Variable data printing, in the browser

Merge spreadsheet rows into print-ready PDFs

Turn a CSV of names, seat numbers, or ticket codes into a template-matched PDF — sequential tickets, badges, certificates, and personalized direct mail — without proprietary VDP software.

Open the free tool Try the numbering preview

Free to use Files process in your browser No signup to try

Sample merge ledger — 6 of 500 records

Record	Field: name	Field: seat
001	J. Alvarez	A-014
002	M. Chen	A-015
003	R. Okafor	A-016
004	S. Petrov	A-017
…	…	…
500	K. Lindqvist	D-032

Process

How the merge works

Three inputs, one pass: a fixed template, a data source, and a set of merge rules. The output is one PDF page per record, or an imposed sheet if you pass it on to layout.

Step 1

Upload your template PDF

A ticket, badge, certificate, or mailer design with bleed and embedded fonts already in place.

Step 2

Attach a CSV data source

One row per output — names, seat codes, sequential numbers, or any column your template needs.

Step 3

Download the merged PDF

One page per record, ready for a digital press or for cut-and-stack imposition next.

Capabilities

What the merge actually does

Honest scope — this handles the print-facing merge and numbering, not a full marketing-automation platform.

01 Sequential numbering

Prefix, start number, and zero-padding for ticket stubs, raffle entries, and certificate serials.

02 CSV field merge

Map spreadsheet columns to text fields on the template — names, addresses, codes, dates.

03 One-page-per-record output

Every record produces its own PDF page in source order, ready for imposition or straight to press.

04 Bleed and trim preserved

The template's bleed box and trim size carry through untouched — no accidental resampling.

05 Browser-side processing

Files process locally in the tab rather than sitting in a queue on someone else's server.

06 Duplicate-check friendly

Sequential output makes it straightforward to spot-check first, middle, and last records before press.

Sanity check

Numbering preview calculator

Set a prefix, starting number, digit padding, and quantity. This mirrors the numbering logic used for ticket and certificate serials — check it before you commit to a print run.

Prefix Optional text before the number, e.g. TKT- or RAF#

Start number

Digit padding Total digits, zero-filled — 6 gives 000001

Quantity

Padding too narrow for this range — the last number will exceed the digit width.

Generated sequence

Total records

1,000

Last number

001000

Questions

Frequently asked questions

What is variable data printing (VDP)?

Variable data printing is a merge process that combines a fixed template with a row of data per output — a name, a seat number, a ticket code — so every printed page or PDF page is personalized without manual editing. It is the same idea as a mail merge, applied to press-ready PDF output.

Can I generate numbered PDFs without a print shop?

Yes. You can build a numbering sequence or a full data merge directly in the browser and download a print-ready PDF. No print-shop account or proprietary VDP software license is required for straightforward sequential numbering or record merges.

Does the tool work with CSV or Excel data?

Yes. Standard CSV files work directly, and XLSX spreadsheets export to CSV in one step from any spreadsheet program. Each column becomes a merge field you can place on the template — name, seat, barcode value, or any other record data.

Will fonts and images stay embedded in the merged PDF?

The merge preserves whatever is in your source template, so fonts must already be embedded there before merging. Confirm embedding in your PDF properties panel — an unembedded font can substitute silently at a print shop's RIP and shift line breaks across hundreds of records.

What's the difference between VDP and mail merge in Word?

Word's mail merge targets a document meant for a desktop printer and doesn't guarantee embedded fonts, bleed, or a fixed trim size. VDP for print output starts from a press-ready PDF template with bleed and embedded fonts locked in, then merges records without disturbing that structure.

Is there a limit to how many records I can merge?

Practical limits come from your browser's available memory and the output file size, not an arbitrary record cap. Small jobs — a few hundred tickets or badges — merge in seconds; multi-thousand-record direct mail runs take longer and produce a larger PDF to review before sending to press.

Reading room

From the blog

Prepress notes on variable data printing, numbering, and mail-merge file prep.

Pillar guide