Variable Data with Adobe Illustrator Tutorial
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- Опубликовано: 8 сен 2024
- Adobe Illustrator tutorial using Variable Data to create multiple files based on data imported through a csv file. This will speed up data entry and prevent errors.
Download the Variable Importer Script here: github.com/Sil...
For Mac save the VariableImporter.jsx in the following folder /Applications/Adobe Illustrator CC/Presets.localized/en_GB/Scripts
For Windows save the VariableImporter.jsx in the following folder \Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator CC\Presets\Scripts
Check out the written tutorial on my website www.christiand...
This is a fantastic tutorial. I needed to create 47 different artwork files and this saved me a ton of time - plus I learned a new skill. Thank you!
Batch processing is a life saver!!! This tutorial prevents hair pulling!!
Excellent Tutorial! That script saved my butt in exporting the data set names. A tip if you didn't already know it, If you click the drop down in the option tab to "No auto binding" you can then just manually select the items after you import the variables that you want to be variable data and then click the "make text dynamic" button in the variables window. This way you don't have to pre-name your artwork which eliminates the chance of a syntax error ( which I kept getting because I had 30 different instances of the same variable hence why I was searching for a different solution) Thanks again for the help!!
I was not aware of this feature. A very solid alternative to naming the variables. Thanks for sharing!
You did a great tutorial, that WORKS! Just follow the instructions and you can even take your variable data and save it not only to Illustrator, but also as batch PDFs or other formats. #godsend
it's been resolved. Thank you SOOOOOOOOOOO much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome tutorial and script. Thank you Christian. 600 title/subhead title images to create from a spreadsheet. Saved me so much time!
Great tutorial (2 years old and still valuable). My goal is to NOT save each one as a file but to create a new asset each time. I am making cards that go into a brochure. Of course my actions attempt did not work so need to refine that a little bit. If not, I will just manually copy them out each time - it will still save me a bunch of time. Thanks for making this!
Thank You! Made 200 name cards for wedding, works like magic!
I was at my wit's end with the constant incoming library invalid error when I found this. So much easier to use. Fantastic tutorial my friend.
thank you for your video. it saves my time. i saw so many videos on variable data using, but your tutorial is really help me. thank you again.
Thanks, Christian! I did managed to do my design rotated with you help and Vasily script. Thanks a lot for discording your project just like this in clear and professional way. You make world better place to live. I am from Siberia.
This is the most detailed tutorial about Data Merge, exactly the one I need. Thank you SOOOOOO much!!
...that was awesome knowledge man!
It Works! Thank you man. My problema was the scrpit extension. I was looking for a real tutorial, but this is it!
no need that script.
OMG!!! What a time saver!!! Thanks for sharing your code!
Glad the video helped you save time. Code was created by Vasily Hall.
Thanks Mate, Really helpful. I was unable to work with XML, this script really works with my CSV data. Thanks again.
This is great. Saved me a few days of work to minutes..
Very very important video for me, saved my time a couple times. Thanks a lot mann, you're the bestt
Thank You!! It's work & saved much of time right now!
Thank you for this time saving script Christian!! You saved me 10 hours on a project!!
Thank you for your work, your tutorial is super helpful!! You've saved me hours!
#ChristianDa gracias por esta gran herramienta, busqué por tanto lados, que ya estaba al borde del desepero por que los que explican esto les funciona de inmediato pero con esto que acabas de compartir me diste la solución correcta. Muchas gracias.
thank you so much this video is save my time
Appreciate you posting this.. made my work so much easier.. Thank you
Thanks! You save my work hours
Your script is genious, you saved my day, thank you very much!
Clear, clear narration. Thank you.
flawless tutorials, thank you so much
Excelent tutorial. Im native Spanish, but u explained perfect!!
excelente amigo, no podía resolverlo, pero gracias a usted lo he logrado.
Thank you!! You saved so much of my time!!!
Thanks so much ! This is very helpful !
Thanks, this is really helpful
Thanks for this outstanding technique tutorial!
You, sir, are a saint! This video explained very well. Thank you and I will be using this method many times over for my profession! Liking & Sharing!
Side note: Everyone should try and support Vasily Hall (developer of this script). He's a nice guy and working on new exciting projects. His links are in the JSX script.
You're amazing, thank you so much!
This is great. Like the visibility can you change a colour of an object using this process?
