Data Merge: Multiple Record Layout

[Christina...@adobeforums.com]

Hello,

I am trying to do a data merge to create a document in a format almost like a directory. I have alot of data to import and to physically type it out will take forever. For example, the placeholders I am using look like this:

(All on 1 page)
<<publication>>
<<number of issues>>
<<publisher>>
<<price>>

<publication>>
<<number of issues>>
<<publisher>>
<price>>

<publication>>
<<number of issues>>
<<publisher>>
<price>>

I want the data to merge to look like this once the placeholders are filled with the info from my txt file:

(All on 1 page)
journal
4 per year
Norman Publishers
$45

book
5 per year
Wild Publishers
$56

manuscript
6 per year
French Publishers
$34

and I want it to continue this way throughout the document....

I am trying to do this by choosing multiple record layout while merging the data, but InDesign continues to place each field on a separate page so it looks like this:

(Page 1)
journal
4 per year
Norman Publishers
$45

journal
4 per year
Norman Publishers
$45

journal
4 per year
Norman Publishers
$45

(Page 2)
book
5 per year
Wild Publishers
$56

book
5 per year
Wild Publishers
$56

book
5 per year
Wild Publishers
$56

(Page 3)
manuscript
6 per year
French Publishers
$34

manuscript
6 per year
French Publishers
$34

manuscript
6 per year
French Publishers
$34

I have followed the directions in the InDesign help under Data Merge Layout Options, but it continues to format the data as if I were making letters or flyers but I want to format it to look like labels or a directory.

The spreadsheet I converted to a txt file was formatted like this:

publication number of issues publisher price
journal 5 per year Norman Publishers $45
book 4 per year Wild Publishers $56
manuscript 6 per year French Publishers $34

Is there a step I am missing? as far as I know I have followed all the directions correctly. I am sorry this posting is so long, but I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. I hope someone can help me, thank you!

[boblevine]

Stop repeating the placeholders. If you want multiple records, just drag
the place holder out once. ID will calculate how many records it can put
on a page and when you hit preview you'll see what it will look like.

You can adjust some of the settings to get the result you're after.

Bob

[Jeanine_...@adobeforums.com]

Im having a similar problem. Im trying to do mailing labels with first and last name and I would like to print 6 different names per page. I have created a data merge text box with the last name and first name from my data source. Instead of printing 6 different names per page it is printing the same name 6 times per page. The above comments were nor helpful.

[Ken_...@adobeforums.com]

Bob's point was that you must only have one instance of the placeholders on your page. Can you confirm that this is so?

k

[Jeanine_...@adobeforums.com]

I have only one instance. With only one instance its only printing one name per page even though I have multiple records selected, tiling across rows. I did try having multiple instances but then it just printing the same name multiple times per page. I cant get it to tile 6 new names per page. If I scroll through the records before or after the marge I get 355 pages, one for each name again with mutliple records.

[Ken_...@adobeforums.com]

Check the size of the text frame your placeholders are in. In order to make multiple labels InDesign clones everything it sees on the page, so if you have oversized text frames it will only be able to get one set on a page and that's what you are seeing.

k

[Jeanine_...@adobeforums.com]

I actually narrowed it down to what is causing the problem. If I strip the graphic logo from the page and the background for the labels the merge works perfectly but as soon as I introduce any graphic element the merge stops work. It only works on a blank template for me. It doesnt matter if I put the graphics on a separate locked layer, the merge still stops working. The merge also attempts to move the graphics in the preview window during the merge even if as I said the graphics are on a locked layer. I dont seem to have the issue in word with combining text and graphics.

[Ken_...@adobeforums.com]

You haven't mentioned graphics before. Have you restricted the size of your background graphic to the dimensions of the label? If not, InDesign is trying and failing to get multiples of the background on a page.

What you might find useful is to put the graphics in afterwards. Assuming the graphics can be multiplied up to fit, the merge document will contain as many copies of the graphics as you have labels, so it can get quite bulky and time consuming.

But if you do the merge without graphics, and then put the graphics on the master pages in the merged documents you can save processing time.

k

[Jeanine_...@adobeforums.com]

Okay you are a genius! I put the logo on the master page and it worked perfectly!

Thank you so much for your help, this was driving me nuts!

[Lynne...@adobeforums.com]

I'm trying to create simple place cards for a wedding using data merge to a .csv and .txt file. When I select the data source, the file comes up in the Data Merge Pallette but not the fields. I have the fields defined in the top line of the Excel spreadsheet (which is in the converted .csv & .txt files). Any help would be appreciated!