Adobe Evangelist Terry White shows how to bring in MS Word and Excel Files into InDesign and format them automatically. Also tips and tricks on linking and updating those files.
Terry - want you to know that I re-watch this video every year when my annual spreadsheet-heavy-project comes due. Wouldn't make it through without the refresher! Been watching videos of yours for probably a decade now - thanks for all the knowledge!
You have no idea how long I've been looking for ONE little info on retaining styles when updating or replacing the linked document... the styles have to be in the document BEFORE you place the link. You are a star!
Hi Terry, thanks for sharing knowledge. Here's a tip I think many would appreciate. How to make table styles that work. For example, I couldn't get Table style with header row to work although it's specified in the Table syle. Almost everything else works fine and you have to "manually" apply the cell style on the top row. Cheers!
Terry, Where can I deposit my tuition fee for these easy explained hacks of Adobe? Man you kick started my adventure with InDesign. Thank you lots...love from Uganda.
This video is awesome! It helped me a lot with a project a year ago, where I had to import and style a ton of excel files. Now, the client has asked me to make a new document, with updated data. The style and everything should be the same, only the data is different. Is there a quick way to empty the existing tables and refill them with new data? Otherwise it means I have to start over again from scratch and style all the tables again? If someone has a tip for this, I would be forever greatfull!! Thanks!!
First of all, this video has been so helpful. If I am working with excel files to merge data into a variable data design, do I place the Excel file (text only) into Indesign first so I will have the information for the place holders before I create the design? and once the design has been created, do I now merge the data in from the original file? How does that process work?
can you do the document link in combination with style mapping so you dont have to redo all the styling when the word document changed as you showed in the video?
Nice, but when your Indesign document has loads of Excel linked tables, it does not update the header style of these tables. After updating a changed table in Excel and double clcking the exclamation mark in the links window in Indesign, you need to reassign the top row of the table as a 'table header' in Indesign. And what about column widths? A mess as well. Secondly, if my single Excel document contains 50+ tables of items and item information (drawn automatically down by OLEDB/ODBC from a SQL server) and you save the excel file, all 50+ tables links in Indesign see the excel file as 'changed' altough maybe just one single table in Excel actually contained changed data. After the update, you need to revisit all 50+ tables in Indesign to reassign the table headers again. Why does Adobe not make a good job of updating linked tables, rather than doing it 'nearly' good. Such a shame, as you seem to be looking down and laughing upon Excel/Word users in your video. (BTW, I am not a Microsoft Office lover either, but just have to live with it.)
I'm doing a data merge from an Excel csv file. The merge in one way is working fine everything lines up with the exception I get 166 copies of the first name in the file. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Terry thank you for this tutorial ! Just one question, I import excel tab in indesign, and it all working except the cells where I use fonctions. Its ok with cells with normal numbers in it, but not for cells with multiplication or sum (=C2+B2). That cells are empty. Do you have any solution for this ? Thanks !!
Hi Terry, Im looking at optimising the way we do packaging design. I get the information from word and fill in everything manual. I would love to automate this process and I have figured out most of it from using your tutorial, but where I fail is the nutrition table. I can get the table to come in and change the styles, but I can not get the width of the table to stay the same. Is there a way to set the column/cell width to stay the same??? Thank you. Mette
Hi Terry, I have been following your channel and love the advice you give. I have a query. Please help me out. Is it possible to link about 10 different locations on an indesign file with specific cells on an excel file? I cannot data merge because my text is to be in a foreign language that a Csv file wouldn’t support. So when I change data on the excel cells - it auto updates on indesign.
Terry - I get an error when trying to place MS Excel documents into Adobe InDesign CC. Error reads: "Cannot place this file. No filter found for requested operation." I am forced to use Apple's Numbers & Pages application (my employer is too cheap to buy MS Office for Mac, because "Apple's applications do the same things as MS Office."). I am not the only person with this problem, according to Adobe InDesign help forum. Is there a fix for this? There must be, b/c clearly your able to do it in your video.
Hi @Terry White. Greetings from Costa Rica. Quick question: When importing with "DATA MERGE", I'm having problems with two things: 1. Accents and 2. Phrases in a text box displays only the first line. Any advise?
Thanks for the tutorial.. I am having issues with missing fonts while importing a formatted Excel doc. When importing to ID is says missing fonts but I have those fonts. Why does Excel name them differently? Help!
