Adobe InDesign CS6 VBScript Scripting Guide In Design Guide: VB

User Manual: adobe InDesign - CS6 - Scripting Guide: VBScript Free User Guide for Adobe InDesign Software, Manual

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Adobe® InDesign® CS6 Scripting Guide: VBScript

ADOBE® INDESIGN® CS6

ADOBE INDESIGN CS6

SCRIPTING GUIDE: VBSCRIPT

Adobe® InDesign® CS6 Scripting Guide: VBScript

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Document Update Status

(for entire document; see each chapter for chapter-specific update status)

CS6 Updated Throughout document, changed CS5 to CS6 and version 7.0 to 8.0.

Contents

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

How to Use the Scripts in this Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

About the Structure of the Scripts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

For More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

2 Scripting Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Script Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Getting the Current Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Script Versioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Targeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Compilation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Using the DoScript Method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Sending parameters to DoScript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Returning values from DoScript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Controlling Undo with DoScript . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Working with Script Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Running Scripts at Startup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

3 Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Basic Document Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Creating a new document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Opening a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Saving a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Closing a document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Basic Page Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Defining page size and document length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Defining bleed and slug areas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Setting page margins and columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Changing the appearance of the pasteboard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Guides and grids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Changing measurement units and ruler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Defining and applying document presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Setting up master spreads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Adding XMP metadata . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Creating a document template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Creating watermarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Adjusting Page Sizes and Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Selecting pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Resizing and reframing pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Transforming pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

Master page overlay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Making an Adaptive Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Making a flexible layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Adding guides for a guide-based layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Setting constraints for an object-based layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Creating alternative layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Collecting and Dropping Content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Printing a Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Printing using page ranges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Setting print preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47

Printing with printer presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Exporting a Document as PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Exporting to PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Setting PDF export options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Exporting to grayscale PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Exporting a range of pages to PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Exporting individual pages to PDF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Exporting PDF with interactive features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Exporting as a PDF form . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Exporting Pages as EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Exporting all pages to EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56

Exporting a range of pages to EPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Exporting as EPS with file naming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Exporting to EPub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Exporting the current document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Setting EPub export options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

4 Working with Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Understanding the Layer Object Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Scripting Layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Creating layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Referring to layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

Deleting layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Moving layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Duplicating layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Merging layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64

Assigning page items to layers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

Setting layer properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65

5 Text and Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Entering and Importing Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Creating a text frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68

Adding text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Stories and text frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

Replacing text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Inserting special characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Placing Text and Setting Text-Import Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71

Exporting Text and Setting Text-Export Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Understanding Text Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

Working with text selections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Moving and copying text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

Text objects and iteration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83

Working with Text Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Linking text frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Unlinking text frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84

Removing a frame from a story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Splitting all frames in a story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

Creating an anchored frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Fitting text frames to content . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87

Formatting Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Setting text defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Working with fonts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92

Applying a font . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Changing text properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93

Changing text color . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Creating and applying styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96

Deleting a style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97

Importing paragraph and character styles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

Finding and Changing Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98

About find/change preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Finding and changing text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99

Finding and changing text formatting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Using grep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100

Using glyph search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Working with Tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103

Adding Path Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Using Autocorrect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106

Adding Footnotes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Spanning Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Setting Text Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Working with Linked Stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Creating linked stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Changing linked story options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Frequently asked questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

6 Working with Page Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Creating Page Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Page-item geometry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Grouping Page Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Duplicating and Moving Page Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Creating compound paths . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Using Pathfinder operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Converting page-item shapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Arranging page items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Transforming Page Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Using the transform method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Working with transformation matrices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Coordinate spaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120

Transformation origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122

Resolving locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Transforming points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Transforming again . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Resize and Reframe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

Working with Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Retrieving an article list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Adding new articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Removing an article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Reordering articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127

Adding new members to an article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Reordering members of an article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Removing members from an article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

7 User Interfaces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Dialog Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Your First InDesign Dialog . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Adding a User Interface to “Hello World” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132

Creating a More Complex User Interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133

Working with ScriptUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

Creating a progress bar with ScriptUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135

