DesignMerge Catalog provides two different reporting features: Variable Link Report and Variable Content Report. You may run either of these reports at any time to review information about the DesignMerge variable links (placeholders) in a document. Additionally, you can choose to run a variable content report on a single document or on a batch list of two or more documents.

VARIABLE LINK REPORT

A variable link report provides a list of all DesignMerge Catalog placeholders that are within a document. For each placeholder in the list, the report indicates the placeholder's assigned Link Name, Rule Name, Search Key, and Link Type. The report also lists the Page Number where the placeholder is located. Additionally, the report provides Status information for each of the placeholders in the list. This handy utility is fantastic for tracking down problem or hidden placeholders in your InDesign documents.

VARIABLE CONTENT REPORT

A variable content report allows you to verify placeholders’ settings, including the content they are displaying. Additionally, you may request a report on updating the placeholders. When reporting on updated placeholders, the report can include notification of changes to prior content when they are updated and of any updating errors. You may also use the report for other purposes, such as to generate a price list or a simple index.

This fully-featured reporting capability of DesignMerge Catalog provides the ability to specify several options for the report, including the following: 

• The page range to include in the report.
• How to sort the information that will be presented in the report.
• Whether to report on an update of the placeholders or to report without updating.
• If updating, whether to save the updated document or run the report as a preview for an update.
• Which information about placeholders to include in the report: Search Key, Content (content that is being displayed by placeholder), Prior Content (helpful info if report updated placeholders), Variable Link, Search Criteria, Price Style, Notes, Document Name, Page Number, Content Changed (helpful info if report updated placeholders), and Tag Status (OK; No Match; Empty Field, Bad Tag, Missing Picture).

RUN A VARIABLE LINK REPORT

To run a variable link report on a single document, follow the steps below:

1. Open the document.
2. Next, open the DesignMerge menu and select Merge. This opens the DesignMerge Catalog dialog.
3. Choose Variable Link Report from the Action pop-up menu in the Merge area of the dialog.
4. Make any other selections you prefer on the dialog.
5. When ready, click Start. 

That's it! The Variable Link Report panel will open and display a list providing information for each placeholder in the document.

RUN A VARIABLE CONTENT REPORT ON ONE DOC

To run a variable content report on a single document, follow the steps below:

1. Open the document.
2. Next, open the DesignMerge menu and select Merge. This opens the DesignMerge Catalog dialog.
3. Choose Variable Content Report from the Action pop-up menu in the Merge area of the dialog.
4. Make any other selections you prefer on the dialog.
5. When ready, click Start. This opens the Variable Content Report dialog.
6. Choose options for the report.
7. When ready, click OK.
8. Choose a destination and enter a name for the report. When ready, click Save.

The report will be saved in a plain delimited text file format, which you can open in a plain text editing application (for example, TextEdit or Notepad). You can also open the file in a spreadsheet application (for example, Microsoft Excel), or you can place the file in an InDesign document. Additionally, database administrators can import the file for data management or data publication purposes.

RUN A VARIABLE CONTENT REPORT ON A BATCH

To run a variable content report on a batch list of two or more documents, follow the steps below:

1. First, close all documents.
2. Next, open the DesignMerge menu and select Merge. This opens the DesignMerge Catalog dialog.
3. Choose Batch Processing from the Action pop-up menu in the Merge area of the dialog.
4. Make any other selections you prefer on the dialog.
5. When ready, click Start. This opens the Batch Processing dialog.
6. Choose whether you wish to generate a variable content report of the batch process. Click the Setup button to make selections for the report.
7. Select a DDF from the Use DDF pop-up menu. Please note a batch process cannot use the DDF named Document.
8. Choose Options for the batch process, including whether to update placeholders and, if updating, whether to save the updated documents.
9. Click Select Jobs to set up a list of the documents for the batch process.
10. When ready, click OK.
11. If prompted, choose a destination and enter a name for the report, then click Save.

The batch process will begin and will display a progress dialog which will close automatically when the process has finished. 

For more details about Batch Processing and about running a Variable Content Report (formerly named AutoPrice Placeholder List Report), please see DesignMerge Catalog Documentation.