Create a Mail Merge template without the data set...Using layout

[SpiceyKitten01]

I am creating a game that my company will sell online. However, we need to set up a mail merge template that will allow me to print multiple cards to one page. I know that once I have attached the data source I can use mail merge lay out to create this...However, I need to create this repeating pattern in a six by six format on each A4 page as a base template that can be used for different games, from different data sources each time. 

For example. Game A uses Data Source A, but the next game won't use the same data source to merge with.

I can't find any way to create this cataloger merge option without the data source already being attached, which doesn't work for me as I would then have to set out a new template for each game created under that design.

I hope that question makes sense?

 

The N Up function doesn't seem to work, I've tried to use that and all i get is one tiny square in the top left corner of each page. The mirror function doesn't allow me to select it and the symmetry option doesn't fit what i need either as I need it tiled. The tiled option in print doesn't work, still end up with just a single tiny square at the top left of each page, or in the center.  I've looked and all I can find is how to create this once the mail merge data is attached, but I need to create it without the mail merge data attached.

It is set to booklet, facing pages, but none of the settings work the way I need it to. Please Help! I don't want to have to recreate the same booklet or the same card each time i set up a new data set. I can do this in Microsoft publisher, but not in affinity. I need affinity because it does a few functions that Microsoft doesn't.

Edited January 9, 2023 by SpiceyKitten01

[Old Bruce]

Hi and welcome to the forums @SpiceyKitten01,

I have so many questions.

I'll start with: Why 36 up?

Does each game ( A through to Z) have 36 unique cards? Is that what you need? 36 unique cards for each game? If yes then just make your data sets A through Z (or F or whatever). Load all of them into the Publisher document and generate the A game document. Now go back to the "template" and choose the B data set and generate the B game Document. Rinse and Repeat (until you run through all the letters).

Or are you looking at making 36 games so you have card one for all 36 games on a single page then the second page will have card two for all 36 games?

[h_d]

You will definitely need a data source to start with, in order to generate the fields for the merge. You can't just type them into the Merge Layout document: they have to be inserted from the Fields panel.

However, if your different sources have the same data structure and field names, you can delete the original source in the Data Merge manager and add the second source to your existing Merge Layout document.

Brief illustration. Here I've got a 6x6 Merge Layout document with two fields ('code' and 'Number') generated from Data Source A:

When I click Generate it creates a new merged document. The 'code' in each case is just the letter A, the 'Numbers' are sequential from 1-36:
 

 

I save and close my A merged document.

The data merge layout document is still open. In the Data Merge Manager I delete Source A:

And replace it with Source B by clicking the insignificant little icon at the bottom left:

Source B is identical in structure to Source A, and has identical field names, but the 'code' fields have been changed to the letter 'B'.

I click Generate again and a new merged document is created, this time with the data from source B:

 

So basically you can re-use your Data Merge layout with different sets of data, as long as the data structure and field names are the same. 

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

[v_kyr]

See also related ...

• Using Data Merge to Create Custom Card Designs in Affinity Publisher (Youtube video)
• Deep Dive Data Merge in Affinity Publisher (Youtube video)
• Populate pages in an instant with Affinity Publisher’s powerful Data Merge Manager (Affinity Spotlight)
• Creating Cards & Assets for Board Games? (Forum thread)
• ... etc.

[SpiceyKitten01]

21 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

Hi and welcome to the forums @SpiceyKitten01,

I have so many questions.

I'll start with: Why 36 up?

Does each game ( A through to Z) have 36 unique cards? Is that what you need? 36 unique cards for each game? If yes then just make your data sets A through Z (or F or whatever). Load all of them into the Publisher document and generate the A game document. Now go back to the "template" and choose the B data set and generate the B game Document. Rinse and Repeat (until you run through all the letters).

Or are you looking at making 36 games so you have card one for all 36 games on a single page then the second page will have card two for all 36 games?

I'm not sure where you got 36 up from? I've not mentioned 36 Up... So I'm very confused. 

[SpiceyKitten01]

18 hours ago, anto said:

Prepare your data in LibreOffice and save as xlsx (Office Open XML)

    

Go to DataMerge and Add source.

Look video how to easy merge your data and create cards for all games.

 

 

Thank you very much, although I know how to do the mail merge itself, I was literally

just looking to find out how to access the mail merge layout feature before loading the data...I have found it now.

[SpiceyKitten01]

19 hours ago, h_d said:

You will definitely need a data source to start with, in order to generate the fields for the merge. You can't just type them into the Merge Layout document: they have to be inserted from the Fields panel.

However, if your different sources have the same data structure and field names, you can delete the original source in the Data Merge manager and add the second source to your existing Merge Layout document.

Brief illustration. Here I've got a 6x6 Merge Layout document with two fields ('code' and 'Number') generated from Data Source A:

When I click Generate it creates a new merged document. The 'code' in each case is just the letter A, the 'Numbers' are sequential from 1-36:
 

 

I save and close my A merged document.

The data merge layout document is still open. In the Data Merge Manager I delete Source A:

And replace it with Source B by clicking the insignificant little icon at the bottom left:

Source B is identical in structure to Source A, and has identical field names, but the 'code' fields have been changed to the letter 'B'.

I click Generate again and a new merged document is created, this time with the data from source B:

 

So basically you can re-use your Data Merge layout with different sets of data, as long as the data structure and field names are the same. 

Hope this helps.

 

 

 

No, I'm not asking how to add mail merge fields, I was asking how to access the mail merge LAYOUT feature, but couldn't find anything on how to do that without the data source. I have figured it out now though and YES, you can indeed create the mail merge template ready for the fields to be placed later using the mail merge layout without a data set. thank you anyway. 

 

[SpiceyKitten01]

I have no resolved the issue, the mail merge layout tool DOES NOT require you to use the merge fields, it can be used to create repeating designs on a single page WITHOUT using an actual mail merge. 

The icon is in the left side of the Publisher document, took me most of the day to figure this out but I have done it. So, the answer is.

Yes, I can create a template ready to put the merge fields in at a later date. 

[Old Bruce]

5 minutes ago, SpiceyKitten01 said:

I'm not sure where you got 36 up from? I've not mentioned 36 Up... So I'm very confused. 

 

On 1/9/2023 at 8:24 AM, SpiceyKitten01 said:

I need to create this repeating pattern in a six by six format on each A4 page

 

[SpiceyKitten01]

6 hours ago, Old Bruce said:

 

 

Fair enough, that's per page six cards per page, my poor communicate skills, so I do apologies. x