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We have a somewhat unique VDP job that we need to produce. The catch is that we're in the process of debating whether to upgrade Fusion Pro (our old version is no longer compatible with Adobe CC) or to go with a program that we may negotiate a few licenses with if we go to purchase an additional press. At this exact moment in time, I've got a gentleman that can work wonders in Creative Suite. We also have a few people who have been using the light variable capabilities of Word for years now. We also have some people at Accuzip helping us out to try to prep the data file. 

Just an overview of the job. A local municipality is looking to send out a petition document to households in a defined area. Each letter is going to contain a sheet with all the names of every individual of voting age within the household in a format that is somewhat reminiscent of a spreadsheet. Some of these petitions will have 3 names. Some 2. Up to 5. The printing is the only thing that's causing me to scratch my head right now. Does anyone have any tips for creating an insert that is unique to each household, but also may have a unique number of entries on a per household basis?

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Robert McIver
Piedmont Direct Mail
Greensboro NC
336-855-2622
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Did you check Xipie from Xerox...

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Hany Hanna
AlphaGraphics - Alpharetta & Roswell
Roswell GA
(770) 650-5540
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-23-2018 04:12 PM
From: Robert McIver
Subject: Unique VDP Job

We have a somewhat unique VDP job that we need to produce. The catch is that we're in the process of debating whether to upgrade Fusion Pro (our old version is no longer compatible with Adobe CC) or to go with a program that we may negotiate a few licenses with if we go to purchase an additional press. At this exact moment in time, I've got a gentleman that can work wonders in Creative Suite. We also have a few people who have been using the light variable capabilities of Word for years now. We also have some people at Accuzip helping us out to try to prep the data file.

Just an overview of the job. A local municipality is looking to send out a petition document to households in a defined area. Each letter is going to contain a sheet with all the names of every individual of voting age within the household in a format that is somewhat reminiscent of a spreadsheet. Some of these petitions will have 3 names. Some 2. Up to 5. The printing is the only thing that's causing me to scratch my head right now. Does anyone have any tips for creating an insert that is unique to each household, but also may have a unique number of entries on a per household basis?

------------------------------
Robert McIver
Piedmont Direct Mail
Greensboro NC
336-855-2622
------------------------------

Original Message------

We have a somewhat unique VDP job that we need to produce. The catch is that we're in the process of debating whether to upgrade Fusion Pro (our old version is no longer compatible with Adobe CC) or to go with a program that we may negotiate a few licenses with if we go to purchase an additional press. At this exact moment in time, I've got a gentleman that can work wonders in Creative Suite. We also have a few people who have been using the light variable capabilities of Word for years now. We also have some people at Accuzip helping us out to try to prep the data file. 

Just an overview of the job. A local municipality is looking to send out a petition document to households in a defined area. Each letter is going to contain a sheet with all the names of every individual of voting age within the household in a format that is somewhat reminiscent of a spreadsheet. Some of these petitions will have 3 names. Some 2. Up to 5. The printing is the only thing that's causing me to scratch my head right now. Does anyone have any tips for creating an insert that is unique to each household, but also may have a unique number of entries on a per household basis?

------------------------------
Robert McIver
Piedmont Direct Mail
Greensboro NC
336-855-2622
------------------------------

Even though your version of FP is not compatible with CC you could still work from a pdf file.
I recently upgraded FP just for compatibility but there are no new features for the $799 price tag.
FP can write a more efficient file for ripping than out of InDesign.

I use both AccuZip and FusionPro but still do not totally understand what you are asking.

How many variable data points (header records) are being merged?
Are the additional household names in a separate column?



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Mike Metroka
Prepress Manager
C&D Printing
St. Petersburg FL
(727) 572-9999
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-23-2018 04:12 PM
From: Robert McIver
Subject: Unique VDP Job

We have a somewhat unique VDP job that we need to produce. The catch is that we're in the process of debating whether to upgrade Fusion Pro (our old version is no longer compatible with Adobe CC) or to go with a program that we may negotiate a few licenses with if we go to purchase an additional press. At this exact moment in time, I've got a gentleman that can work wonders in Creative Suite. We also have a few people who have been using the light variable capabilities of Word for years now. We also have some people at Accuzip helping us out to try to prep the data file.

Just an overview of the job. A local municipality is looking to send out a petition document to households in a defined area. Each letter is going to contain a sheet with all the names of every individual of voting age within the household in a format that is somewhat reminiscent of a spreadsheet. Some of these petitions will have 3 names. Some 2. Up to 5. The printing is the only thing that's causing me to scratch my head right now. Does anyone have any tips for creating an insert that is unique to each household, but also may have a unique number of entries on a per household basis?

------------------------------
Robert McIver
Piedmont Direct Mail
Greensboro NC
336-855-2622
------------------------------

Greetings!

There are many excellent tools for all kinds of variable data publishing. InDesign has a built in feature called Data Merge that easily takes in an ASCII text tab or comma delimited file (exported from spreadsheet or database). It enables the use of any and all of InDesign features - including things like variable length text flow and tables (which are Great inside of InDesign). Fusion Pro is a great tool, so is EM software's InData. A lot of the decision making will be dictated by the complexity of the project. If it is mainly text, Data Merge may do the trick. With complex imagery placement and variable text frames, something like InData will serve more efficiency. If the project is a long run - hundreds to thousands of pages - I'd suggest looking at a tool that acts as a Pre-Rip, in as much as it processes the variable data and simplifies the pages of the document(s). This can save A LOT of press idle time (especially IF any errors occur).

Suggestions:

• Data integrity and cleanliness will be critical.
• Collect all images into a single directory/folder.
• Don't perform the merge across a network.
• Test a subset with the longest, most complex and shortest records.

Best wishes.
Barb.

(I do not work for Adobe or EM software; I've just used their fine products. I've also made a lot of mistakes.)

InData * Xdata

Em Software		remove preview
InData * Xdata What if you could have a software robot to follow your directions exactly, building data-driven documents while you watch? What if you could set up a template once, then flow in all your data for dozens or hundreds of pages, fully formatted and ready to print, with a single click? View this on Em Software >

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Barbara Bear
Instructor
University of Wisconsin-Stout
Menomonie, WI 54023
bearb@...
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Original Message:
Sent: 05-23-2018 04:12 PM
From: Robert McIver
Subject: Unique VDP Job

We have a somewhat unique VDP job that we need to produce. The catch is that we're in the process of debating whether to upgrade Fusion Pro (our old version is no longer compatible with Adobe CC) or to go with a program that we may negotiate a few licenses with if we go to purchase an additional press. At this exact moment in time, I've got a gentleman that can work wonders in Creative Suite. We also have a few people who have been using the light variable capabilities of Word for years now. We also have some people at Accuzip helping us out to try to prep the data file.

Just an overview of the job. A local municipality is looking to send out a petition document to households in a defined area. Each letter is going to contain a sheet with all the names of every individual of voting age within the household in a format that is somewhat reminiscent of a spreadsheet. Some of these petitions will have 3 names. Some 2. Up to 5. The printing is the only thing that's causing me to scratch my head right now. Does anyone have any tips for creating an insert that is unique to each household, but also may have a unique number of entries on a per household basis?

------------------------------
Robert McIver
Piedmont Direct Mail
Greensboro NC
336-855-2622
------------------------------