Hi Terry. I am a long time Adobe User. Remember Aldus PhotoStyler? Well here is my question and I think we are getting close with Content Management to Indesign Catalog. If I have dynamic formatted styles for a Catalog, can I grab data from SQL Server or Kentico to insert into the catalog? I have been waiting for this for a long time. What's your thoughts?
I am trying to copy just a couple columns of data out of multiple columns within Excel and paste it over existing data in my inDesign table. When I copy and paste it tries to put all that I've copied into the top left hand cell only, instead of distributing it among all of the cells I have highlighted and defined. The number of cells I copied in Excel match the number of destination cells I have highlighted in inDesign. Can you please advise how to make this work?
dear sir, I am in a lot of problem to linking a file. font missing doesnot working properly. and dont be done duble clik on the link. and AGA Arabesque and Wingdings 3 font not working in my file. can you help me sir
I thought if we select "Remove Styles and Formatting from Text and Tables", when we update the linked document, my Indesign formatting will stay. But it does not seem to be the case here. And it's strange because it sounds like the most straight forward way. InDesign strangely brings back a plain text with every link update and InDesign formatting is gone... I thought one can simply type plain text and InDesign takes care of the rest with this feature enabled. Now I suppose the only way to keep InDesign formatting is by having the person who writes the text, creates styles in Word to then do Style Mapping. In terms of usability, I don't see why this is not possible. We complicate the task for those who just want to use Word to type plain text and let the designer set the formatting and no matter how many times the text changes, it just updates without messing with the formatting.
I just saw this video and it was awesome. I tried to bring in the excel file, but there weren't any numbers that came in. They were replaced with red dots. Could it have something to do with being on a MAC and not having the excel software on my MAC ( I have numbers software)?
Hi terry. Thanks for all sharing about indesign. I can say ı learnt so many things from you. But there one thing is not exist on youtube platform. Actually you are giving so many information about linking text, data merge etc. But I want to learn how to do this: I have a indesign document for my company pricelist. It has its own layout. Every year our sales manager sends me new prices and there are buch of it. In my document there are code, description and price areas. Not for all areas but what if i can give a excel file to the sales manager which includes code and price area and he fills the prices related with the codes and i just get it and update my prices automaticaly? I mean if i make data merge there is no same layout in every page so i can not handle with it. In one page there are 3 kinds of product and 30 of them and in the other page 8 kind of product and 20 of them. Depends of product importance the image sizes and places are changing too. So i have to link just prices related to codes and and product kinds. For example: Code Description Powder Coated Price Stainless Steel Price Anodized Price 100 Handle 25x2cm 20€ 25€ 22€ 101 Handle 25x3cm 21€ 26€ 23€ 102 Handle 25x4cm 22€ 27€ 23€ Code Description Aluminium Price Glossy Plated Price Matte Plated Price 200 Table Leg Ø40 30€ 35€ 32€ 201 Table Leg Ø50 31€ 36€ 33€ 202 Table Leg Ø60 32€ 37€ 34€ How can i manage this complexity automatically? Thanks for answering from now.
How about NCR forms. Identical pages (page1 and page2) being the same. One copy white, the second yellow. I tried printing "2 copies" but it printed 1-1000. NOT 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4 etc... any ideas? Multiple Page layout won't work with more than one page... STUCK! Please help. Thanks
I would appreciate if you teach how to transfer Microsoft word equations into indesign document. They go like rgb images in shitty quality. Im leaving them as they are but im not adobe professional instructor
Terry - want you to know that I re-watch this video every year when my annual spreadsheet-heavy-project comes due. Wouldn't make it through without the refresher! Been watching videos of yours for probably a decade now - thanks for all the knowledge!
Thanks!
Instablaster.
Terry - I'm back again for year four of visiting this video to refresh on tables. Thank you! Wishing you a great year ahead.
You have no idea how long I've been looking for ONE little info on retaining styles when updating or replacing the linked document... the styles have to be in the document BEFORE you place the link. You are a star!
2021 and I'm just catching up to Terry.
This was very helpful! I was working with an Excel file with several sheets and had no idea how to handle it. Thanks!
I very much like the way you explain things! Simple, clear and sometimes funny! a little bit sarcastic... very nice! Thanks
Hi Terry, thanks for sharing knowledge. Here's a tip I think many would appreciate. How to make table styles that work. For example, I couldn't get Table style with header row to work although it's specified in the Table syle. Almost everything else works fine and you have to "manually" apply the cell style on the top row. Cheers!
Lovely and easy-to-follow tutorial...thanks Terry!
This was wicked helpful! Thank you! :)
I love you Terry
Solid video! Thank you for sharing, Terry!
