Importing lists to inDesign CS3 from Excel with formatting

[K***@adobeforums.com]

hi guys, am starting to do publications/directories in indesign. i am getting an excel database that i would like to import into indesign, possibly getting all names in bold font, address in regular, phone number semi bold type styles automatically.

1. how do i get excel to import in
2. how will i get the font styles to happen

your support is graciously appreciated

kim

[M***@adobeforums.com]

Hi Kim...I'm basing this on using ID5 (CS3)

Getting the data from Excel to InDesign is straightforward:

File > Place > then choose the file source destination

Before choosing the destination Make sure to check the 'Show options' button to view more advanced formating before bringing in data.

For instance you can choose to bring in the data still with the table structure from excel or just as text with tabbed spaces (no tables).

A tip here is to hold shift before actually placing the data in the indesign document, this way it auto flows across multiple pages rather than manually adding a text frame to contain the data if it populates more than 1 page.

In terms of auto applying styles from the excel spreadsheet, if you are having them import to a table then you can set a table style and apply that to the table once the data is in but you'll need to have some knowledge of table styles see

<http://www.adobe.com//designcenter/video_workshop/index.html>

Choose InDesign from the product section, then from the title section choose:

Creating and Formatting Tables
Using Table styles

Matt

[D***@adobeforums.com]

Matt
I just did what you asked with InDemand

Use Clipboard action, but first go to setting and paste the return from Indesign into the "Find term" then paste ", " in the replace term

Copy cell from Excel
Go to InDemand and run the Find/Change - Clipboad action you just created.
Paste text in Indesign

Indemand has a 10min trail
Go to www.mymacmac.com and check you the overview tutorial.

Thanks David Gibbins
***@mymacmac.com

[c***@adobeforums.com]

Hi

I am importing an xml file that contains a table into InDesign CS3.

Everything works fine except that the style used in the table calls for bullets and numbering.

It should be 1. 2. 3. 4 in each cell.
The first cell is fine but the next cell is 5. 6. 7. 8.
This document is over 700 pages and I do not want to manually restart numbering in each cell.

Help.

Claire

[K***@adobeforums.com]

Hi,

There's an Adobe tutorial - one of the official Terry White ones - that is specifically on using the numbering capabilities of Indesign CS3.

You can download as a podcast and it will walk you through all the steps.

Search for Adobe Creative Suite Video Podcast to see all the podcasts available. I don't have the link but it shouldn't be too hard to find.

Best of luck

K

[i***@adobeforums.com]

K B rocks