8 Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Understanding the Event Scripting Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

About event properties and event propagation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137

Working with Event Listeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Sample afterNew Event Listener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140

Sample beforePrint Event Listener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141

Sample Selection Event Listeners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Sample onIdle Event Listener . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144

9 Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Understanding the Menu Model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

Localization and menu names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149

Running a Menu Action from a Script . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Adding Menus and Menu Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150

Menus and Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

Working with scriptMenuActions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152

A More Complex Menu-scripting Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153

10 Working with Preflight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Exploring Preflight Profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Listing preflight profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Listing preflight rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Listing preflight data objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160

Importing a Preflight Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

Creating a Preflight Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162

Adding Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Processing a Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Custom Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Available Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

ADBE_BlankPages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

ADBE_BleedSlug . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166

ADBE_BleedTrimHazard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167

ADBE_Colorspace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

ADBE_CrossReferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

ADBE_FontUsage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

ADBE_ImageColorManagement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

ADBE_ImageResolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

ADBE_PageCount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169

ADBE_PageSizeOrientation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

ADBE_ScaledGraphics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

ADBE_ScaledType . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

ADBE_SmallText . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

ADBE_SpotColorSetup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

ADBE_StrokeRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

ADBE_TextOverrides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

ADBE_TransparencyBlending . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

11 Creating Dynamic Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Importing Movies and Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172

Creating Buttons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Creating Multistate Objects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175

Working with Animation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Basic animation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

TimingSettings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178

Animating transformations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

Motion presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Design options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Key frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Adding Page Transitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

12 XML . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

The Best Approach to Scripting XML in InDesign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

Scripting XML Elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Setting XML preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Setting XML import preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Importing XML . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Creating an XML tag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Loading XML tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Saving XML tags . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Creating an XML element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Moving an XML element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Deleting an XML element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188

Duplicating an XML element . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Removing items from the XML structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Creating an XML comment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Creating an XML processing instruction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Working with XML attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Working with XML stories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

Exporting XML . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Adding XML Elements to a Layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Associating XML elements with page items and text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191

Marking up existing layouts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Applying styles to XML elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

Working with XML tables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

13 XML Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

Why use XML rules? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

XML-rules programming model . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200

XML Rules Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Setting up a sample document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206

Getting started with XML rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

Changing the XML structure using XML rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211

Duplicating XML elements with XML rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212

XML rules and XML attributes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213

Applying multiple matching rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214

Finding XML elements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216

Extracting XML elements with XML rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219

Applying formatting with XML rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220

Creating page items with XML rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223

Creating Tables using XML Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

Scripting the XML-rules Processor Object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226

14 Track Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Tracking Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Navigating tracked changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227

Accepting and reject tracked changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

Information about tracked changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228

Preferences for Tracking Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229

1Introduction

This document shows how to do the following:

Work with the Adobe® InDesign® scripting environment.

Use advanced scripting features.

Perform basic document tasks like setting up master spreads, printing, and exporting.

Work with page items (rectangles, ellipses, graphic lines, polygons, text frames, and groups).

Work with text and type in an InDesign document, including finding and changing text.

Create dialog boxes and other user-interface items.

Customize and add menus and create menu actions.

Respond to user-interface events.

Work with XML, from creating XML elements and importing XML to adding XML elements to a layout.

Apply XML rules, a new scripting feature that makes working with XML in InDesign faster and easier.

We assume that you have already read the Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create,

install, and run scripts. If you need to know how to connect with your scripting environment or view the

InDesign scripting object model from your script editor, that information can be found in the Adobe

InDesign Scripting Tutorial.

How to Use the Scripts in this Document

For the most part, the scripts shown in this document are not complete scripts. They are only fragments of

scripts, and are intended to show only the specific part of a script relevant to the point being discussed in

the text. You can copy the script lines shown in this document and paste them into your script editor, but

you should not expect them to run without further editing. Note, in addition, that scripts copied out of this

document may contain line breaks and other characters (due to the document layout) that will prevent

them from executing properly.