Terry, Where can I deposit my tuition fee for these easy explained hacks of Adobe? Man you kick started my adventure with InDesign. Thank you lots...love from Uganda.
Thank you! you're amazing!
Great tips! Thank you very much!
Thank you so much Terry...
"yeaaahhh might wanna call tech support on that one" lmao still gets me
This video is awesome! It helped me a lot with a project a year ago, where I had to import and style a ton of excel files. Now, the client has asked me to make a new document, with updated data. The style and everything should be the same, only the data is different. Is there a quick way to empty the existing tables and refill them with new data? Otherwise it means I have to start over again from scratch and style all the tables again? If someone has a tip for this, I would be forever greatfull!! Thanks!!
Great Video!! Thank you Very Much.
LOVE YOU; FROM USA
First of all, this video has been so helpful. If I am working with excel files to merge data into a variable data design, do I place the Excel file (text only) into Indesign first so I will have the information for the place holders before I create the design? and once the design has been created, do I now merge the data in from the original file? How does that process work?
can you do the document link in combination with style mapping so you dont have to redo all the styling when the word document changed as you showed in the video?
You are great to listen to, it would be great if you'd separate out the Excel file portion into it's own video.
Nice, but when your Indesign document has loads of Excel linked tables, it does not update the header style of these tables. After updating a changed table in Excel and double clcking the exclamation mark in the links window in Indesign, you need to reassign the top row of the table as a 'table header' in Indesign. And what about column widths? A mess as well. Secondly, if my single Excel document contains 50+ tables of items and item information (drawn automatically down by OLEDB/ODBC from a SQL server) and you save the excel file, all 50+ tables links in Indesign see the excel file as 'changed' altough maybe just one single table in Excel actually contained changed data. After the update, you need to revisit all 50+ tables in Indesign to reassign the table headers again. Why does Adobe not make a good job of updating linked tables, rather than doing it 'nearly' good. Such a shame, as you seem to be looking down and laughing upon Excel/Word users in your video. (BTW, I am not a Microsoft Office lover either, but just have to live with it.)
Thank you for this video👍
How do I save it as a pdf file if I do work in excel? Pls
Is there a way to export the Adobe InDesign file to Word once it's complete?
I'm doing a data merge from an Excel csv file. The merge in one way is working fine everything lines up with the exception I get 166 copies of the first name in the file. What am I doing wrong?
Hi Terry thank you for this tutorial ! Just one question, I import excel tab in indesign, and it all working except the cells where I use fonctions. Its ok with cells with normal numbers in it, but not for cells with multiplication or sum (=C2+B2). That cells are empty. Do you have any solution for this ? Thanks !!
Hi Terry, Im looking at optimising the way we do packaging design. I get the information from word and fill in everything manual. I would love to automate this process and I have figured out most of it from using your tutorial, but where I fail is the nutrition table. I can get the table to come in and change the styles, but I can not get the width of the table to stay the same. Is there a way to set the column/cell width to stay the same??? Thank you. Mette
When I open the idml, the links ask to be updated. When I do an update, all tables imported from Excel lose their appearance. Any advice?
Hi Terry, I have been following your channel and love the advice you give. I have a query. Please help me out.
Is it possible to link about 10 different locations on an indesign file with specific cells on an excel file? I cannot data merge because my text is to be in a foreign language that a Csv file wouldn’t support.
So when I change data on the excel cells - it auto updates on indesign.
Terry - I get an error when trying to place MS Excel documents into Adobe InDesign CC.
Error reads: "Cannot place this file. No filter found for requested operation."
I am forced to use Apple's Numbers & Pages application (my employer is too cheap to buy MS Office for Mac, because "Apple's applications do the same things as MS Office."). I am not the only person with this problem, according to Adobe InDesign help forum.
Is there a fix for this? There must be, b/c clearly your able to do it in your video.
You didn't show or even mention linking the file and how to make updates. Do you have a video on this? Thank you
Hello, it only works for excel tables made with microsoft. Do you know how it is done with tables made with another program?
Hi @Terry White. Greetings from Costa Rica. Quick question: When importing with "DATA MERGE", I'm having problems with two things: 1. Accents and 2. Phrases in a text box displays only the first line. Any advise?
Thanks for the tutorial.. I am having issues with missing fonts while importing a formatted Excel doc. When importing to ID is says missing fonts but I have those fonts. Why does Excel name them differently? Help!
