Quark is the easy part of the task. The real heavy lifting is getting the data string in shape to import. Once it is organized I can import 500 pages of data in less than 3 minutes. Then takes a while to clean up the columns and tabs that the extrusion process does not place properly.
The data stream is a total IT hack. The repeat process, is my own design. Once I have done a catalog section or promotion, I have developed a method to extract the item sequence from the .pdf document. Using PDFTK and Grep. Then through a database. Works great, use same process to extract page numbers for the items in the section. Requires a little preconditioning of the .pdf to take care of the repeating “1’s” in the document. (proportional spacing issue)
Anyway, it take some time.
This sounds to me like you are a programmer, as well as salesman and manager.
Very well rounded and intelligent.
Me...I’m just using canned packaging. And hoping for the best!!