Data merge many records into one document

[Gaspare]

I would like to connect the data present in the csv file to obtain the result visible in the Second image?
If I connect the csv file and insert the various fields to the various images, the same record is always displayed as seen in the first image.
Is it possible to insert many records of the same csv file on one page of a document?

[dominik]

9 minutes ago, Gaspare said:

Is it possible to insert many records of the same csv file on one page of a document?

Hello @Gaspare,

yes, you do this by using the Data Merge Layout Tool.

First you draw with the tool a grid on your page. On the toolbar you can set columns and rows and even the gutter. Then you add your content (images, text, fields) in the top most left field. This will automatically be repeated across the page.

See screenshot for a visual aid.

Cheers,
d.

[Gaspare]

In your example there is always record 10 of the csv file. I would like to assign to each image a specific record of the csv file.
I have to do many similar documents and I would like to avoid writing all the data, I would like to take them automatically from csv files.
I don't have a table, but many individual text fields.

[dominik]

38 minutes ago, Gaspare said:

In your example there is always record 10 of the csv file.

Yes, this is due the fact that I took a screenshot of your design and it was replicated to all other data merge cells.

If you want to merge images via data merge you have to provide a path to the images in your csv. Just add another column to your table with the respective paths to the images (at this early stage of beta it is a little unclear how to note down this path. I assume it is save to write it down like this: "D:\TestingAffinity\datamerge-images-01\Icon-1.png" (without the quotation marks.).

d.

[Gaspare]

Thanks for the help Dominik.
but I can not.
could you help me?
I attach a zipo file with the csv and afpub file inside

data-merge.zip

[Old Bruce]

Should be self explanatory. You'll have to change the fonts to one you prefer, I used Courier.

my Data Merge.zip

[Gaspare]

Thanks for the help Old Bruce, but that's not what I need. The texts must be automatically taken from the .csv file and I need 4 text fields and not just one for each player

[Marcos Silva]

So, does Affinity Publisher allow data merge on Mac as well? Is it true? when did that happen? Or is it just a beta version for Windows as of today November 2020?

[Alfred]

12 minutes ago, Marcos Silva said:

So, does Affinity Publisher allow data merge on Mac as well? Is it true? when did that happen? Or is it just a beta version for Windows as of today November 2020?

Affinity Publisher Customer Beta for Mac has included the Data Merge feature since build 1.9.0.796, released in mid-October.

 

[lepr]

1 hour ago, Gaspare said:

Thanks for the help Old Bruce, but that's not what I need. The texts must be automatically taken from the .csv file and I need 4 text fields and not just one for each player

The preview is limited to one record, unfortunately, but Generate button will produce the output document with all records used.

[Gaspare]

1 minute ago, anon2 said:

The preview is limited to one record, unfortunately, but Generate button will produce the output document with all records used.

Thanks anon2 for the reply.
If I only see one record, how do I know if I have inserted the right record in the right place in the document?

[Marcos Silva]

37 minutes ago, Alfred said:

Affinity Publisher Customer Beta for Mac has included the Data Merge feature since build 1.9.0.796, released in mid-October.

 

That sounds good! I should give it a try. thank you

[lepr]

46 minutes ago, Gaspare said:

Thanks anon2 for the reply.
If I only see one record, how do I know if I have inserted the right record in the right place in the document?

You should use the Data Merge Layout Tool to set up a 2 x 7 matrix of cards on the page. That way you will define only the first card (as you already did, but it needs to be nested inside the layout object) and the software will replicate that for the other 13 cards. Still only one record will be previewed in all 14 cards on the page, but the generated output will use all records sequentially according to the rules you set in  the Data Merge Layout Tool.

The one record preview is one of the weird Affinity software design decisions which negatively impact usability.

[Gaspare]

Anon2 very interesting your post!
Could you edit the afpub file I posted so I understand how to work?
Should I replace the text fields with a table?

