Tag: csv

Inkscape CSV merge

LaasLeave a comment

I just uploaded inkscape_merge gem v0.1.0.

This is a script to merge SVG files with CSV data-files using Inkscape, to produce one outputfile (e.g. PDF) per data-row.

Script inspired by and based on Aurélio A. Heckert excellent InkscapeGenerator (wiki.colivre.net/Aurium/InkscapeGenerator)

Heckert’s original script unfortunately broke for me several times and I took the opportunity to rewrite it and make it more extendable for future.

 

USAGE

Install the gem

gem install inkscape_merge

Create files

Create CSV data file with first row as a header. The values from this row are used as keys in the SVG file substitution.

Create SVG file that contains some variables in the form:

%VAR_name%

Where `name` is the name of a column in the CSV file created previously. These variables can be anywhere inside the SVG, from plain text nodes to color values. This script just brute-forcedly `gsubs` these values as text w/o any thought.

Run the script

The script requires at least three arguments:

  • the input SVG file
  • the input CSV file
  • and the output file `pattern`

Note: output pattern undergoes the same substitutions as the SVG file, so to create easily unique file names. Additionally the output pattern can contain `%d` which is replaced with current row number.

Example:

inkscape_merge -f postcard.svg -d names.csv -o postcards/card_%d.pdf

This produces files like:

  • postcards/
    • card_1.pdf
    • card_2.pdf