Hi Rob, did you find out how to recolor the objects?
@@DiegoFSantos Hi, yes I did two tutorial on my channel if you look. ruclips.net/channel/UCQ44sv9xQF-QUJWgWl0kSCg
Fantastic tutorial¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ really really helpful, the script works like a charm :D
Very helpful video. Thank you.
Great Tutorial my friend! Always happy to learn more!!!
the best tutorial
Thank you for the great tutorial! Very helpful :)
This is the best one !
Thanks a lot man :) This was so helpful !
Thank you so much.. You saved so much of my time..
You save my day!! Thanks
ty, very helpful
Great to Set Data Set file with custom name
very very Thanks
perfect thank you so much
Thank You!
All thing worked well except the image. The image is not changing/importing. For your kind information, I have changed the cell format of image column as 'text' as @ is not accepting. Would that be a cause?
Hi Abdullah, in the .csv file the image column does require the @ symbol for the top row. You can change @image to be @text. Make sure that the image names are correct and that all the images are in one location. When using the Variable Importer script are you getting the correct Type for the image as shown at 8:08 in the video? If you are still getting errors let me know.
Very helpful!!!!
Great, Helps a lot, Thank u
Thanks
Hello,
This is a wonderful video; really helpful. I have a question about variables which hopefully you may know the answer to!
Do you know if you can use variables with multipage PDFs on Illustrator?
At the moment I can only get variables to import single-page PDFs, it will not work with multipage ones? It just comes back with errors and does not import the file.
Thanks.
appreciate this! thanks!
very helpfull thanks
iiii love thAT !! I USE CS6 IN 2022
THIS IS VERY USEFULL!!! THANKS
Thank you so much for this! I have one question. My import variables are all text, when I run this script it shows on my variables panel perfectly, but when I cycle through different data sets, nothing changes on my document. Any advice?
Tengo el mismo problema, conseguiste una solucion?
Thank you so much.,
Hi, when loading my data file from the .csv file - only the first column is showed under the Variable Dipslay tab, and I am unable to assign dataset names in the way you are doing in this tutorial. The data sets are not available as an option form the dropdown menu of the Fields. Any idea why this is happening?
Thank you soooo much
Hey Christian,
Is there a way to make this work pulling across rows rather than down columns?
Hi John,
Yes, at 7:30 click on the Transpose Data check box. Make sure that the variables are named from the first row instead of column.
I was trying to export each of the files created as jpgs but each time it exports it re-wrote the file before so I ended up with only one file in my folder - help
That is a common issue. Just want to go over some basics first. Can you check if the settings in the Batch menu are the same as 14:49 in the video. Also, when creating the saving action (at 13:20 in the video) make sure not to rename the file. Let me know if that helps or you need anything else.
Hi. Is it possible to use an xml in the cloud as the variables library?
Hi Gonzalo, I do not know if this is possible. I would recommend contacting the creator of the Variable Importer script here www.linkedin.com/in/vasily-hall-91216618/ Best of luck!
Thanks a lot it saved my time but i have a question that How should i export these multiple data at once for several different pages with different variables...
Hi manoj, glad the video helped.
Just want to make sure I answer your question correctly, first were you able to create an action to export multiple files as shown in the video starting at 12:00 ? If no, please let me know what issue you found. Was there only one file saved instead of multiple?
If you were able to create an export action as in the video... great! If you are looking for something not explained in the video please explain in great detail what you are trying to accomplish. Feel free to contact me: www.christianda.com/contact.html
@@christiandaa thanks let me see the video first if i am able to do so i would be very much thankful to you... its would be great, and would be very much helpful to me.. thanks a lot for such valuable videos...
@@manoj03h I hope the video improves your workflow. Let me know if you have any questions or need help.
This is terrific, and will help me at work where I have to do signs formatted in the same way. I'm having issues however, when trying to type @image and #endangered info into their own fields in Excel. What do I do to have these typed in without getting error messages? Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us!
christian, Awesome tutorial but I need to ask you 2 questions if that's ok with you.. 1. What if there's two lines do I break it on the excel (same row)? 2. I have over 10 unique texts in 5 variables, but I just want to put it on the same spot on .ai. do I have to cluster all text into 1 variable column?
