Importing and Formating Excel Files

[CleverPseudynom]

I've got a bunch of Excel spreadsheets I need to place in an InDesign document. How do I preserve the ability to maintain dynamic links to the files without losing InDesign's formating? I've tried doing all the formatting in Excel and importing it into a table, but the results are mixed. I'd really prefer to import the numbers into InDesign and keep any formating even after the Excel file's been changes and the revised numbers are updated in my layout.

 

[Ekwoman]

You will lose the formatting applied in InDesign when updating a linked Excel file. There is a plugin called Smart Styles from Woodwing Software that lets you save table styles (and other styles) as a library-type item. That way, you create the table and add styling, save the layout in SmartStyles, then after updating or re-importing the Excel file, drag the style on top of the tabe and the styling is re-applied.

http://www.woodwing.com

Hope that helps!

Erica