Individualy modifying data merge elements' layout BEFOR merging

[rafa_cerezo]

Is it possible to change de layout of the different elemnets of a data merge document BEFORE it is merged? I am trying to get the data onto this map directly from the data merge file BEFORE merging so it can be updated directly to its podsition on the map. At the moment i can only relocate each data table to its position AFTER merging the data.

[Dan C]

Hi @rafa_cerezo,

Welcome to the Affinity Forums

If I have understood your question correctly, you should be able to move these elements as required before the data merge - usually the document will have data merge 'fields', which aren't filled until after the data merge is completed.

These fields can be transformed much like any other text object.

On 2/8/2022 at 11:19 AM, rafa_cerezo said:

I am trying to get the data onto this map directly from the data merge file BEFORE merging so it can be updated directly to its podsition on the map

Unfortunately however it's not possible to import the data into the document before the data merge, you can only see the data after merging, or by enabling a 'preview' within the data merge dialog.

I hope this helps!

[rafa_cerezo]

1 hour ago, Dan C said:

Hi @rafa_cerezo,

Welcome to the Affinity Forums

If I have understood your question correctly, you should be able to move these elements as required before the data merge - usually the document will have data merge 'fields', which aren't filled until after the data merge is completed.

These fields can be transformed much like any other text object.

Unfortunately however it's not possible to import the data into the document before the data merge, you can only see the data after merging, or by enabling a 'preview' within the data merge dialog.

I hope this helps!

Thank you for your feedback.

Sorry, I did not explain myself clearly. It is not so much about the data as it is about the elements that contain it in the original data merge document. The blue tables in the data merge grid (second image) get the data on the different fields from an external excel document. The principle is the same as the one used for a bussines cards or labels... but using instead different spanish ports and their traffics (the data updates monthly).

As you say the elements (in this case, the tables) can be transformed like any other text object, and these transformations inmediatly apply to all the other elements. But, and here is my question, ¿Is there a way you move around the page each table (or label, or bussines card) independently from the others before generating the final document (the first image, with the map)?

I haven't worked out a way to do this. This would allow me to generate a template map and update the data very easely, before generating the final document.

Otherwise I wil have to stick to my actual workflow, generating the final document with the data merge file grid layout, and then ungrouping and moving around each element to obtain the final result (the map in the firs image).

I hope I explained myself a little better this time.

Thank you.

[Dan C]

No problem at all - thanks for the further information provided!

I've tried a few methods here, but unfortunately I don't believe this is currently possible with data-merge, my apologies.

I will be sure to log this with our developers in our internal feature request to see if this is something we can implement in a future update. 

I hope this clears things up

[rafa_cerezo]

¡Thanks a lot, anyway!

[lacerto]

Obsolete.

[rafa_cerezo]

Thank you very much @Lagarto. Finally made it work!

I've just switched to Affinity Publisher from QuarkXpress and I need to rethink all the workflows. I think that understanding how data merge works is going to be crucial for me. 

Thank you again!