Centre text frame within the rectangle using data merge

[AffinityC]

Hi everyone,

I'm creating name cards and I am having some issues with data merge. I essentially want the first name and last name to be slightly offset from each other but I want the full name (first and last name) when grouped, to be centred to the white rectangle. There are over 100 cards and I don't want to manually adjust them after the data merge. 

Here I tried using the text frame feature which keeps the first name centred but the last name shifts to the side. In the final product, it looks like the entire name is shifted over and not centred to the rectangle. Hopefully I'm explaining this well. 

My question is:

How can I have data merge ensure the at the full name is centred to the white rectangle? (while having the first and last name slightly offset from each other)

 

Thank you!

 

[Komatös]

Hello @AffinityC and welcome to the forums.

I don't see a way to do this automatically, as there is no formatting instruction that allows you to right-align the next line/paragraph depending on the last character of the previous line/paragraph.
 

[Old Bruce]

I would use a Frame Text Text Frame and have the setup for the Text Frame to use Centred Vertical alignment. For the Text Frame give it a white fill.

<first name> (with the appropriate text style set to use Centred Justification) 

<last name> (with the appropriate text style set to use Centred Justification)

[AffinityC]

@Old Bruce This is a great suggestion. However, if I would like the last name to be slightly off set to the right from the first name, will the full name still be centred to the white box in the end?

[AffinityC]

@Old Bruce When I set it up like this, the full name is centred to the box which is what I'd like, but the last name is directly underneath the first name. I'm hoping to have the full name centred within the box even if the last name is slightly off to the right. Thank you for your support on this one!

 

[Komatös]

I think you want it formatted like this, don't you?

[Old Bruce]

14 hours ago, AffinityC said:

How can I have data merge ensure the at the full name is centred to the white rectangle? (while having the first and last name slightly offset from each other)

For over a half century I have been practising how to read. I still haven't quite mastered it.

Now I am thinking that @Komatös is on the right track.

 

[AffinityC]

@Komatös Yes exactly! I'd like data merge to automatically centre the full names in the centre of the white box even though the first and last name are slightly off centred. Is there a way to do so or like you suggested, it'll have to be done manually? I was hoping not to have to work on each card manually as there are 100.

 

Thank you so much.

[Komatös]

15 minutes ago, Old Bruce said:

I still haven't quite mastered it.

Sometimes you have to read between the lines.

2 minutes ago, AffinityC said:

it'll have to be done manually?

As much as I hate to say it, yes, you will have to swallow the worm.

[AffinityC]

@Komatös @Old Bruce Thank you both for supporting on this one. Hopefully this feature will come in the future versions.

 

 

[Komatös]

You are welcome!

[Old Bruce]

@AffinityC,

I think this works for all but names where the last name is larger (wider) than the first*. A combination of Paragraph Styles and Constraints.

Wedding cards.zip

I used a Fancy Font and a San Serif font, you may not have them.

 

Easiest solution is to rename those guests, or not invite them.

[AffinityC]

@Old Bruce I like how you formatted it here! The only issue is that the full name is still slightly off centred as seen in the video clip. 

 

 

[AffinityC]

@Old Bruce I found a good work around but would you know if there's a way to align objects from multiple pages to each other?