InDesign How-To: Use Data Merge to Place Multiple Images (Video Tutorial)

In this InDesign how-to video, David Blatner shows how easy it is to place multiple images in a document and automate the layout process. He explains how using a text file and setting up a template speeds the automatic data merge along.
This tip is a sneak peek from David’s upcoming sessions at CreativePro Week 2021. Learn more about CreativePro Week at creativeproweek.com.
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Пікірлер: 91

  • @lovejko
    @lovejko2 жыл бұрын

    InDesign Data Merge is simply perfect. Nothing is better. Most elegant solution ever.

  • @cand1ss
    @cand1ss2 жыл бұрын

    A lifesaver. It worked perfectly for 445 images!

  • @elsruiters1123
    @elsruiters11232 жыл бұрын

    Brillant! I had over 900 separate pdf files to import. This works like a charm! Thank you!

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    Wow! Glad we could help make that job less daunting!

  • @ayoubberrichi953
    @ayoubberrichi9533 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much Mr David for this amazing tuto... I learn many things from you

  • @katycollins5914
    @katycollins59143 жыл бұрын

    Perfect timing! Thank-you!

  • @klaaje
    @klaaje Жыл бұрын

    I'm so grateful for this tutorial, Tanks!

  • @Mackerachi
    @Mackerachi2 жыл бұрын

    Exactly what I was looking for, thanks!

  • @colourwavesadv
    @colourwavesadv2 жыл бұрын

    thank you so much. really i was in tears when i found this....i wasted so much time....God bless you

  • @domdidit
    @domdidit Жыл бұрын

    Outstanding! Thank you

  • @TheTrekker80
    @TheTrekker803 жыл бұрын

    Fabulous thank you so much!

  • @tymb278
    @tymb2783 жыл бұрын

    Correction: In Windows Explorer you find "Copy path" on the Home tab, not the View tab.

  • @denis3515
    @denis35153 жыл бұрын

    Really usefull. Thank you so much

  • @federicomatteoverde8636
    @federicomatteoverde86364 ай бұрын

    Lovely, thanks 🙌

  • @melvynpaulino6183
    @melvynpaulino61833 жыл бұрын

    This is awesome!

  • @easify_
    @easify_ Жыл бұрын

    waw ! you are my Hero ! Thanks & God Bless you

  • @rinnylee9405
    @rinnylee9405 Жыл бұрын

    Super helpful!

  • @smailib
    @smailib Жыл бұрын

    OMG! LIFESAVER!!! Thank you!

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    Жыл бұрын

    Great!

  • @Rajsinghvlog77
    @Rajsinghvlog772 жыл бұрын

    Very useful information thanks

  • @MisterRobinsonClass
    @MisterRobinsonClass2 жыл бұрын

    You are my hero! Why this feature is not built into Acrobat Pro is beyond me.

  • @rcdabral7494
    @rcdabral74943 жыл бұрын

    Thanks David! I learn many things from to you... can I placed multiple text file the same process?

  • @avinashadhav6194
    @avinashadhav61943 жыл бұрын

    Amazing!

  • @shmmil
    @shmmil2 жыл бұрын

    great tip! so far i used only text data merge. tnx again

  • @peddrovieira
    @peddrovieira3 жыл бұрын

    great tip.

  • @danuureche6051
    @danuureche6051 Жыл бұрын

    Best tutorial!

  • @mubashirshah1508
    @mubashirshah15083 жыл бұрын

    Helpful 👍

  • @nageltube
    @nageltube Жыл бұрын

    Thanks!!!

  • @mohammad-hasanin
    @mohammad-hasanin3 жыл бұрын

    Awesome!

  • @winterkhan
    @winterkhan2 жыл бұрын

    its lifesaver, work saver, brain saver, thanks lot, 5000 image now fits.

