Sequential numbering on same page

[JayNewWeb]

I create little "lot number" labels in InDesign that we manually put on each bottle of our product. I print them on a sheet of 80 labels per page -- 4 columns by 20 rows. I create the first label at the top left of the page and then use Step and Repeat to paste it into the rest of the page (columns and rows).

Now I want to also put a "unique identification code" on each bottle, meaning a unique ID number on each label.

Any chance that can be done in InDesign in a nice, clean, "automated" way using some manner of sequential numbering?

Thanks!

[vladan saveljic]

take a look here:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/data-merge.html

[Mitchell Small]

I am trying something similar: I need sequentially number tickets, printer 2 columns by 4 rows per page. I tried this and it doesn't work the way I need it to behave.

I created a tab delimited data source. headed tik num, and the numbers 1 to 60. I created a page with 8 objects (tickets) and a separate place for the ticket number to appear. What I got was entire pages with the same number on each page.

Not what I needed.

There's another answer here I'm going to try next.

[SJRiegel]

Your problem is that you put eight instances of the ticket on the page. When you do that, each instance will be populated with the same info, and on the next page, each will populate with the second number.  

What you need to to to get your expected result is to start with only one instance of your ticket on the page, then use the tools within data merge to postion the rest of the tickets on the page.

[SJRiegel]

Like this:

   

(I couldn't edit my earlier post to add images)

[nigelfrench · Accepted solution]

Try this…
Drag out a text frame that covers your page. While still holding the mouse button, tap the Right Arrow to create columns and the Up Arrow to create rows. This will create a framework of threaded text frames.

In the first frame, Option/Alt click the Numbered list icon on the Control Panel. Choose whether you want a period after the number. Remove the Tab after the number.

Back in the layout, press Enter/Return as many times as necessary to make an entry in each of the text frames. 

You may need to experiment with the Mode (Start at) options in the Numbered List dialog. You can also right-click on a number to restart the numbering from that point. 

Hope that helps.

Nigel

[JayNewWeb]

That worked. Thanks!