Multi layout data merge problems

[TodR]

Hi all,

I am new here so thanks in advance. I have searched for my particular data merge quandary but I am struggling to 'get it'.

I am trying to create gift cards on a four up Avery postcards each being 4.25" x 5.5", so four to a letter size printable sheet. See my screenshot attached. My data is a simple Excel (and I tried CSV) of two columns and sixty rows. The first row is a title row with column one being 'Amount' and column two being 'Code'. Then the following rows contain the two entries of amount (either 10 or 20) and then code (a twelve character coupon code).  I have laid out the Master and then created Page 1. This page contains the eight data merge boxes and the text boxes for each. I have assigned the fields "Amount" and "Code" to each box. When I run the merge I get either every other entry or one code for each page leading to sixty pages. I have tried many various things but none seem to work as I want. I have not been successful in getting four unique codes per page and ending up with 15 pages. 

I would really appreciate some guidance. A good Affinity tutorial on this would be great.

[thomaso]

Hi @TodR,
Welcome to the Affinity Forums!

The different text frame width for <Amount> seems to indicate that you created all 8 text frames manually. I assume for continuous fill with data of more than 1 cell per page you would need to use the Data Merge Layout Tool for the creation of these text frames. Once you have set it up in the wanted 2x2 grid place your text frames in the first cell only and it will auto-copy them identically to the other 3 cells. Then they might prepared for the wanted data flow.

[anto]

8 годин тому TodR сказав:

When I run the merge I get either every other entry or one code for each page leading to sixty pages.

You have to control parameter Record advance.

Look at video how it works

 

[TodR]

15 hours ago, thomaso said:

Hi @TodR,
Welcome to the Affinity Forums!

The different text frame width for <Amount> seems to indicate that you created all 8 text frames manually. I assume for continuous fill with data of more than 1 cell per page you would need to use the Data Merge Layout Tool for the creation of these text frames. Once you have set it up in the wanted 2x2 grid place your text frames in the first cell only and it will auto-copy them identically to the other 3 cells. Then they might prepared for the wanted data flow.

Thanks for the reply. To be honest I didn't get it from this reply. Once I read the reply and video below then it hit me about creating the Data Merge Layout over the whole page with a 2x2 layout. Then place the text frames inside. Thanks for your help.

[TodR]

11 hours ago, anto said:

You have to control parameter Record advance.

Look at video how it works

 

 

This was great. Thanks for the video. What I was missing was creating the Data Merge Layout over the whole page. and then the text frames in one of them and have them replicate per the Data Merge Layout. That finally clicked. The record advance was fine in mine. What I was doing was creating a Data Merge Layout box for each field. Oops. Thanks again. Very helpful.

Tod