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Tom_01
Tom_01
Known Participant
April 30, 2018
Question

multiple variables in one document?

  • April 30, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 2421 views

I've read through this article about variables in Photoshop (https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/creating-data-driven-graphics.html) and I only see a way to export each record/index from the data set into its own file.

However, I would actually like to lay out each record/index in the same document. (I think InDesign has this function called a "Multiple Record" page). Is there any way to do this?

Thanks,

Tom

This topic has been closed for replies.

3 replies

S
Community Expert
SJRiegelCommunity Expert
Community Expert
April 30, 2018

Tom_01  wrote

. (I think InDesign has this function called a "Multiple Record" page). Is there any way to do this?

Thanks,

Tom

Is there a reason you don't want to do this in InDesign?

Tom_01
Tom_01Author
Known Participant
April 30, 2018

Yes. First, it would ideally all be done in Photoshop since that's the program I'm going to be working in (less programs is faster).

And second, from what I've read, Multiple Records only works in InDesign when all the records are kept on one page. That seems like it might cause me more problems down the road if I'd like to export a multi-page pdf.

S
Community Expert
SJRiegelCommunity Expert
Community Expert
May 1, 2018

I have never found that using fewer programs is any faster than using each program for what it does best. 

As far as InDesign Data Merge, you can choose to have one record per page or several records per page.

What is the final form and use for these files?

Norman Sanders
Norman Sanders
Legend
April 30, 2018

When the Variables work has been completed, you may try File > Scripts > Load Files into Stack... then choose Browse and choose all the files you created (in the folder holding the files, click on the first one then hold down the Shift key and click on the last one to choose all of them). They will show up as layers in a single file which can then be saved. Try this with a few files and see if it works for you.

Tom_01
Tom_01Author
Known Participant
April 30, 2018

Hi Norman,

That sounds like a last resort. The files get "baked" ie are no longer linked with the data set, right? That's not what I'm looking for.

(But I didn't know about the Load Files into Stack script--that is super handy! Thank you!)

Thanks,

Tom

Norman Sanders
Norman Sanders
Legend
April 30, 2018

Right. Tom. They are no longer linked to your data set. Sorry.

Bojan Živković11378569
Community Expert
Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
Community Expert
April 30, 2018

If I can understand you correctly the answer is no. I think that you want multiple files created using variables to blend them, for example. The only way is to create more layers in the same document and to assign variables to them.

Tom_01
Tom_01Author
Known Participant
April 30, 2018

Hi Bojan,

Here's a diagram:

Bojan Živković11378569
Community Expert
Bojan Živković11378569Community Expert
Community Expert
May 1, 2018

It looks to me that you want single file with multiple artboards. It is doable using variables. Your data will contain only single data set and you will have multiple compositions or creations in single file. You can export artboards as pdf, by the way.

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