A zip archive of all of the scripts shown in this document is available at the InDesign scripting home page,

at: http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/scripting/index.html. After you have downloaded and

expanded the archive, move the folders corresponding to the scripting language(s) of your choice into the

Scripts Panel folder inside the Scripts folder in your InDesign folder. At that point, you can run the scripts

from the Scripts panel inside InDesign.

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

CHAPTER 1: Introduction About the Structure of the Scripts 10

About the Structure of the Scripts

The script examples are all written using a common template that includes the functions “main,”

“mySetup,” “mySnippet,” and “myTeardown.” We did this to simplify automated testing and

publication—there is no reason for you to construct your scripts this way. Most of the time, the part of the

script you will be interested in will be inside the “mySnippet” function.

For More Information

For more information on InDesign scripting, you also can visit the InDesign Scripting User to User forum, at

http://www.adobeforums.com. In the forum, script writers can ask questions, post answers, and share their

newest scripts. The forum contains hundreds of sample scripts.

2Scripting Features

This chapter covers scripting techniques related to InDesign’s scripting environment. Almost every other

object in the InDesign scripting model controls a feature that can change a document or the application

defaults. By contrast, the features in this chapter control how scripts operate.

This document discusses the following:

The ScriptPreferences object and its properties.

Getting a reference to the executing script.

Running scripts in prior versions of the scripting object model.

Using the DoScript method to run scripts.

Working with script labels.

Running scripts at InDesign start-up.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to write, install, and

run InDesign scripts in the scripting language of your choice.

Script Preferences

The ScriptPreferences object provides objects and properties related to the way InDesign runs scripts.

The following table provides more detail on each property of the ScriptPreferences object:

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Updated “Script Versioning” on page 12 and its three subsections have been updated, corrected, and clarified.

Property Description

EnableRedraw Turns screen redraw on or off while a script is running from the Scripts panel.

ScriptsFolder The path to the scripts folder.

ScriptsList A list of the available scripts. This property is an array of arrays, in the

following form:

[[fileName, filePath], ...]

Where fileName is the name of the script file and filePath is the full path to

the script. You can use this feature to check for the existence of a script in the

installed set of scripts.

CHAPTER 2: Scripting Features Getting the Current Script 12

Getting the Current Script

You can get a reference to the current script using the ActiveScript property of the application object.

You can use this property to help you locate files and folders relative to the script, as shown in the

following example (from the ActiveScript tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myActiveScript = myInDesign.ActiveScript

MsgBox ("The current script is: " & myActiveScript)

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

myParentFolder = myFileSystemObject.GetFile(myActiveScript).ParentFolder

MsgBox ("The folder containing the active script is: " & myParentFolder)

When you debug scripts using a script editor, the ActiveScript property returns an error. Only scripts run

from the Scripts palette appear in the ActiveScript property.

Script Versioning

InDesign can run scripts using earlier versions of the InDesign scripting object model. To run an older

script in a newer version of InDesign, you must consider the following:

Targeting — Scripts must be targeted to the version of InDesign in which they are being run (i.e., the

current version). The mechanics of targeting are language specific as described in “Targeting” on

page 13.

Compilation — This involves mapping the names in the script to the underlying script IDs, which are

what InDesign understands. The mechanics of compilation are language specific as described in

“Compilation” on page 13.

Interpretation — This involves matching the IDs to the appropriate request handler within InDesign

so that InDesign correctly interprets a script written for an earlier version of the scripting object model.

To do this, either explicitly set the application’s script preferences to the old object model within the

UserInteractionLevel This property controls the alerts and dialogs InDesign presents to the user.

When you set this property to

idUserInteractionLevels.idNeverInteract, InDesign does not display

any alerts or dialogs. Set it to

idUserInteractionLevels.idInteractWithAlerts to enable alerts but

disable dialogs. Set it to idUserInteractionLevels.idInteractWithAll

to restore the normal display of alerts and dialogs. The ability to turn off alert

displays is very useful when you are opening documents via script; often,

InDesign displays an alert for missing fonts or linked graphics files. To avoid

this alert, set the user-interaction level to

idUserInteractionLevels.idNeverInteract before opening the

document, then restore user interaction (set the property to

idUserInteractionLevels.idInteractWithAll) before completing

script execution.

