OSTexo

Hello, As a new user I was wondering if anyone is using AP for narrative reports? Now that data merge functionality is here in beta form are there plans to add auto sizing frames with parent / child linkage similar to Typefi AutoFit for ID as well as dynamic addition of grid layouts that grow or shrink based upon the quantity of data merged? I’m wondering if it is possible to create a layout that has a page number header, static section title, static boilerplate section text followed by automatically sizing text frame that expands or contracts in height based upon the amount of text content within a CSV field. Several placeholders for fields could be entered, and if there is no data present in that field in the CSV those “no data” fields would be hidden. Using the same sort of logic could images be arranged in a layout that would expand and contract based upon the number of images referenced in the CSV? For example, a layout could be built to fit three image frames across a page, with as many rows of images generated as needed indicated within the CSV field to display said images. PagePlus might have had something like this but since it’s a product that isn’t being sold anymore it’s not something I can test. Being able to link these dynamically sizing text and image frames is needed since the number of images and quantity of text in reporting varies with the amount of data collected. These added features could be very complimentary to the data merge functionality to allow users to create a variety of reports for data that is constantly changing and is being published for individuals with different reporting requirements. I’m hoping Serif will begin to introduce features that work well with the data merge functionality to make AP a solution that will allow users to elevate the quality and organization of dynamic data into reports.