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• • November 7, 2023 at 6:10 am #14397058
    Aubrey

    Member

    Hi there! I mostly use Illustrator but use InDesign in a very light capacity – 1 page ads and multi-page brochures. I’m finding my skills are insufficient for some of my major projects… I have been tasked with creating a real estate magazine – not just a brochure about services, but a listing magazine. After producing a couple issues, I finally learned about the DataMerge feature but I’m still not sure how to use it more efficiently for what we are doing. Not every page has the same layout, and different property types might have different display styles. I’m exporting data from approximately 4 different Real Estate Multiple Listing Services. I’m the only one working on this magzine from exporting the data all the way to sending it to the printer.

    You can see an example at the following link: <a href=”https://online.fliphtml5.com/rbsue/ksxl/&#8221; or here <a href=”https://online.fliphtml5.com/rbsue/nnxq/&#8221;

    Surely one of you brilliant folks can recommend a plugin/script or something (anything) to help make my life infinitely easier. I look forward to hearing any kind of guidance you might have!

  • November 7, 2023 at 6:15 am #14397090
    Mike Rankin

    Keymaster

    Hi Aubrey-

    We just published a Data Merge SuperGuide that might be helpful. It’s a Member-only benefit. You can find it in Resources > Downloadables. I’d also suggest that you post this in the InDesignSecrets Facebook group, where there’s lots of people who might have useful advice for you. https://www.facebook.com/groups/indesignsecrets

    • November 13, 2023 at 10:43 am #14397161
      Colin Flashman

      Member

      Data Merge could help for certain parts of the catalogue such as the pages laid out like pages 6-12 of the catalogue. This could be done by making one record, then creating a merged file using multiple record layout.
      However, this would only make the certain pages of the catalogue, it wouldn’t lay out the entire catalogue.
      I’d imagine that the project would need to have several parts, such as:
      * Cover (outside front/inside front/inside back/outside back)
      * preliminary pages at the front which are bespoke
      * automated pages such as pages 6-12
      * full page advertisements and testimonials.
      That said, it is also worth googling “create real estate catalog automatically” because from memory, there are premade solutions dedicated to this task that can take in RETML that the company’s CRM should be able to export.

  • November 7, 2023 at 6:33 am #14397092
    Aubrey

    Member

    Thanks so much! I appreciate it! I wil definitely check that out! I’m so thrilled to have a group like y’all!

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