Introduction: Creating a Workspace

Abstract

In the past, I had created labels for our clients using Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Word Mail Merge. However, there were instances where I had to lay out some of the artwork in Adobe InDesign or the client supplied only a PDF of the artwork. Working with these graphics in Microsoft Word along with a Mail Merge did not always produce the desired results. Often, I only had few hours to create the custom file that consisted of more than 100 pages. There was little time to experiment with a new layout in Word and setup of the Excel data when it was formatted incorrectly. I took some time, therefore, to learn the features of InDesign Data Merge and found that it was very much like the Mail Merge in Word. Over the years, my printing boss and I have had many clients ask us to create data merged files for their mailings and corporate events. The following chapters detail some of the main uses for Data Merge, but I am sure that after you have read this book you will be able to find additional ways to use the Data Merge within your company.