[lepr]

6 hours ago, Gaspare said:

Could you edit the afpub file I posted so I understand how to work?
Should I replace the text fields with a table?

There is no need to use a table. Here is an edited document: data merge new.afpub

[Gaspare]

2 hours ago, anon2 said:

There is no need to use a table. Here is an edited document: data merge new.afpub

This attachment is not available.
Please put the afpub file inside a zip file and attach it again otherwise it cannot be downloaded

[walt.farrell]

4 hours ago, Gaspare said:

This attachment is not available.
Please put the afpub file inside a zip file and attach it again otherwise it cannot be downloaded

It downloads fine for me (and has been downloaded 9 or 10 times in total at this point).

If it's not downloading for you, what are the error symptoms? Have you tried a different browser?

[Gaspare]

3 hours ago, walt.farrell said:

It downloads fine for me (and has been downloaded 9 or 10 times in total at this point).

If it's not downloading for you, what are the error symptoms? Have you tried a different browser?

Same browser same account, I don't know what changed but now I was able to download the file

[StuartRc]

The Data sheet and file can be made to work.....Reuploaded the original file with the addition of a container for the data layout tool. Each cell Contains Background image and 4 txt elements.
Just build the layout in the first cell and it will get repeated to all others.

With regards to the text..Suggest the layout is adjusted slightly to accommodate the variable data..Also you could try and place all the txt into single paragraph box and then apply variable data.
File as below (basic but works!). Generate from the Data Merge Manager  

NB for some reason could note get Apub to recognise the CSV file to deleted and reattached....
also had a crash of APu on second attempt!
File names changed to generate (data merge_edited | import_data) with merged data as results

data-merge_edited.zip

[Gaspare]

Thanks to your help I was able to create my document.
Now I have a question and a problem.
Question: can I also put a url in the images and then insert images from the Internet?
Problem: in the original document I have 49 players, in the csv file 49 records, in the created document only 42 players, see image...

[undercovergypsy]

This was very informative but I can't seem to get my data source to stay connected. After generating, the .csv file is not in the data manager and there are no fields to choose from. I have uploaded my workspace so you can see. Thanks for any advice as to what I am doing wrong. 

[lepr]

5 hours ago, undercovergypsy said:

After generating, the .csv file is not in the data manager and there are no fields to choose from.

Do the generating after setting up the layout with fields of the CSV.

[StuartRc]

20 hours ago, Gaspare said:

Thanks to your help I was able to create my document.
Now I have a question and a problem.
Question: can I also put a url in the images and then insert images from the Internet?
Problem: in the original document I have 49 players, in the csv file 49 records, in the created document only 42 players, see image...

Interesting idea for adding images directly from internet..I haven't tried that kind of scenario...most variable data templates rely on locally sourced files and information. Even when using Pageflex or Chili Publisher haven't approached or experienced that technique...Personally I would not recommend it.!. there is a lot that could go wrong...

a. the links could be incredibly long with a collection of unacceptable weird characters!..
b. Images tend to be dynamic to accommodate multiple visual platforms
c. They could be easily broken
d. images vary in quality and resolution
e. there could be copyright issue!

I am not sure whether their is a limit on the data layout tool ..and without seeing the files /data structure the second question is difficult to answer...It could be that there is an error in the CSV file.. or a bug APub... or the records are limited in the Data Manager
 

 

[Gaspare]

I understand the problems of images taken from the internet.
in my case the images are all of the same size, quality and are present on my server and are posted by the users of my app.

The csv file should be ok, I made several tests

[StuartRc]

19 hours ago, undercovergypsy said:

This was very informative but I can't seem to get my data source to stay connected. After generating, the .csv file is not in the data manager and there are no fields to choose from. I have uploaded my workspace so you can see. Thanks for any advice as to what I am doing wrong. 

The data file (.csv) stays connected to the original file..
You should have a master or template file with the layout | datasheet | variables assigned from the fields panel. Save it before going to the Data Merge Manager and generating the file (save this separately!). The generated file does remove the connected once assembled.