don’t retype! save those fingers only for necessary tasks. instead, take advantage of the excel import filter.
you can import microsoft excel files into adobe indesign documents. (and it even doesn’t matter whether you’re using the same platformâ??windows or mac osâ??on which the excel file was created).
you can import an excel table into indesign as tabbed data or as an indesign table:
1. open your indesign document.
2. choose file > place, and navigate to the excel file.
3. select which cells to import:
- to import the entire worksheet, leave the cell range field blank.
- to import a range of cells, enter them in the cell range field using a column. for example, to import cells b2 to f17, enter b2:f17.
- if your client has named the range, enter its name or choose the range from the cell range pop-up menu.
4. choose whether the text should be tabbed or come in as a table.
i recommend importing the text as an unformulated table and using the great formatting features in indesign to create the look you want.
5. click place.
and that’s it! you saved an enormous amount of time.
note that:
the filter brings in text only, no graphics.
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comment “import excel tables in indesign”
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Hi! When I import (using the place command) an excel table into Indesign, it changes the colors of my table. Do you know why this happens or how I can fix it?
hi Adam
when you place the excel table, you have to activate “show import options”
in that window you have more options.
choose formatted table. doing so, the colours are the same as in your excel table.
i hope i’ve answered your question.
thanks and come again
Hey Adam, I love your blog!
I am working on importing excel files into indesign and I was wondering how you can get it to continue the chart onto the next page of the document automatically instead of displaying that dreaded red plus sign. I am importing pricing and order numbers for a catalog and linking them to an excel file. It’s working fine, but when importing a large chart, I would like for it to automatically size and flow into another box on the next page. I hope I’ve explained that correctly and you know what I’m talking about. I’m still a novice!
Thanks for your help
Hi, Andrea
Actually this blog is webee’s blog and all the bees’ who are willing to write and answer withi these pages.
So I’m one of the bees and here is your answer concerning the flowing text:
With the loaded text icon displayed, hold down Shift as you do one of the following:
Click the loaded text icon in a column to create a frame the width of that column. InDesign creates new text frames and new document pages until all text is added to the document.
Click inside a text frame that is based on a master text frame. The text autoflows into the document page frame and generates new pages as needed, using the master frameâ??s attributes.
thanks for the help webee[s]!
y’all rock
How can u link an Excel spreadsheet with the corresponding InDesign table?
hello webee,
nice tip! the only problem is: if you make changes on the excel table using excel, indesign wont take the changes and wont refresh the data on itself…
is there a way to do that?
thx!
[...] these might be helpful…hopefully Import Excel data, charts, and graphs (InDesign 2.x, CS, CS2) tip of the day: import excel table in indesign __________________ Dot Design Brand Identity/Logo Design, Print Design and Print Management Tel: [...]
LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!! Thanks so much! you just made my project look more professional, and saved me hours!
I want import some data into Indesign table. some data means some values only not whole database sheet. what should i do? here example of data want.
I need to import some table data into Indesign to create a PDF that you can enter values into.
Hello,
I am a new Indesign user, and I have a dilemma in importing an excel file as we are trying to complete a supplier book, we have an excel with around 500 records, and our end product should have each supplier on each page.
Is there anyway where we can create a master template and then import the excel data so we can have an end result of 500 pages?
Many thanks in advance.
How can u link an Excel spreadsheet with the corresponding InDesign table?
Use easycatalog plug in. very simple to use
When you import an Excel table can you also rotate it in the event it too large for a portrait setting.
You guys rock.
Hi. We run Microsoft Office 2007 and Adobe InDesign CS2 at work. When we try importing the Excel file into InDesign, it comes out as code. We do not get the “Microsoft Excel Import Options” dialog box. Instead we get the “Text Import Options”(as in InDesign text options). We have been driving ourselves mad for the past two hours trying to figure this out. Any help?
You have a great Blog here Mate. Love your content very informative, Please keep up the good work.
Is there anyway to import an Excel spreadsheet into Indesign and keep it’s functionality? If that’s not possible, can I export a letterhead design from Indesign and drop into an excel spreadsheet?
Thanks bunches!!