Hi Sarah

First make sure that you have the most recent version which is 2.1.11 (there is a known bug in previous version)

Can you confirm that?
If yes, MyDataMerge asked you to select a workfolder. Is this folder located in some special location e.g. on a network drive or icloud?

Additionally which version of macOS are you using?

Regards
Pat

The harddrive itself is especially protected by macOS. To add files there even you have to enter your password :)
So a solution would be to select another folder.

First we need to remove the currently selected folder (harddrive).

This currently only works via console – we will add a function in the preferences within one of the next updates.

• Close MyDataMerge
• Open the “Terminal” application (press space + cmd and enter “Terminal”). Once opened, copy and execute this command (in Sonoma there might pop a message up that Terminal wants to access data from other apps – allow it as it needs to access data from MyDataMerge):

defaults delete com.toolboxcode.mydatamerge mdm_workfolder

• Go to your documents folder (inside your user folder)
• Create a folder “MyDataMerge”
• Start MyDataMerge again, the workfolder selection should re-appear
• Select the newly created MyDataMerge Folder within your documents folder.

This should solve your issues.

I forwarded this to our developers so they can implement a check directly when a folder is selected (to check for write access).

Regards,
Pat

Hey sarah,

Please first check the following. Is there a fonts folder next to the layout file? (Like usual when someone sends you a packaged indesign project).
If so – move it somewhere else and open your layout in indesign. Does it open without requesting fonts?

If not: even if setting in preferences, InDesign asks you on opening the file if you want to load cloud based fonts. Once you click yes preferences are overwritten.

Secondly check if the fonts are really installed on your machine. Check fontbook or if you have any other font management software check that. You may cut off internet while indesign is open and open your document then. Dors it load the font?

The reason why this is necessary is that during the merge process MyDataMerge opens documents very fast and InDesign does not offer an API to check for cloud loaded fonts. So we need to make sure that text is with the right font immediately after opening it (without any delay for downloading from cloud- which would also slow down the whole process)

Regards
Pat

Can you try it in MyDataMerge then? Same configuration (font folder removed)
Does it work then?

Do you have any illustrator file placed in the layout included that might contain the mentioned fonts?

Any progress on his, can we assist in any other way?