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    That’s excellent to hear! -EG

  • @user-xf7qr8fb6q
    @user-xf7qr8fb6q2 жыл бұрын

    Thank You

  • @bastianrivero
    @bastianrivero2 жыл бұрын

    Thanks 🙏🏼

  • @HAMDYFAMILY657
    @HAMDYFAMILY6572 жыл бұрын

    thanx man 👌👍

  • @seangray4512
    @seangray45122 жыл бұрын

    Very cool

  • @fabiansiefert71
    @fabiansiefert718 ай бұрын

    amazing. Thank you to show this. soooo after this I can go earlier in the sun. But a Call to Adobe: This kind of workflow is a Basic need. Just implement it in the Placement Funktion.

  • @andy921219
    @andy921219 Жыл бұрын

    how to copy mutiple name file in window 11..not find this function

  • @lgallphn
    @lgallphn2 жыл бұрын

    Owesome trick! Thank you a lot! But, What if each image goes into non-continuos pages, like, let´s say: "Designing a Anual Report and need a photo of every department manager when that department´s section begins into different number of page the document"? Thank you again for your time and effort.

  • @kota7219
    @kota72193 жыл бұрын

    very Helpful can i place Image from Internet Link

  • @MrMainA
    @MrMainA3 ай бұрын

    Hi, great video! Just one question. I need to insert a blank page on every 2nd page (so, image, blank, image, blank, etc.). is there an easy way to do this?

  • @thaisjacobxmusic
    @thaisjacobxmusic2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you sooo much, you saved my life haha

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    Happy to help save a life! 🤣

  • @FunDumb
    @FunDumb8 ай бұрын

    For windows in the folder, I just pressed Shift + Right Click, copy and pasted all the paths, and Control F'd, and removed any necessary info. To then past that info into my text file.

  • @smton
    @smton2 жыл бұрын

    Is it possible to do this where the data imported are pages in a PDF instead of images in a folder? I’ll keep looking but this was super interesting and useful!

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    They need to be separate files. You could open the PDF file in Acrobat, extract as separate pages, then treat them like images. -EG

  • @mikedoiron3372
    @mikedoiron33723 жыл бұрын

    If I put three frame holders on one page will this still fill all three or will this only work with one per page? Thanks for all the great videos.

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    3 жыл бұрын

    Use the multi record option in data merge. -EG

  • @josejavier2360
    @josejavier23602 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the video, I do appreciate. I do have a question, sort of of reverse engineering… Is it possible, using data merge, to not only place different 1 one page images and text in a layout, but also export those layouts-individually (in the same page) into different files? Suppose you have in the same page 1 Photo with descriptions, call that lay out 1 (a group). Then you also have a few other groups, with more photos and text. The idea is that you have a page where you have say 5 different designs, of different dimensions. So each design or mini layout in the same page is a group of itself, and the from here you can automate this to export those layouts (5 in this case) as 5 different graphics, wther be a JPGS, PNG, PDF, etc.. I do video translations, and the idea is that I can translate the graphics I place on the videos all at once. So I could have document in InDesign with only one page, or even two or 3 where I have 5 different graphics in each that go into the video, and using data merge I can change the text language and translate the graphics of of say 10 videos, all at once. Those images are e saved to a folder, and using my video editing software, I line those images to the video. I am not asking about the translation in itself, for that is already taken care of, but actual exporting (saving) of those groups as individual images. I know this can can be done, I just don't know how to export 5 different elements in my page into 5 different files. I hope it wasn't too confusing. Any help? Thanks in adavance for any one that throws a lead on this.

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    This would be a great question to ask in our Facebook group (we have over 20K members to help). facebook.com/groups/indesignsecrets

  • @NathienSK
    @NathienSK2 жыл бұрын

    Oh. That could be usefull.

  • @IraFayGames
    @IraFayGames2 жыл бұрын

    Is it possible to dynamically control the position of an image via data merge? Thanks in advance if you know how!

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    Yes you can set the frame it will fall into.

  • @jaykid160
    @jaykid1602 жыл бұрын

    This is cool! Can you data merge multiple images into various place holder frames around the page? I have to place like 200 images in a page!! Thank you.

