InDesign & Excel... Table importing question.

creativecenter · 02-01-2005, 12:08 AM

Hi there, I'm responsible for publishing a monthly newsletter that uses data from a table in excel as a part of the content. I have to copy and paste the information from each cell into a new table in InDesign every month. This doesn't seem to be the best way to go about getting the data into a formatted table (some bold text, some big, some small, various BG colors, etc.) there are quite a few cells...

Is there any way to work around this? Perhaps though a script? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much. [img]/emoticons/ibf-iamstupid.gif[/img]

~Digital_E.V.O~ · 02-01-2005, 01:57 AM

I know an excellent technique in QUARRRKKKK.. But you are using ID. I could possibly do it using a similar technique. Can you post a small sample, and I will see if I can figure out a method in ID. The one drawback is that I am working (Quark environment), but when I go home to watch my new Futurama® DVD Vol.4, I could possibly... I am sure there is an easier way, but I learned this technique years ago. I used to format thousands of records in 2 hours with little editing, while others took 2 days or more. I need to see what you are working with to write the steps....

stefanTHOMASisaia

creativecenter · 02-03-2005, 03:28 AM

Thanks for your help!! Here is a sample pdf of the Indesign table and the Excel file. I want to keep the style/format of the InDesign table, but just import the next month's data.

Thanks!

creativecenter · 02-03-2005, 03:31 AM

oops, I guess you cant attach an Excel file, so here is a pdf of the excel file...

~Digital_E.V.O~ · 02-03-2005, 10:55 PM

Right now I am in the Quark environment, others call it work. But I will tonight if I can come up with a system.

stefanTHOMASisaia

**Tyger** · 02-03-2005, 11:08 PM

I just finished a catalogue based on info on an excel spread sheet and ran into the same problem. However I found a way! I'm not sure right now 'cause i don't have ID here at work but i'll double check when i get home. I think what i did was 'place' the actual file in ID. So try to go under file, choose place, then adjust the table accordingly. I know you can import excel files in ID cause i've done it. But as i said i have to check later but try this. It's either import or place.

Let me know if that helps.

uncle carbunkle · 02-03-2005, 11:11 PM

i'm currently having the same problem. client seems to think that it's a version incompatibility between id & excel. any thoughts?

::just a feeling::</font>

~Digital_E.V.O~ · 02-04-2005, 05:16 AM

lol.. show's you how much I know.
Tyger is correct. Placement is possible.
And you can format the cells accordingly by highlighting multiple cells.

If {you can do it, that is keep the formatting,}
then {I am obsolete.}
else
I have a way to do it.
End If

Or make a PDF of the sheet, especially since I don't see any graphics.

stefanTHOMASisaia

Post Edited (~Digital_E.V.O~) : 2/4/2005 12:20:49 AM GMT

**Tyger** · 02-04-2005, 08:39 AM

just confirming that it works. This will save you loads of time. It also copies over the cells so you could modify it as desired.

Foxsake · 02-08-2005, 04:51 AM

Creative Centre Designer, Id be interested to hear of your progress on you Indesign / Excel job.. im about to undertake a similar job and found this forum helpful through almighty Google. My job involves removing a lot of the columns from excel to merge the rows into one or two Indesign table cells.. any thoughts??