Version The version of the scripting environment in use. For more information, see

“Script Versioning” on page 12. Note this property is not the same as the

version of the application.

Property Description

CHAPTER 2: Scripting Features Script Versioning 13

script (as shown in “Interpretation” on page 13) or run the script from a folder in the Scripts panel

folder as follows:

Targeting

A script must always target the version of InDesign under which it is running (the current version), either

explicitly or implicitly. Targeting is implicit when the script is launched from the Scripts panel.

Otherwise, explicit targeting for Visual Basic applications and VBScripts is done using the CreateObject

method:

Rem Target InDesign CS6 Roman:

Set myApp = CreateObject("InDesign.Application.CS6")

Rem Target InDesign CS6 J:

Set myApp = CreateObject("InDesign.Application.CS6_J")

Rem Target the last version of InDesign that was launched:

Set myApp = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Compilation

Compilation of Visual Basic applications may be versioned by referencing an earlier version of the type

library. To generate an earlier version of the type library, use the PublishTerminology method, which is

exposed on the Application object. The type library is generated into a folder (named with the version of

the DOM) that is in the Scripting Support folder in your application’s preferences folder. For example, to

generate the CS5 dictionary into the C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Application

Data\Adobe\InDesign\Version 8.0\<locale>\Scripting Support\7.0 folder:

Set myApp = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Publish the InDesign CS5 type library (version 7.0 DOM)

myApp.PublishTerminology(7.0)

VBScripts are not precompiled. For compilation, InDesign generates and references the appropriate type

library automatically, based on the version of the DOM set for interpretation.

Interpretation

The InDesign application object contains a ScriptPreferences object, which allows a script to get/set

the version of the scripting object model to use for interpreting scripts. The version defaults to the current

version of the application and persists.

For example, to change the version of the scripting object model to CS5 (7.0):

Folder For InDesign version of scripts

Version 8.0 Scripts CS6

Version 7.0 Scripts CS5 and CS5.5

Version 6.0 Scripts CS4

Version 5.0 Scripts CS3

Version 2.0 Scripts CS2

CHAPTER 2: Scripting Features Using the DoScript Method 14

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Set to 7.0 DOM

myInDesign.ScriptPreferences.Version = 7.0

Using the DoScript Method

The DoScript method gives a script a way to execute another script. The script can be a string of valid

scripting code or a file on disk. The script can be in the same scripting language as the current script or

another scripting language. The available languages vary by platform: on Mac OS®, you can run

AppleScript or JavaScript; on Windows®, VBScript or JavaScript.

The DoScript method has many possible uses:

Running a script in another language that provides a feature missing in your main scripting language.

For example, VBScript lacks the ability to display a file or folder browser, which JavaScript has.

AppleScript can be very slow to compute trigonometric functions (sine and cosine), but JavaScript

performs these calculations rapidly. JavaScript does not have a way to query Microsoft® Excel for the

contents of a specific spreadsheet cell, but both AppleScript and VBScript have this capability. In all

these examples, the DoScript method can execute a snippet of scripting code in another language,

to overcome a limitation of the language used for the body of the script.

Creating a script “on the fly.” Your script can create a script (as a string) during its execution, which it

can then execute using the DoScript method. This is a great way to create a custom dialog or panel

based on the contents of the selection or the attributes of objects the script creates.

Embedding scripts in objects. Scripts can use the DoScript method to run scripts that were saved as

strings in the label property of objects. Using this technique, an object can contain a script that

controls its layout properties or updates its content according to certain parameters. Scripts also can

be embedded in XML elements as an attribute of the element or as the contents of an element. See

“Running Scripts at Startup” on page 17.

Sending parameters to DoScript

To send a parameter to a script executed by DoScript, use the following form (from the

DoScriptParameters tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myJavaScript = "alert(""First argument: "" + arguments[0] + ""\rSecond argument: "" +

arguments[1]);"

myInDesign.DoScript myJavaScript, idScriptLanguage.idJavascript, Array("Hello from

DoScript", "Your message here.")

myVBScript = "msgbox arguments(1), vbOKOnly, ""First argument: "" & arguments(0)"

myInDesign.DoScript myVBScript, idScriptLanguage.idVisualBasic, Array("Hello from

DoScript", "Your message here.")

