XML is repeating if the same configuration of elements appears multiple times in a row, but the contains unique data in each instance. For example, database records are repeating. Addresses in a database table contain repeated information—name, street address, city, state, postal code—for a variety of individuals.

When you import repeating XML content, you can tell InDesign to clone the repeated elements in the structure. Cloning allows you to merge repeating XML data into a document without having to create placeholder elements in the Structure pane (or placeholder text in a frame) for every single record. For example, to import an XML address list with 25 entries, create a matching element structure for one entry in the Structure pane. When you import the complete list, InDesign clones that structure to create elements for all 25 entries.

Repeating XML content is flowed as a single story when it is merged into the document. If placeholder frames have been threaded together, the content is flowed from one frame to the next. If there isn’t enough room in the placeholder frame(s) to accommodate the XML content, you can autoflow the remaining content by creating and threading more frames; you don’t have to manually drag elements from the Structure pane into individual frames.

Threaded placeholder in layout (left) and layout after import (right)