InDesign’s Data Merge feature can feel like a hidden superpower once you see what it can create. In this hands-on, project-based session, you’ll explore how to turn spreadsheet data into polished, personalized InDesign layouts. Follow along with the provided files as you build your first merge, experiment with text and images, and discover new ways to automate repetitive design work. Along the way, you’ll learn how to structure your files, avoid common mistakes, and spot projects that are perfect for Data Merge.
Note: You will be able to download the project files to practice on your own.
You’ll learn how to:
- Prepare clean data and connect it to an InDesign template
- Merge text, images, and variable content into finished layouts
- Create personalized projects such as badges, cards, and promotional graphics
- Preview, troubleshoot, and refine your merge before generating documents
- Find free scripts that can take Data Merge even further
This article was last modified on August 6, 2026
This article was first published on August 6, 2026
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