Update Pricing InDesign

[graphicdesign1b9210260]

I created a catalog of over 2000 items and would like to know the best way to update the pricing without checking each item individually. I created the first catalog in InDesign by importing an excel document into tables and then formatted within InDesign. I am not sure that InCopy is the best program to use. Is there another program someone can suggest?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You can link to Excel files (tables) and then update them in InDesign. You have to do ALL your formatting with Table and Cell styles, or the formatting is removed when you update. (You can reapply it however.) That way, any updates to the data in Excel get updated in the InDesign file automatically.

It might be a good idea to re-flow the Excel file with the link intact. There are third-party plugins that can do more complex layout work too.

Here are some links on working with table styles and linking to Excel files:

https://redokun.com/blog/create-or-insert-a-table-in-indesign

https://redokun.com/blog/link-indesign-tables-to-excel-spreadsheets

https://redokun.com/blog/indesign-table-styles

[graphicgrandma]

I publish catalogs also and have used Meadows Publishing program called AutoPrice (which is now called DesignMerge I believe) which works great for linking pricing in a document to a database.  All prices are coded and can be updated year to year with a new data base file like Excel.

However, I have finally bit the bullet and upgrade to Creative Cloud for my InDesign, which means I need to upgrade my AutoPrice app also -- to the tune of $3500.00.  Yes, that much.  I have tried to find an alternative to this program, but have had no luck in just using an online search.

Does anybody out there have an idea for me and graphicdesign1b… above??

[Peter Kahrel]

Maybe this one works for you: http://www.kahrel.plus.com/indesign/price_adjuster.html

[graphicgrandma]

Thanks, Peter.  I do not see whether your app updates prices based on a database file, which is what I need.  The current plugin that I use codes each price to link to a database file, which changes prices when I introduce a new file.

If I change the process, I have to determine which is more cost effective:  recoding over 800 pages of item pricing (hours and hours of work) or paying the high price of the update.

[FRIdNGE]

Could you simply show a page (preview + with invisible chars)? …

[graphicgrandma]

[graphicgrandma]

This is a screen shot of a catalog page with coded prices.  The blue underline shows where the prices are coded.  It does not show up on a regular pdf file.

[Laubender]

If there would be a 1:1 relationship with price to catalog number this could be scriptable.

Say, if there is a price detected in one cell the row's first cell is always showing the catalog number

And that catalog number together with the new price can be pulled e.g. from an Excel data sheet that is orderly organized.

Can you show a screenshot of the same page where frame edges are showing and also non-printing characters?

Regards,
Uwe

[FRIdNGE]

Hi Uwe,

It seems to me it would be more interesting to have a screenshot of the corresponding page into Excel!

So … it could be … simple … to play!

But why not simply use a previous version of ID with an already-paid Auto-price version!?

Best,

M

[Laubender]

https://forums.adobe.com/people/Michel+%5BFRIdNGE%5D  wrote

…But why not simply use a previous version of ID with an already-paid Auto-price version!?

Hm, yes. That would be the best idea. 🙂

Well, could be an issue if the old version will not run with a current operating system on a new PC.

But for this there could be solutions as well…

Regards,
Uwe

[Laubender]

Hi,

Peter's script is working with one premise:

All prices should be updated by one mutual rule.

E.g. Add one Dollar to all prices. Or all prices should be lowered to 90 % etc..pp.

If there is no mutual rule and you rely on a data bases where some prices change, some do not chnage, you cannot use the script.

Regards,
Uwe

[graphicgrandma]

Thanks, that's what I suspected.

[Dadamann]

What did you end up doing? Have you looked at incatalog from emsoftware?