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DesignMerge (Variable Data)
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Knowledgebase DesignMerge (Variable Data)

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PDF Page Picking and Set PDF Page Number to Import Action

This article explains how to specify which page of a multi-page PDF file will be imported into a DesignMerge variable picture frame. The article also explains the use of the Set PDF Page Number to Import action, which can be used to conditionally con...

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Unexpected quote marks or inch marks in merged data

If you are seeing an unexpected quote mark or inch mark in a DesignMerge Text Link when you merge or update a document, then it is likely that your data file is using Text Qualifier characters. Various database and spreadsheet systems use quote marks...

646
How to Use the Variable Link Function Feature

This article describes the various Functions available for DesignMerge Text Variable Links. When a Function has been specified for a Variable Link, the data to be imported is calculated by DesignMerge (rather than read from a data field). For example...

232
What is a DesignMerge Data Source Definition (DDF)?

A DesignMerge Data Source Definition (DDF) is a construct that describes the data file you are using so that DesignMerge will know how to import data from that file. The DDF holds all of your Variable Link and Rule settings as well. DesignMerge provi...

4,027
Performance Benchmark and Troubleshooting for DesignMerge

This article provides information for improving the overall performance of DesignMerge variable data processing, as well as a list of known issues that we have encountered in actual use cases. In addition, the article provides details for downloading...

1,215
Document DDF versus Named DDF, which one to use?

This article describes the difference between using a DesignMerge Document DDF and using a Named DDF. The Document DDF is the default configuration for DesignMerge Pro, and the Named DDF is the default for DesignMerge Catalog software. This article e...

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What is a DDF Set?

A DDF Set is a collection of Data Source Definitions (DDFs), which are a feature of the DesignMerge software from Meadows Publishing Solutions. A DDF holds all of the setup for your DesignMerge document, including the layout of your data file, and al...

1,368
Why is DesignMerge asking me to locate a file for a variable picture or variable article?

When merging a variable picture or variable article, DesignMerge will search for the file that is specified by the variable link's data (either the data that a field is providing, or the data that a link rule is setting). This data may consist of eit...

785
How to remove a preceding Line Ending when a variable link is empty

You can set up a variable link to be deleted if it is empty and also to remove the entire line if it becomes empty when the empty variable link is deleted. This deletes the Line Ending that follows the variable link. But what about the Line Ending th...

692
How to include a Line Ending in data for a variable text link

To include a line ending in data for a variable text link, use either the InDesign Tag or the MPS Tag for the line ending character. Then, set up the variable link to use the appropriate filter.  For example, to include a New Line (soft return / shif...

445
I need help finding overset text

When text overflows a text frame, InDesign displays a red plus sign (+) in the frame's out port, which is located near the bottom right corner of the frame. However, there are times when it may still be difficult for you to locate text frames that co...

402
How to set up keyboard shortcuts in DesignMerge

You can set up keyboard shortcuts for many DesignMerge menu commands. To assign a keyboard shortcut to a DesignMerge menu command, open the InDesign Keyboard Shortcuts dialog. One way to display this dialog is to open the DesignMerge menu and select ...

379
Variable link is not merging - variable link does not change when merged

There are several different settings that will prevent content in a document from being changed by a merge session:  • Confirm the content is assigned to a variable link. To determine this, you can set the document to show DesignMerge visual indicato...

365
DesignMerge variable links have disappeared from my document!

If you cannot see DesignMerge variable links or other DesignMerge information that you expected to see in a document, please check the following:  Is required software installed? Either the DesignMerge software or the DesignMerge Tag Display softwar...

473
A variable link is displaying a filename instead of importing the named text file

If you would like a variable link to import the contents of a text file, you must select Article for the variable link's Type setting. When a variable link's Type is set to Text, the variable link will treat the data as text (the variable link in the...

351
DesignMerge keeps prompting me to select the data file

DesignMerge will prompt you to select a data file the first time DesignMerge wishes to apply one to a document's DDF. Additionally, if a data file has already been selected for a document's DDF, then by default DesignMerge will display a Verify Data ...

331
Page numbering in DesignMerge output

DesignMerge provides a preference, Reset Page Numbering, to control which page numbers are assigned to merged pages. This is especially important if your document is using an InDesign automatic page number marker. You can access this preference on th...

396
Can DesignMerge omit a page when variable text does not flow to it?

Yes, this can be achieved by adding the the DesignMerge Pro Pack to your DesignMerge Pro software order.  The DesignMerge Pro Pack provides a set of utility functions that have been integrated with DesignMerge to perform various variable data tasks. ...

247
Tips for Successful Addressing

This article was downloaded from the USPS web site, and discusses the basics of addressing. The article provides a few tips to ensure that your direct mail piece can be successfully read by automated mail processing systems. HOW ADDRESSES ARE SCANNED...

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