Data Merge

Data Merge puts your own text above, beside, or below every barcode in a batch save operation. Add columns to the file you import into Automator – a product name, a size, a lot number – and each barcode is saved with its own row’s text. Data Merge is part of the Automator & Data Merge add-on.

Set up your file#

1. Put the barcode values in the first column.
2. If your barcode has an add-on value, such as a price extension, put it in the second column.
3. Put each piece of text you want to merge in its own column after those.
4. In the first row, name each merge column – Product Name, Size, whatever suits you. When a file has merge columns, Barcode Producer reads the first row as their names, not as a barcode.
5. Save it as tab-delimited text (.txt). In Excel, choose Tab Delimited Text (.txt) as the format when you save; the name varies a little between versions.

Add merge fields to your barcode#

1. In the symbology editor, click Text in the toolbar.
2. Under Custom Additional Text, click New.
3. In Text, type a column’s name in double brackets: [[Size]]. Spaces are dropped from column names, so Product Name becomes [[ProductName]]. Mix in your own words as you like: Size: [[Size]].
4. Set the font, side, and position, then click OK.

Run the batch#

1. Click Automator in the toolbar.
2. Click Import Text File… and choose your file. Your merge columns appear in the list, under the names from your first row.
3. Choose the Output File Format and File Naming Scheme, then click Generate.

Each barcode is saved with its row’s text in place of the merge fields.

Laying out labels in InDesign? InDesign has a Data Merge of its own that places the barcode files Automator makes – here’s how.