Affinity Publisher and MS Excel data

[liteman]

Is there any update to Affinity Publisher to accept data direct from Excel?

[thomaso]

"accept" ? – APub doesn't open but can place spreadsheet files (XLSX) from Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers or LibreOffice (Calc).

For APub's Data Merge the source types include text (plain/CSV/TSV), JSON and XLSX spreadsheet files (e.g. Microsoft Excel, Apple Numbers, LibreOffice). The text files could be an exported address book or contact lists. Your data records could also include image links (resource path names).

It seems that there have been no changes regarding spreadsheet file type compatibility since APub v1.10.

https://affinity.help/publisher2/English.lproj/index.html?page=pages/Introduction/keyFeatures.html?list&title=Features

[liteman]

What I need to be able to do is import/place the contents of a spreadsheet (see attached sample list.xls) and for the formatting to be kept and the final result to be as the catalogue_sample page.pdf, also attached. The page needs to be split into 3 columns and for the text to auto flow across all columns and pages until full list has been created.

catalogue_sample page.pdf sample list.xlsx

[thomaso]

32 minutes ago, liteman said:

for the formatting to be kept (…) auto flow across all pages until full list has been created.

Regarding this aspects there aren't any updates as far I a know.

While the text styles are maintained when placing the .xlsx you need to reformat the table's cell widths & heights. The overlapping columns may be achieved by activating for the text style the character attribute "No break" … but you may need to customize long lines by adding manual line breaks (btw., it appears also line breaks in your indesign.pdf aren't fully identical with the .xlsx).

If the .xlsx is styled as desired anyway, I personally would prefer to export the .xlsx as .pdf, then place this .pdf in Affinity.

In any case, there's no auto-flow with automatic column or page breaks. They also require manual work, e.g., with copies of the placed object + a masking rectangle for each column and page.

[liteman]

Thanks thomaso, you are most helpful.

I will try to do as you suggest, as I'd rather use Affinity than InDesign, which is much too complicated. Here is a link to the full catalogue for this year:

https://we.tl/t-Xmm0h12G2n

From this you will see that I need to create quite a few master pages, both for the tables and also for pictures. Do you have any suggestions as to how I could do this and look like this example.

 

[thomaso]

I can't (on mac) and would not want to open an .exe file.

You could upload screenshots of certain layouts to the forum.

[matisso]

6 hours ago, liteman said:

[…] I'd rather use Affinity than InDesign, which is much too complicated […]

If you’ve got the Adobe licence… Wow, I must admit I am lost for words here. You can pull so much more with InDesign, especially with scripts and there is plenty of free ones that are great. Personally I’ve always loved the possibilities it provides. APub still has a lot of catching up to become a serious contender.

[thomaso]

8 hours ago, matisso said:

If you’ve got the Adobe licence… Wow, I must admit I am lost for words here. You can pull so much more with InDesign, especially with scripts and there is plenty of free ones that are great. Personally I’ve always loved the possibilities it provides. APub still has a lot of catching up to become a serious contender.

I agree but possibly the mentioned "complexity" of ID concerns a financial situation and the OP wants to switch?

@liteman, it's worth be aware of possible issues in APub's tables and check if known bugs do still exist and/or have a workaround. For instance AF-3175 | AF-216 | afb-6889 | afb-6884 | AFB-7636 | AF-1056 | … , which didn't get a response from the @Affinity Info Bot yet (while not every fixed issue receives an info like this).

Regarding auto-flow there is a feature request which also describes workarounds:

[liteman]

Having read the responses from both Thomaso and Matisso, I think I am probaly better off staying with InDesign. I'd like to thank you both for taking the time to look at my problem and make suggestions - very much appreciated.