Create a prototype in an InDesign document.Create the data source file-in the first row, name the fields (use in front of the field name for images).In this tutorial, I'll show you the basics and then I'll highlight possible issues you might encounter and their solutions, so that you can master this feature in no time. So before jumping in and trying it out yourself, I’d suggest reading the whole tutorial and learning first about the limitations and errors that you may face later. Using data merge is not hard at all, but you might need a few attempts to get it right. xls format.With data merge you can easily paginate text and images in InDesign in a matter of seconds by reading an external data source file in. But named ranges will only appear in InDesign if you save the file in the older.

One caveat: InDesign can place spreadsheets saved in either the new. In the “Cell Range” drop down list you will see each of your named ranges, ready to place in your layout. Then, in InDesign, choose File > Place and click Show Import Options. You can have as many different named ranges as you want in a single spreadsheet. Then type a name for the range and click the OK button. In Excel, just select the cells that you want to place into InDesign, and then choose Insert > Name > Define (Mac Excel 2008) or right-click and choose Name a Range (Windows Excel 2007).

But finding and remembering those coordinates can drive you batty.Ī better way is to use a “named range”.

Normally, you’d have to use a “Cell Range” such as B6:F18 to designate which of the cells in the larger spreadsheet you want to import. When you choose File > Place and click the “Show Import Options” button, the dialog below appears. Rather than saving multiple copies of the spreadsheet, each containing the specific fragment you need, or laboriously copy and pasting into InDesign, there’s a better way. Imagine you have a large Excel spreadsheet, and you need to import sections of the spreadsheet into InDesign as separate tables.

Google sheets to indesign