![]() You can’t put data placeholders into your InDesign document unless you have a data source, so let’s start there. The tables were so pre-cisely formatted that they were beyond the practical capabilities of InDesign’s Table and Cell Styles feature, so I opted to create one “perfect” table as a basis for the others (Figure 4). I N D E S I G N M A G A Z I N E 42 June | July 2011 excerpt 3Subscribe Now!Ī complex table that included other tables anchored within it as anchored objects, as well as anchored text frames and images, and multiple paragraph styles. In my layout, each country’s data was presented inįigure 3: The Data Merge workflow requires a data source linked to an “interim” InDesign document with data placeholders, from which another merged document is generated. So it’s worth taking a step back to be sure every-thing’s thought through before you start. You want to avoid that additional work, or keep it to a minimum. After you’ve run the data merge, any adjustments you make will need to be done object-by-object. What mat-ters most is that you have a final design planned out and a data merge source that is ready to generate multiple iterations exactly the way you want. It’s a combination of sketching, trial-and-error, problem-solving, and decision-making that gives you a concrete goal to shoot for. This isn’t, technically, an InDesign step. From these two, a new “merged” InDesign document is produced that incorporates the information from your data source into your design (Figure 3). The data source is a tab- or comma-delimited file (most commonly saved from a spreadsheet application like Microsoft Excel or from a database). The InDesign document is where you design static page elements and establish data placeholders in preparation for the merge. There are two things you need for an InDesign data merge: an InDesign document, and a data source file. I N D E S I G N M A G A Z I N E 42 June | July 2011 excerpt 1Subscribe Now! Instead, Iįigure 1: The Excel spreadsheet from which this project started has valuable information but no visual appeal. The spreadsheet (Figure 1) contained valuable, well-researched information that war-ranted a presentation more inter-esting than a mere table. Nies to consider setting up logis-tics operations. This layout, which I created for Inbound Logistics magazine, originated as a spreadsheet of data compiled about the strengths and weaknesses of locations around the world for compa. For example, I recently used InDesign’s built-in Data Merge to bring a mod-est spreadsheet to visual life (and get around the limitations of Table and Cell Styles), saving a tremendous amount of time in the process. Combining the organization and structure of a spreadsheet or database with the typographic and layout power of InDesign can generate great-looking informational design in a handful of simple steps.ĭata and design might seem like strange bedfellows, but with a little InDesign know-how, you can combine the two to achieve layouts that are effective and informative…and do so surprisingly fast. InStep : Data Merge INDESIGN MAGAZINE 42 June | July 2011 excerpt 1 Subscribe Now!ĭesigning with DataUnlike jumbo shrimp, the phrase data-driven design is not an oxymoron. Instead, I Figure 1: The Excel spreadsheet from which this project started has valuable information but no visual appeal. The spreadsheet ( Figure 1 ) contained valuable, well- researched information that war- ranted a presentation more inter- esting than a mere table. This layout, which I created for Inbound Logistics magazine, originated as a spreadsheet of data compiled about the strengths and weaknesses of locations around the world for compa- nies to consider setting up logis- tics operations. For example, I recently used InDesign’s built-in Data Merge to bring a mod- est spreadsheet to visual life (and get around the limitations of Table and Cell Styles), saving a tremendous amount of time in the process. Data and design might seem like strange bedfellows, but with a little InDesign know-how, you can combine the two to achieve layouts that are effective and informative…and do so surprisingly fast. Combining the organization and structure of a spreadsheet or database with the typographic and layout power of InDesign can generate great-looking informational design in a handful of simple steps. By Michael Murphy Designing with Data Unlike jumbo shrimp, the phrase data-driven design is not an oxymoron.
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