indesign · HeyBraza shows you
how to use data merge in indesign
HeyBraza points at the hidden data merge panel and flags the csv formatting that silently breaks the import.
data merge fills one layout with rows from a csv - perfect for business cards, badges, or certificates. it trips people up because the panel is buried and a slightly wrong csv connects as a single field. here's the clean path.
or do it yourself
- 1save your spreadsheet as a comma-delimited .csv (or .txt) with clean column headers and no line breaks inside cells.
- 2open window > utilities > data merge, click the panel menu, and choose 'select data source' to load your csv.
- 3with the type tool, click into your text frame and double-click a field name in the data merge panel to insert it as a placeholder.
- 4click the panel menu and choose 'create merged document' - set records-per-page if you're laying out multiple cards.
- 5if all your columns import as one field, your csv used the wrong delimiter - re-export as comma-separated and reload the source.
let HeyBraza do this with you
HeyBraza is a tiny on-screen guide that points at the right buttons and talks you through it, on windows and mac.
downloadcommon questions
why does my csv import as a single field in data merge?
the file isn't truly comma-separated - re-save it from your spreadsheet as a comma-delimited csv (semicolons or tabs break the field split).
where is the data merge panel in indesign?
it's under window > utilities > data merge - not in the main toolbar, which is why most people can't find it.