How to use MPS Tags to style variable data
MPS Tags are a set of pre-defined style tags that can be included in your data files to control the styling of data as it is imported into a document (bold, italic, point size, color, font, etc). MPS Tags is an exclusive feature supported by DesignMerge, Index Builder, and other Meadows software products.
MPS TAGS SPECIFICATION
MPS Tags are a custom set of style tags that can be included in text files or in database fields to control the styling of data as it is imported into a document. To use the feature with DesignMerge Pro or DesignMerge Catalog, all you need to do is set the Filter selection for your Variable Link to use MPS Tags, as shown below:
When your data is imported, any MPS Tags contained within the data will be applied automatically. Please see the table below for a complete list of all supported MPS Tags. You can also download a sample document and data file that demonstrates how to use the MPS Tags feature, or download the MPS Tags Summary in PDF format.
| Tag | Description |
Style Attribute TagsUnless specifically noted, all of the Style Attribute Tags have been implemented using a toggle behavior by default (e.g. <B> enables bold text, and <B> toggles the attribute off, and <B> toggles it back on again, etc.)In addition, and as an option, the Bold, Italic, and Underline tags can also be explicitly cancelled when preceded by a slash (e.g. use <B> to enable Bold text, and </B> to cancel the Bold attribute). |
|
| <P> | Plain - Cancels the following attributes if currently in effect (Bold, Italic, Underline, Superscript, Superior, Subscript, Strike Thru, All Caps, Small Caps) |
| <B> or <b> | Bold (toggle or cancel) |
| </B> or </b> | Cancel Bold |
| <I> or <i> | Italic (toggle or cancel) |
| </I> or </i> | Cancel Italic |
| <U> or <u> | Underline (toggle or cancel) |
| </U> or </u> | Cancel Underline |
| </> | Strike Thru (use <P> to cancel) |
| <K> | All Caps (use <P> to cancel) |
| <H> | Small Caps (use <P> to cancel) |
| <+> | Superscript (use <P> to cancel) |
| <-> | Subscript (use <P> to cancel) |
| <V> | Superior (use <P> to cancel) |
Paragraph Alignment TagsAll paragraph-level MPS Tags, including those related to Paragraph Alignment, must appear at the start of the text for a paragraph. Therefore, MPS Tags for paragraph-level attributes will be applied only when the receiving Text Link is positioned at the beginning of a paragraph in the document. If the Link is not positioned at the beginning of a paragraph, the Link will omit any MPS Tags that are for paragraph-level attributes and those attributes will not be applied. |
|
| <*L> | Left-Align Paragraph |
| <*R> | Right-Align Paragraph |
| <*C> | Center-Align Paragraph |
| <*J> | Justify-Align Paragraph |
Paragraph Style Sheet TagsAll paragraph-level MPS Tags, including those related to Paragraph Style Sheets, must appear at the start of the text for a paragraph. Therefore, MPS Tags for paragraph-level attributes will be applied only when the receiving Text Link is positioned at the beginning of a paragraph in the document. If the Link is not positioned at the beginning of a paragraph, the Link will omit any MPS Tags that are for paragraph-level attributes and those attributes will not be applied. NOTE: If you run into any issues with Paragraph Styles not being picked up properly (e.g. being overridden by a Character Style sheet), try adding a prefix of "<@[None]>" to your Variable Link setting). |
|
| @: | Apply No Style (Reset existing Paragraph Style Sheet) |
| @$ | Apply Standard/Normal paragraph Style Sheet |
| @ParaStyleName: | Apply Paragraph Style Sheet named ParaStyleName |
Character Style Sheet TagsCharacter style sheets can be included anywhere in the data, including at the start of a paragraph. |
|
| <@CharStyleName> | Apply Character Style Sheet named CharStyleName |
Font, Point Size, and Color TagsWhen entering the name for a Font or a Color, please be sure to use inch use inch marks (") and not proper quote characters when bracketing the font name in your data. |
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| <f"Font Name"> | Change fonts to Font Name. |
| <z###.##> | Change point size to ###.## (e.g. 12.5) |
| <c"Color Name"> | Change color to Color Name. |
Special Character TagsFollowing is a list of special characters that can also be embedded inline with your data. |
|
| <#9> | Tab |
| <\n> | Shift (Soft) Return |
| <#13> | Paragraph (Hard) Return |
| <\-> | Hyphen |
| <\h> | Discretionary Hyphen |
| <\a> | En Dash |
| <\_> | Em Dash |
| <\e> | En Space |
| <\m> | Em Space |
| <\#> | 3-per-Em Space |
| <\$> | 4-per-Em Space |
| <\^> | 6-per-Em Space |
| <\8> | Figure Space |
| <\{> | Hair Space |
| <\[> | Thin Space |
| <\p> | Punctuation Space |
| <\f> | Flex Space |
ExamplesThe download file contains a sample InDesign document and data file that demonstrates the use of all MPS Tags codes. |
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| MPS Tags Sample | Click here to download the MPS Tags sample file |
| MPS Tags Summary | Click here to download the MPS Tags Summary in PDF format |