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    You could do multiple record layout which duplicates the placeholder into rows and columns.

  • @bobbyvai1
    @bobbyvai12 жыл бұрын

    So I need to do this with a data text file of serial numbers that match up with barcode files like you have here. What is best method for that?

  • @Rollrite

    @Rollrite

    Жыл бұрын

    Did you get a response? We want to do similar with part numbers and QR code images. Don't want the file extension at the end of caption though so I'll need to do up a test template and dig into how i can adjust that.

  • @m1k3sh1n0da
    @m1k3sh1n0da6 ай бұрын

    Please anyone, I really need help!!! Everything that is shown in this Video works just fine,exept one thing: Can I also do this with more than one Image on a single page? I need to place 2 images per page, but there is always an error.. The bests thing i can do is place the same image twice, but i need 2 different batches of images to create an photography album.. Can someone help me please? It would support me big time. Thank you in advance

  • @BePositiveBeStrong
    @BePositiveBeStrong11 ай бұрын

    Wow i thought it was difficult with XML and JavaScript knowledge. But is easier.

  • @skiboltskieskye1238
    @skiboltskieskye1238 Жыл бұрын

    this is perfect but is there a way i can have the live captions without the extensions showing. have thousands of images so manually renaming the images before the import is not really an option

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    Жыл бұрын

    You can add the metadata to the images (or choose another tag) when setting up the captions. There may also be a script to remove the file extension. -EG

  • @inkeye1
    @inkeye13 жыл бұрын

    Hey David - How can I data merge the photos and info at the same time?

  • @inkeye1

    @inkeye1

    3 жыл бұрын

    I think I may have figured it out. :)

  • @waynehill2444
    @waynehill24444 ай бұрын

    When copying all of the images in the folder and pasting into a Text Editor, InDesign now pastes the actual image. Not the file names. I've even tried copying into Number (Mac's equivalent to Excel), same thing. It copies the actual images.

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    4 ай бұрын

    Try right-clicking when pasting and choosing paste special > unformatted text (or paste special). Depends on the app. -EG

  • @kota7219
    @kota72193 жыл бұрын

    Will I be able to get Image by placing Internet link in Indesign Document ?? if yes Please guide me

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    3 жыл бұрын

    No, you need the file to be placed from somewhere. If your link is for an image, open the link in your browser and drag to your desktop. Then place (assuming copyright allows, etc.).

  • @HowieD1975
    @HowieD19752 жыл бұрын

    Is this a way to make contact sheets in InDesign?

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    You could do it as a multiple record layout to put multiples on a page. Another option is to just place multiple images using “Gridify,” which you get by holding down Command/Ctrl-Shift with a loaded place cursor. -EG

  • @seanpb1970
    @seanpb19708 ай бұрын

    what if I have a mail merge and it it wants to pull in a signature or image along with peoples addresses on say a postcard? Can a column be made with the images pull?

  • @WRBLplayas

    @WRBLplayas

    4 ай бұрын

    would love to know this as well @CreativePro

  • @jankubasiewicz8439
    @jankubasiewicz8439 Жыл бұрын

    when doing the previeuw in INDD get the notification that "there is at least one place holder that cannot be found" am i doing something wrong? thanks for help!

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    Жыл бұрын

    That can happen if an image isn't in the same folder, or has been modified/gone missing. -EG

  • @Tvoj_Prijatelj_Vili
    @Tvoj_Prijatelj_Vili Жыл бұрын

    Do I have to be on a master page? Because When I did everything from the video I've got a merged document with only one, first image on only one page and it should be 70 images.

  • @Tvoj_Prijatelj_Vili

    @Tvoj_Prijatelj_Vili

    Жыл бұрын

    Aha the key is to first create a document which only has one page and then the merged one will have the number of pages as the number of images there are.

  • @Ratzorizzo
    @Ratzorizzo Жыл бұрын

    when I past the images into TextEdit I get the images, NOT THE NAMES?

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    Жыл бұрын

    You need to copy the names then paste.