Hi Michael, thanks for the comment. I am a little unclear on your questions. If my answers below do not help, please provide more detailed information on what you trying to create. You can also email me images or anything else. Check my website for contact info: www.christianda.com/contact.html
Regarding the two lines... in the video the description text is in a single cell on the spreadsheet which appears as a multi-line paragraph in illustrator. Another way you can achieve two lines is by having two variables (Variable Line 1) and (Variable Line 2). The later option would have the two lines on the same row in the spreadsheet.
Regarding the five variables... The video contains five variables. Each variable is in its own column. Any text in a column will replace the variable in that column. You can have 10 or more items in the column. I don't think there is a limit to the number of text or variables.
Thank you Christian, didn’t know you’d answer so quickly! I want to insert a break line illustrator. Example:
The Animal is:
Horse
Do I just CTRL+ Enter to break the line on excel, it’ll automatically break in illustrator as well?
@@healthyfood661 Yes. A line break created with CTRL + Enter in a cell will transfer into Illustrator. Hope that helps. Thanks for the question as I learned something from it! Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you Christian, you opened up so much potentials I could do with illustrator and give new meaning to my life as a designer!
I just want to say thank you so much.
But I want all artwork in 1 file. Is it possible?
Please reply me
TY Gob Job!
If I want to change a single word in a paragraph of text without changing the rest of the paragraph, can I do that dynamically in Illustrator?
Hello, try using the Find and Replace function. Edit > Find and Replace... That should solve your problem. If you need additional help let me know and I will try and provide a solution.
How do you ensure the line breaks for the text import?
thaaaaanks really fantastic
I don't understand why the built in Variables panel doesn't just do all of this. It doesn't seem like you should need to run some complicated third party script with its own whole interface in order to set some variables in the existing panel, and yet, for the life of me, I cannot get the native visibility variables implementation to work. Is this feature just that broken in Illustrator?
My Illustrator 2018 cannot import variable as CSV, only accepts XML
Hey, I'm having trouble saving the script on my computer any chance you can help me?
This all worked great for me! thanks so much. Quick question....Is there a way to save all the merged files into one document? I am creating gift cards with the variable data being the card numbers in sequential order. (100 total cards) When batch it creates different documents for each one. In order to print these, I would like to have in one document rather than 100 individual documents. Is this possible?
Glad the video helped. I would love to find a solution to simplify your gift card printing. There are a couple ways to solve the problem. I prefer to go over the details of your specific project via email but a reply here is fine as well.
1. Send the files to a local print shop they would do this for you or if you have print production software. I believe you are trying to do this from a home printer or a small business without installing or learning new software. This is fine there are other ways.
2. Create an action to automate the printing of all 100 documents at one time. This works great if you don't need to cut after printing. Such as if all the gift cards are standard letter size and you just want to print them all at the same time.
3. Create an action to place all gift cards in one document. From there you can print that document.
I can make a video showing the the second and third options to guide you through the process. Feel free to contact me and I will help you out free of charge :)
email: christiandasi@gmail.com
For anyone having this problem try using the method shown here: ruclips.net/video/Aa-0RkcMNF0/видео.html
Thanks Chris, and when we have a sticker that we copy paste across the owr area of work but inside each sticker we have a serial number that is different in each sticker of course, there is a way similar like you did in this tuturial?
Yes, if you have the serial numbers in a .CSV file this process will create the stickers with different serial numbers. You can also include different images for barcodes.
Hi there, great video but there is one big problem. It is not impossible to write @image because excel says ist a formula. How I do deal with that?
Hello, I do not get this error when inputting @image within excel. Are you adding an equal sign before the @image to make it which would create a formula? If you want to email me your excel file I will try and see if there is something I can do... www.christianda.com/contact
does anybody understand how to import via variable data svg files?
thnku
How to define Hyperlink for button as a Variable?
Have you tried using a text variable? Out of the three variables: text, image, and visibility that is the only one that makes sense to me. This video is targeted at the use of variables for printing. Are you attempting to use the hyperlink for interactivity?
How do I change the font size one and not allow it to change the rest of the pages at the same time?
Hi Cole, if you are changing a single element of one page I would suggest doing it manually. I am unaware of a way to automate a different font size for a single page.
Follow the tutorial and export all the pages. Afterwards you can go back and edit the single page you need the font size to be larger.
