Create an Illustrator document to use as the template.
Last updated on
Oct 27, 2025
Learn how to efficiently merge data in Adobe Illustrator to create dynamic, personalized designs.
Quick steps for merging data
Set up your source data file in CSV or XML format.
Select Window > Variables to import a data source file using the Variables panel.
Bind a variable to an object in your template.
Preview the document with each data set before you export all the files.
Select Window > Actions to export a batch of files from the data using the Actions panel.
Save a template for data merge
When you define variables in an Illustrator document, you create a data merge template. You can save the template in SVG format for use with other Adobe products, such as Adobe Graphics Server. For example, a developer working with Adobe Graphics Server can bind the variables in the SVG file directly to a database or another data source.
Select File > Save As.
In the window that opens, select Save on your computer.
Enter a filename, select SVG as the file format, and select Save.
In the SVG Options dialog box, select More Options and select Include Adobe Graphics Server Data. This option includes all information needed for variable substitution in the SVG file.
Select OK.
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