Open a spreadsheet or text editor and add column headers in the first row. Header names become the field names you place in the template (for example ProductName, Price, SKU).
Last updated on
Apr 20, 2026
Prepare templates with merge fields and connect data sources to produce personalized documents at scale.
Learn how to prepare an Adobe InDesign (.indd) template with Data Merge fields and upload it to the Merge InDesign data node so you can produce personalized, data-driven documents at scale in Workflow Builder.
What this node does
The Merge InDesign data node combines a structured data source with an InDesign layout template to produce merged output—typically one result per record—following the same core idea as Data merge in the InDesign user guide. You keep a fixed layout in the .indd and swap in variable text and images driven by fields from your data source and by workflow inputs.
Typical uses include personalized brochures, product catalogs, price lists, certificates, and print- or PDF-ready documents where the design is stable, but content changes.
Placeholders and fields in an InDesign template
InDesign Data Merge is driven by a data source file (commonly .csv). Column headers become field names; those names appear in the Data Merge panel and in your layout as merge placeholders.
Text fields
- Place the cursor in a text frame and insert fields from the Data Merge panel. The document shows placeholders such as <<ProductName>> or <<Description>>.
- Use the panel to insert fields—avoid typing << >> manually so the merge metadata stays valid.
Image fields
- In the data source, add a column whose header begins with **@** (for example @ProductImage) and supply image paths per row.
- In the layout, drag the image field from the Data Merge panel onto a frame to define where each record’s image appears.
Workflow Builder mapping
After you upload the template to the node, those field names surface as configurable inputs. You can connect upstream nodes (for example Generate text or Input images), set static values, or leave fields unmapped so they continue to use values from the uploaded data source.
Before you begin
- Author the .indd in Adobe InDesign and use Window > Utilities > Data Merge with a real data source while you design, so placeholders and previews match what the node will read.
- Read Data merge (InDesign user guide) for complete desktop workflows (CSV limits, export options, and troubleshooting).
Create a data source file
The data source holds the values that change per output. Each column is a field; each row is a record.
For a different image per record, add a column whose header begins with @ (for example @ProductImage) and enter the path to each image file in the rows below.
Save the file as comma-delimited (.csv), tab-delimited (.txt), or semicolon-delimited text.
Build the InDesign template
Open or create the InDesign document you want to use as your template.
Open the Data Merge panel by selecting Window > Utilities > Data Merge.
From the Data Merge panel menu, select Select Data Source and open the data source file from the previous section. Column headers appear as fields in the panel.
Place the cursor in a text frame where a value should appear, then click the field name in the Data Merge panel to insert a placeholder (for example, <<ProductName>>). Repeat for each field.
For image fields, drag the image field from the Data Merge panel onto an empty frame.
Select Preview at the bottom of the Data Merge panel to step through records and confirm layout, text fit, and image placement. Resolve overset text or missing images before relying on the file in production.
Save the document.
Keep linked assets in the same folder as the .indd, or use consistent relative paths, so the node can resolve links when you upload. See Placeholders and fields for how those fields become ports in Workflow Builder.
Upload the template to the node
In Workflow Builder, add the Merge InDesign data node to your canvas.
Open the node and select Upload template, then choose your .indd file.
If the template references linked images, graphics, or needs packaged fonts, upload those under Assets (or as the node specifies).
Wait for validation. When it succeeds, the data fields from your template appear as configurable parameters.
If validation fails, read the error: confirm placeholders were inserted from the Data Merge panel, and that linked assets and required fonts are included.
Configure parameters and connect your workflow
Once the template is validated:
- Map a field to an upstream node — for example, pass generated product descriptions into the parameter that corresponds to <<Description>>.
- Set a static value for fields that should not change across workflow runs.
- Leave fields unmapped when their values should always come from the uploaded data source.
Connect the node’s output to a preview node, output node, or downstream action to capture merged documents.
Turn text into art with Adobe Firefly
Create beautiful images and video clips from text prompts using generative AI.
