Automated InDesign Catalog Workflow
Budget: ₹1,500 – ₹12,500 INR
The visual layout of my product catalogue is locked in; what I still need is the automation layer that keeps it current without hours of manual edits. I’m after a complete design of an automatic catalog that links an Excel database to Adobe InDesign, merges the data into the pre-built pages, and generates a dynamic table of contents showing both product categories and page numbers.
I’m new to InDesign automation, so the solution has to be maintainable on my side: a clear, documented script (JavaScript, AppleScript or whatever works best in InDesign) that refreshes the brochure every time the source spreadsheet is updated. If a price, SKU or description changes in Excel, I want a single click in InDesign to push those changes throughout the file—including the TOC—without disturbing the existing styling.
Key deliverables
• A fully functional data-merge setup connecting my Excel sheet to the InDesign template
• A dynamic TOC that lists categories and their page numbers automatically
• An easy-to-run script that updates all records and the TOC when the Excel file changes
• Step-by-step hand-off notes so I can rerun or tweak the process in the future
Please build on the design I already have rather than re-inventing the aesthetics. Once everything is wired together and tested with a sample data set, I’ll provide the full product list for a final validation pass.
I’m new to InDesign automation, so the solution has to be maintainable on my side: a clear, documented script (JavaScript, AppleScript or whatever works best in InDesign) that refreshes the brochure every time the source spreadsheet is updated. If a price, SKU or description changes in Excel, I want a single click in InDesign to push those changes throughout the file—including the TOC—without disturbing the existing styling.
Key deliverables
• A fully functional data-merge setup connecting my Excel sheet to the InDesign template
• A dynamic TOC that lists categories and their page numbers automatically
• An easy-to-run script that updates all records and the TOC when the Excel file changes
• Step-by-step hand-off notes so I can rerun or tweak the process in the future
Please build on the design I already have rather than re-inventing the aesthetics. Once everything is wired together and tested with a sample data set, I’ll provide the full product list for a final validation pass.