  • @MassiveSwordAndCards
    @MassiveSwordAndCards11 ай бұрын

    OK but how do I use this to insert those images in-line with text automatically? Used to be able to do this very easily like 10 years ago. Either I've completely forgot everything or Adobe gimped their software (again)

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    11 ай бұрын

    Not sure what you mean. Can you explain what you have and what you need to do with it? If you’re on FB you can even join and post to our InDesignSecrets FB group. -EG

  • @MassiveSwordAndCards

    @MassiveSwordAndCards

    11 ай бұрын

    @@CreativePro What I want to do is run data marge to insert images in-line with the text. Like the way Magic the Gathering cards have symbols within the text. Putting static anchored images into the text box doesn't work, because the flow of text isn't rigid like that. It needs to be completely variable, like I need to be abble to write "Deal 1 [damage icon]" as well as "Whenever you deal [damage icon], heal 1 [hp icon]", and any other possible variation of about 30 different icons and game mechanics language within the same text box. So far, the best suggestion I got is to use find and replace. However, pasting images into the text box pushes all the text down by 1 pixel, making the icons not align with the text. With that level of inaccuracy, there's no point in going any further with it. Even if this worked, having to run find and replace with all these icons every time i update the game is a hugely unnecesary passion the in butt. It really seems like Adobe dropped the ball here. This should be a standard feature out of the box, along with the ability to reference CC library images in the data merge and several other critical options that are just bizarrely missing.

  • @DavidBlatner

    @DavidBlatner

    11 ай бұрын

    ​@@MassiveSwordAndCards You are correct that Data Merge does not do this… but Data Merge is a very simple tool in InDesign. It's not really made for MTG cards! :-) (I happen to know that Wizards does use InDesign, but they use a number of scripts to automate their card production.) There are other ways to do it. As you said, you can use find/change to place anchored graphics. BE SURE to apply an object style to the graphic frame before you copy it, though… that way you can adjust its position as necessary, which should allow you to stop the text from moving down. Another way to stop the text from moving down may be to ensure you're using absolute leading in the paragraph, not automatic leading. And also consider using the First Baseline Offset feature in Text Frame Options, which lets you specify exactly where the first line should sit. Instead of find/change, you might also want to use a script that replaces text for images. For example, see these links: creativepro.com/topic/replace-text-with-image-where-text-image-name-70/ creativepro.com/swapping-text-and-images-with-a-free-script/ creativepro.com/find-text-change-to-graphic/ And finally: another elegant way to manage this is to create your own font, where those images are characters in the font.

  • @stephenmiller7776
    @stephenmiller777611 ай бұрын

    Its shocking to be that you cant just datamerge a large table into indesign it creates a page for every row of csv file. Shocking that a company like adobe dont have this option, unless anyone knows of one . I am struggling to data merge a 200 row table into indesign

  • @prabu2778
    @prabu2778 Жыл бұрын

    Instead of placing 1 image Can I place 20 images per page?

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    Жыл бұрын

    Use the multiple layout option in the data merge panel. -EG

  • @martin2do
    @martin2do2 жыл бұрын

    Super ! Now I must add: it doesn't work with french accents in images names. (And I guess any other special glyphs, be careful about that)

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh wow… good to know!

  • @ernatmagnussen

    @ernatmagnussen

    Жыл бұрын

    Does it not work if you save as .txt instead of csv?

  • @martin2do

    @martin2do

    Жыл бұрын

    @@ernatmagnussen I used .txt :) Images like "Néon" won't do. Just rename it beforehand ;)

  • @ernatmagnussen

    @ernatmagnussen

    Жыл бұрын

    @@martin2doOhh okay, i had issues with the letter “ð” showing up as _>. It turned out normal when i switched from csv to txt.

  • @rosslindsay4061
    @rosslindsay40612 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this, can you crop the images as they are placed? Too far?! Lol

  • @CreativePro

    @CreativePro

    2 жыл бұрын

    Set overall crop values in the Frame Fitting Options (Onject > Fitting) ahead of time.