EasyCatalog Relational Module for InDesign

Description

Work with Multiple Data Sources

If your publication consists of data retrieved from a variety of separate sources, the Relational Module can combine these into a single EasyCatalog panel using the EasyCatalog Relational Module for InDesign.

Work with Relational Databases

Where your data cannot be represented in a single result set, the Relational Module can be used to query multiple tables and combine the results in an EasyCatalog data panel.

For example, if your database contains a list of products that have two sets of attributes – both retrieved from different database tables – the Relational Module can query for these separately and display the results in the data panel.

Query your data from within InDesign

Once your data has been imported, using EasyCatalog’s built-in database engine you can query and manipulate the data. Using this database engine, you can, for example, create summary data at the end of each section (such as the total cost of a list of records).

Import SQLite Databases

The Relational Data Provider also allows data to be retrieved directly from an SQLite database file.

Pagination

When used in conjunction with the Pagination Module, the Relational Module enables you to manipulate and restructure your data to paginate documents with virtually unlimited complexity.

Other add-on modules are available for more advanced features including:

• ODBC Data Provider for creating two-way links to a database including FileMaker and Access (this requires setup with the OS)
• XML Data Provider for importing data directly from an XML file
• Pagination, which is required for doing advanced paginated layouts
• and Scripting, which, like InDesign, works with JavaScript, AppleScript, and Visual Basic.

EasyCatalog for InDesign is a Plug-in (for both Mac and Windows) that offers a truly simple, intuitive drag-and-drop interface. As the name implies, EasyCatalog is easy to set up and use. Simply connect to a datasource, insert placeholders into your document from the EasyCatalog Panel, apply formatting as you usually would to design elements, group related elements together into a “Product Style,” store your Product Styles in an EasyCatalog Library, and then populate copies of your product styles with records from your database.