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KarlSangster

How to integrate encoded Data Matrix data into InDesign?

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Hi

first off, would just like to say I'm using the DEMO version of the DataMatrix Encoder App from you guys, so not sure if this problem is related to the demo version having any restrictions on it or not

I'm trying to create a PDF in InDesign (about 60,000 records/pages) that contains a unique 'customer id' that needs to be converted to a datamatrix barcode and applied to the PDF. so I've created the document in InDesign, and I've used the File > Create Multiple Barcodes method in the encoder app and it generates an XML file for me (i get no other file type option other than XML)

so now I have my XML database with the encoded 'customer id' turned into data matrix font, I am having difficulty importing this data into InDesign to display properly, I feel there are extra steps I need to go through to import, as currently, the XML has encoded the data matrix code into a text wrap, so it only loads the first line of data and skips the other 3 lines when converting to a barcode using the IDautomation font.

Comparatively, this data works (without any tinkering) in Microsft Word, I guess Word detects the line breaks/returns and it just creates the barcode perfectly fine (I've tested this on my end) but when importing into InDesign, it doesn't like the line breaks/returns and simply ignores anything after the first break/return

I managed to find this on one of your support pages https://support.idautomation.com/Office-Macros-VBA/How-to-Create-2D-barcodes-in-InDesign-using-Fonts/_3420

and it seems to fix the problem I am having, by replacing the linebreaks/returns with _r and then using InDesign to change _r back to linebreaks/returns, which is all good.. however, I'm stumbling at the very first hurdle, trying to get the formula to work, after pasting the formula next to the encoded data, I simply get #NAME? in the field instead of the converted data with _r

I'm kind of green/inexperienced with formulas, is there anything special I need to do with this formula? the A2 cell part of the formula is correctly targeting the encoded data, so I'm not quite sure why it's not taking the data and putting _r on it

any thoughts?

thanks

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» DATAMATRIX.png

09-12-22 2.8 year(s) ago

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Ben	Best Answer To produce a solution that moves each encoded line to a different column requires customizing the Data Matrix Font Encoder with Excel formulas. Each column is considered a separate merged field. If you are an expert level in Excel, it may be a good option. However, IDAutomation could not support a customized VBA formula. The best option is to find out why navigating through pages, reverts the encoded data or does not encode all the values from the merged field. Posted 2.8 year(s) ago (0) (0) Report Abuse

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KarlSangster

Posted 2.8 year(s) ago

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KarlSangster

hmm, I'll send an email over to Adobe and see what they say, In the meantime, I don't suppose there is a different process together we could tackle.

currently, the 'Datamatrix Encoder App' from you guys, exports multiple barcodes out into a single data string.

I work in a mailing house and we get data supplied to us from UK mail providers like Onepost, Citipost, Whistl, etc. and they provide their data into 4 separate columns, instead of 1 string with line breaks.

considering the problem at the moment is getting indesign to change _r into linebreaks, if there is a formula going around that completely bypasses line breaks being used at all, and instead says something like at character 13 or 10 (or whatever the formula is that defines the line break, instead of replacing it "_r" how about it puts the rest of the code onto the next column over, so if the string is in A2, the formula would break that string out into 4 columns A3, A4, A5, A6 which is how the other mailing companies provide their data, that way there is no line breaks and returns (which is proving troublesome with CSV format and indesign, and you simply need to select the 4 fields like this

Barcode1
Barcode2
Barcode3
Barcode4

and then change the font to datamatrix font, and that in theory would work, as that is how we currently get the Type 29 mail mark barcodes to work from Onepost, Citipost, Whistl, etc

is there a formula or a tweak in the export process for the Datamatrix Encoder App that can export the string onto 4 separate lines instead of 1 line with returns/breaks?

Posted 2.8 year(s) ago

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Ben	I have reviewed Adobe's page regarding Find and Replace and I cannot determine why it would revert when advancing and reversing through pages. Maybe Adobe can provide insight. Posted 2.8 year(s) ago (0) (0) Report Abuse

Ben

We no longer have an account for Adobe and will not be able to support it directly. I was not able to view the screenshots. I recommend sending the screenshots to our Technical Support email. While we might not be able to resolve the issue directly, we might be able to provide some advice. It might also be helpful to contact Adobe InDesign support to find out if they have recommendations after importing a CSV file with characters to replace.

Posted 2.8 year(s) ago

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KarlSangster

Hi

thanks for the fast reply, I've gone back through the guide and noticed I missed a small line from the walkthrough, stating a different formula is to be used if using the demo version, See below:

9. In cell B2, enter the formula:
Licensed Version use: =IDAutomation_DMatrix_FontEncoder()
Demo Version, use: =EncDM()

so with that change, using EncDM instead of the licensed version, it made the necessary change to the data, so all is good there

However, now that I have gotten further along in the process, I'm stuck at another step, specifically when I am importing the CSV into InDesign and using the Find/Replace feature, it only works on the preview record, and does not make the change to every record in the data, for example, jobs I will need to get this working on, are documents of say 10,000 records, the change we do in Find/Replace needs to apply to every single record, not the first record

on this guide here > https://support.idautomation.com/Office-Macros-VBA/How-to-Create-2D-barcodes-in-InDesign-using-Fonts/_3420

pretty much from step 6 or 7 onwards, I follow the steps, but it's not making the changes all the way through the document, only to the 1 record that you are currently previewing, It WILL change the _r_r in the data string to ~b~k to create break lines, but it doesnt carry that out throughout the whole document, for record 2,3,4 onwards.

also when you export to PDF, it ignores the changes and just shows the data with _r_r on it and doesn't replace them ~b~k

any idea why this is not applying to all records and only the 1? (and then ignoring the changes when exporting to PDF) It is almost like there needs to be a button or option somewhere that says "apply to all records" or something but I can't see it

if I can upload the InDesign file for you to have a look at, would that help? I've also uploaded 4 screenshots showing:
1) The find/replace settings page
2) The effect of working on the single preview record
3) The changes getting discarded when you cycle through to record 2
4) The changes are still being discarded even when you go back to record 1, it is as if it's not actually holding onto the changes I've told it to make

any help would be appreciated (getting there, just stumbling at this final hurdle)

Posted 2.8 year(s) ago

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Ben

If you are working through the guide to produce barcodes in InDesign using Excel VBA, the #NAME usually means either more than one VBA with the same name is imported or no VBA is imported.

Check to make sure there is only one Data Matrix encoder file imported into the VB Editor.

Also, refer to this Excel #Name Error Incident.

Posted 2.8 year(s) ago

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