMerge.dataMergePreferences.recordSelection = RecordSelection.ALL_RECORDS;

            // Merge all records into a new document

            var mergedDoc = dataMerge.mergeRecords();

            // Check if the merge was successful

            if (mergedDoc) {

                // Activate the merged document before exporting

                app.activeDocument = mergedDoc;

                // Try to get the PDF export preset

                var pdfPresetName = "[High Quality Print]"; // Change if needed

                var pdfPreset = null;

                if (app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName(pdfPresetName).isValid) {

                    pdfPreset = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName(pdfPresetName);

                } else {

                    alert("Warning: PDF preset '" + pdfPresetName + "' not found. Using default settings.");

                }

                // Export the merged document as PDF

                mergedDoc.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(savePath), false, pdfPreset);

                // Close the merged document without saving

                mergedDoc.close(SaveOptions.NO);

                alert("PDF successfully exported to:\n" + savePath);

            } else {

                alert("Error: Merged document was not created.");

            }

        } catch (e) {

            alert("Error during Data Merge or PDF Export:\n" + e.message);

        }

    } else {

        alert("No Data Merge fields found. Please ensure a Data Merge file is linked.");

    }

} else {

    alert("No document open. Please open a document and try again.");

}

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@samir_4316 

What error do you get?

[brian_p_dts]

Pretty sure this line: 

            var mergedDoc = dataMerge.mergeRecords()

Needs to be: 

dataMerge.dataMerge.mergeRecords()

Chatgpt ain't too bright sometimes

[samir_4316]

I believe DataMergeExportFormat is not a valid object in InDesign scripting. I've tried multiple approaches, including AI, but none have worked. It seems that InDesign scripting doesn't support exporting Data Merge directly in the way I expected.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I believe DataMergeExportFormat is not a valid object in InDesign scripting. I've tried multiple approaches, including AI, but none have worked. It seems that InDesign scripting doesn't support exporting Data Merge directly in the way I expected.

By @samir_4316

What way do you expect? 

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DataMerge.html#d1e418772__d1e418948 

"AI" lacks experience... 

[brian_p_dts]

Did you try my solution?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

"I am attempting to create a script to export a PDF from a data merge, but nothing is working.

By @samir_4316

Not sure how we can help you - without seeing your code...