Newspaper layout using Excel?

[adgal]

I work in a newspaper advertising department and use Excel to keep a
list of ads that will appear in our newspaper. It contains the
advertiser's name, column width and length of the ads. We currently use
the Excel list as a reference to create the page layout by hand - Yes,
old-fashioned pencil and paper! I'd like be able to use the Excel
program itself to create the layout or import the Excel data into a
compatible program to create the "map" of the ads and show where we
want them to appear. They only need to appear as blank boxes in the
appropriate sizes (with the advertiser's name if possible). It would
work best if I could move the boxes around on a template that
represents the news pages.

I know there are some very expensive publishing programs out there that
can do this translating of size data into shapes (like ALS, AdForce,
etc.), but our company has no plans to purchase at this time. Anyone
know of a way to get Excel to create something like this, or of a MS
Office program that can interface with my Excel list to accomplish
this?

I'd very much appreciate feedback!

Thanks!

 

[OZDOC1050]

Interesting Q: here is one way it could be done I suppose

you would start with a blank template in relative size to your paper

I would leave 4 columns to the left 1st col = thin and col 4 = thin and just
used as a spacer, in col b

I would run a list that looked like this

box 1 ( small )
box 2 ( small )
box 3 ( small )
box 4 ( small )
etc
box 5 ( medium )
etc

in col c
I would use a validation / list and have the advertiser names via a named
range from your data base
this would go down as far as needed ( match boxes )

I would then go the drawing and select shapes and get a box shape ( square )
and size this in relation to a standard ad size

and lets say there are 3 standard sizes you want to use , I may build 5
small then 5 medium and 5 large ( example may need more or less )

these would sit to the right of the newspaper draft.

in col D I would put =b1&c1 ( if the dial up was empty it would just say
box1 for example, if I dialled up tom in the advertiser name it would read
box 1 Tom )

in the text section ( of the shape ) I would then link each box to the left
dial up by entering in the formula section something like this
=d1 ( placed into form ula bar.

then all is simple select the size add yo want dial up the name it will
appear in the shape then drag n drop it into your newspaper draft.

when finished just delete the names from c place your boxes back into their
homes till next time.

hope it helps
may be a better way
cheers
Pete