Support for Mac Numbers

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
September 13, 2020
3 replies
344 views

Please add support for Numbers on Mac. I know that you can export a Numbers file into an Excel format and then import it to Indesign, but true native support would accelerate the worflow for all Numbers users.

This topic has been closed for replies.

rob day

Community Expert

If something can be easily scripted it usually doesn’t get added as a feature. The export to csv format can be scripted via Applescript. Not sure if this would work in all cases but try this—it asks you to choose a numbers file, exports it as .csv to the same folder, and then places it on the active page or current selection:

set nf to choose file "Select a Numbers file to place"
tell application "Finder"
	set pf to parent of nf as alias
	set n to name of nf
	set csvpath to pf & text 1 thru -9 of n & ".csv" as string
end tell

tell application "Numbers"
	try
		open nf
		set mycsv to export front document to file csvpath as CSV
		close front document saving no
	end try
end tell

tell application id "com.adobe.indesign"
	if (count documents) is equal to 0 then
		display dialog "Please open a document" buttons " OK " default button 1 with icon caution
		return -128
	end if
	if selection is {} then
		set i to place csvpath as alias on active page of layout window 1
	else
		set i to place csvpath as alias on selection
	end if
end tell

BobLevine

Community Expert

CSV would be useful for a data merge but I think the OP wants to place a table into InDesign.

rob day

Community Expert

Right, then the Numbers export can be to Excel format.

set nf to choose file "Select a Numbers file to place"
tell application "Finder"
	set pf to parent of nf as alias
	set n to name of nf
	set xlspath to pf & text 1 thru -9 of n & ".xls" as string
end tell

tell application "Numbers"
	try
		open nf
		set myxls to export front document to file xlspath as Microsoft Excel
		close front document saving no
	end try
end tell

tell application id "com.adobe.indesign"
	if (count documents) is equal to 0 then
		display dialog "Please open a document" buttons " OK " default button 1 with icon caution
		return -128
	end if
	if selection is {} then
		set i to place xlspath as alias on active page of layout window 1
	else
		set i to place xlspath as alias on selection
	end if
end tell

BobLevine

Community Expert

Don't hold your breath. The number of users of that application are minuscule compared to MS Office users. With all of the other problems InDesign has that need to be fixed you're not likely to garner many votes. You certainly won't get one from me.

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

Wow. I guess it's good then that you're not the person who gets to decide this then, isn't it?

BobLevine

Community Expert

Neither good nor bad...just a fact.

If you want to lead the OP to think there's a shot at this, go for it, I'm more into the truth and the fact is that as a Mac Only application that most people don't use, I see a near-zero chance of the InDesign team spending what little resources they have on adding something that has an easy workaround.

Randy Hagan

Community Expert

While this sin't the place where you can make a new feature request, per se, I can lead you in the right direction. Just click on the link below, and you can file your request directly with Adobe Systems:

Adobe Bug Report/Feature Request

Good luck,

Randy

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