Hi Terry. I am a long time Adobe User. Remember Aldus PhotoStyler? Well here is my question and I think we are getting close with Content Management to Indesign Catalog. If I have dynamic formatted styles for a Catalog, can I grab data from SQL Server or Kentico to insert into the catalog? I have been waiting for this for a long time. What's your thoughts?
I am trying to copy just a couple columns of data out of multiple columns within Excel and paste it over existing data in my inDesign table. When I copy and paste it tries to put all that I've copied into the top left hand cell only, instead of distributing it among all of the cells I have highlighted and defined. The number of cells I copied in Excel match the number of destination cells I have highlighted in inDesign. Can you please advise how to make this work?
dear sir, I am in a lot of problem to linking a file. font missing doesnot working properly. and dont be done duble clik on the link. and AGA Arabesque and Wingdings 3 font not working in my file. can you help me sir
I thought if we select "Remove Styles and Formatting from Text and Tables", when we update the linked document, my Indesign formatting will stay. But it does not seem to be the case here. And it's strange because it sounds like the most straight forward way. InDesign strangely brings back a plain text with every link update and InDesign formatting is gone... I thought one can simply type plain text and InDesign takes care of the rest with this feature enabled. Now I suppose the only way to keep InDesign formatting is by having the person who writes the text, creates styles in Word to then do Style Mapping. In terms of usability, I don't see why this is not possible. We complicate the task for those who just want to use Word to type plain text and let the designer set the formatting and no matter how many times the text changes, it just updates without messing with the formatting.
I just saw this video and it was awesome. I tried to bring in the excel file, but there weren't any numbers that came in. They were replaced with red dots. Could it have something to do with being on a MAC and not having the excel software on my MAC ( I have numbers software)?
Could it be that the cells are too small for the numbers/data in them? Try making the cells larger in InDesign.
@@TerryLeeWhite thank you for your reply. I will try it out.
Hi terry. Thanks for all sharing about indesign. I can say ı learnt so many things from you. But there one thing is not exist on youtube platform. Actually you are giving so many information about linking text, data merge etc. But I want to learn how to do this: I have a indesign document for my company pricelist. It has its own layout. Every year our sales manager sends me new prices and there are buch of it. In my document there are code, description and price areas. Not for all areas but what if i can give a excel file to the sales manager which includes code and price area and he fills the prices related with the codes and i just get it and update my prices automaticaly? I mean if i make data merge there is no same layout in every page so i can not handle with it. In one page there are 3 kinds of product and 30 of them and in the other page 8 kind of product and 20 of them. Depends of product importance the image sizes and places are changing too. So i have to link just prices related to codes and and product kinds. For example:
Code Description Powder Coated Price Stainless Steel Price Anodized Price
100 Handle 25x2cm 20€ 25€ 22€
101 Handle 25x3cm 21€ 26€ 23€
102 Handle 25x4cm 22€ 27€ 23€
Code Description Aluminium Price Glossy Plated Price Matte Plated Price
200 Table Leg Ø40 30€ 35€ 32€
201 Table Leg Ø50 31€ 36€ 33€
202 Table Leg Ø60 32€ 37€ 34€
How can i manage this complexity automatically?
Thanks for answering from now.
How about NCR forms. Identical pages (page1 and page2) being the same. One copy white, the second yellow. I tried printing "2 copies" but it printed 1-1000. NOT 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4 etc... any ideas? Multiple Page layout won't work with more than one page... STUCK! Please help. Thanks
when i import a file from ms word file the superscript is change in to normal so how can i import the file without change the superscript.
Terry! I wrote to you about my problem with Adobe Creative Cloud. but all without result! Best regards, Olga !
Can you show it in a A4 format .. I’m working on a book now
How to convert InDesign to Microsoft Word?
Do you have any idea?
I would appreciate if you teach how to transfer Microsoft word equations into indesign document. They go like rgb images in shitty quality. Im leaving them as they are but im not adobe professional instructor
Hi Terry, what magnifying tool are you using in your tutorials?
Ryno Botha the accessibility feature built in to Mac OS X.
One thing with the mapping is that it will loose its formatting if you update the word link right?
That's very true! You will lose your formatting and you'd probably start again except @Terry do have a way to get around that problem.
How do you move over multiple pages in a word doc to indesign?
AutoquipLifts InDesign can Place multiple page Word docs.
how to cooy paste equations in ID from the word file
plz help
Hi Terry
hi i'm from Nepal
Hello
If you have to focus on every bit of text that comes in, you've already lost as a functional designer. You'll never be functional that way.
Became tedious.