Please let me know if you need further help.
question: the Windows filepath works up til "Scripts." now it's "Scripting" and has the sub "Sample Scripts" which also has 2 subs, JavaScript and Visual Basic, each w/their own multiple subs.
will edit/del this comment if i find it, but question: would i save VariableImporter.jsx in JavaScript, in Sample Scripts, or just there in Scripting? planning to generate 750 raffle tickets
hey, i can't import images. but data variables works fine. what should i do?
Hi Muhammad,
Check that you set the correct file path 9:22 | The variable name in your CSV file header should be @image 2:22 | The image in illustrator needs to be named image 1:36 | the names of your images need match exactly as they are saved with spaces you need to include an underscore. Example: "ImAgE 32.jpg" will be "ImAgE_32.jpg" in your CSV file. | The images need to be linked files 0:46 not embedded
Let me know if that solves it.
@@christiandaa in excel file i named as image file. but how to link that?
@@74H1D At 9:21 you set file path to the folder holding all your images. You can check that your variable is an at 7:57
@@christiandaa do i need to hyperlink my images in excel file? or just write down the image file name?
@@christiandaa Thank you @christian. i make it. my first template image was just image, when i take it by clicking place. then it worked. thank you again and again. and also for for your replies.
Hi! Thank you for this! I'm facing a problem tho. I'm getting a "The current values have not yet been captured, and will be discarded upon switching data sets" error everytime the batch tries to change the data set to save. It means i have to click "Yes" everytime it saves a new file. Am i missing something? Can you please assist with this?
Hi JR, send me an email with all the files and I will try to solve this issue. Email: christiandasi@gmail.com
@@christiandaa Thank you! I just sent you.
@@christiandaa I found what was cousing the issue! The paths for the images i was using had spaces.
I can load the dataset. Text+images, but If I click to next dataset It blink a message every time.
The current values have not been captured, and will be discarded upon switching data sets. Proceed?"
Hi Peter, I am unable to assist with this issue. The creator of the variable importer script answered a very similar question in the link below. Hope that helps.
graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/81038/illustrator-error-on-switching-variables-data-sets
Damn... Everything works like a charm except I don't have the option to name my files with Variable values... Do you have any idea why? It doesn't appear in the list of options in Assign DataSet names. And it upsets me so much! I have VariableImporter 8.2.3, and I'm working with Illustrator CC. Any idea to troubleshoot this?
Hi Mireille, my first guess is that there is an issue with your .csv file. I created sample files that you can use here www.christianda.com/mireille/TestVarData1.zip See if the assign dataset names works with those files. If not, send me your files and I will troubleshoot.
Hey, @@christiandaa I have the same issue and the files you doesn't work either
@@niyamaxna Hi Niyaz, Would like to help you with this. Can you send me recorded video of you trying to do the variable data or screenshots please? Email christiandasi@gmail.com
Here is a video detailing a process to use the TestVarData1.zip file ruclips.net/video/sDJUHHlazEk/видео.html How to create a custom Action is covered at 12:40. Let me know if there are any more issues.
mantap
Howdy! I'm getting the following error message when choosing my data file 'TypeError: undefined is not an object'. Any advice? I've renamed objects to match up with headers in the .csv file 🤷♂️
Hi doomster, I will try to recreate your issue later today and provide an answer.
In the meantime, make sure the names are spelled the same. Upper and lower case must match and spaces cannot be included. I would avoid using any special characters. Please check again that you are renaming the object not the layer above the object.
I believe the issue is with the file you are choosing. I get a similar error "TypeError: null is not an object" when choosing an internet shortcut instead of a .csv or .txt file.
@@christiandaa thanks for trying to find a fix! I was able to utilize a different method without a script. I think the issue may have been I named headers incorrectly (wrong spot maybe?) and/or my csv file was wonky. Appreciate your help
Hello! I am trying to save the Variable Importer Script from Github on my Mac and it's not giving me the option to save as a .jsx file. If I just delete the .txt at the end, it gives me an error when I try to import it into Illustrator. I have also tried to copy and paste the raw code to Script Editor where I can save is as a .jsx, but it gives me the same error. Any suggestions? Thanks so much in advance!!
Hi Christina, did you try replacing the .txt with .jsx ?
@@christiandaa yes, it gives me an error when I tried
@@christina_cavazos I have the same problem. Did you find a solution?
@@TsereteliNata no :/ I ended up just using Canva