Returning values from DoScript

The following script fragment shows how to return a value from a script executed by DoScript. This

example uses a JavaScript that is executed as a string, but the same method works for script files. This

example returns a single value, but you can return multiple values by returning an array (for the complete

script, refer to the DoScriptReturnValues script).

CHAPTER 2: Scripting Features Controlling Undo with DoScript 15

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Set myDestinationPage = myDocument.Pages.Add(idLocationOptions.idAfter, myPage)

myPageIndex = myDestinationPage.Name

myID = myTextFrame.Id

myJavaScript = "var myDestinationPage = arguments[1];" & vbCr

myJavaScript = myJavaScript & "myID = arguments[0];" & vbCr

myJavaScript = myJavaScript & "var myX = arguments[2];" & vbCr

myJavaScript = myJavaScript & "var myY = arguments[3];" & vbCr

myJavaScript = myJavaScript & "var myPageItem =

app.documents.item(0).pages.item(0).pageItems.itemByID(myID);" & vbCr

myJavaScript = myJavaScript &

"myPageItem.duplicate(app.documents.item(0).pages.item(myDestinationPage));" & vbCr

Rem Create an array for the parameters we want to pass to the JavaScript.

myArguments = Array(myID, myPageIndex, 0, 0)

Set myDuplicate = myInDesign.DoScript(myJavaScript, idScriptLanguage.idJavascript,

myArguments)

Rem myDuplicate now contains a reference to the duplicated text frame.

Rem Change the text in the duplicated text frame.

myDuplicate.contents = "Duplicated text frame."

Another way to get values from another script is to use the ScriptArgs (short for “script arguments”)

object of the application. The following script fragment shows how to do this (for the complete script, see

DoScriptScriptArgs):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myJavaScript = "app.scriptArgs.setValue(""ScriptArgumentA"", ""This is the first

script argument value."");" & vbCr

myJavaScript = myJavaScript & "app.scriptArgs.setValue(""ScriptArgumentB"", ""This is

the second script argument value."");" & vbCr

myInDesign.DoScript myJavaScript, idScriptLanguage.idJavascript

myScriptArgumentA = myInDesign.ScriptArgs.GetValue("ScriptArgumentA")

myScriptArgumentB = myInDesign.ScriptArgs.GetValue("ScriptArgumentB")

MsgBox "ScriptArgumentA: " & myScriptArgumentA & vbCr & "ScriptArgumentB: " &

myScriptArgumentB

myVBScript = "Set myInDesign = CreateObject(""InDesign.Application"")" & vbCr

myVBScript = myVBScript & "myInDesign.ScriptArgs.SetValue ""ScriptArgumentA"", ""This

is the first script argument value.""" & vbCr

myVBScript = myVBScript & "myInDesign.ScriptArgs.SetValue ""ScriptArgumentB"", ""This

is the second script argument value."""

myInDesign.DoScript myVBScript, idScriptLanguage.idVisualBasic

myScriptArgumentA = myInDesign.ScriptArgs.GetValue("ScriptArgumentA")

myScriptArgumentB = myInDesign.ScriptArgs.GetValue("ScriptArgumentB")

MsgBox "ScriptArgumentA: " & myScriptArgumentA & vbCr & "ScriptArgumentB: " &

myScriptArgumentB

Controlling Undo with DoScript

InDesign gives you the ability to undo almost every action, but this comes at a price: for almost every

action you make, InDesign writes to disk. For normal work you using the tools presented by the user

interface, this does not present any problem. For scripts, which can perform thousands of actions in the

time a human being can blink, the constant disk access can be a serious drag on performance.

The DoScript method offers a way around this performance bottleneck by providing two parameters that

control the way that scripts are executed relative to InDesign’s Undo behavior. These parameters are

shown in the following examples:

CHAPTER 2: Scripting Features Working with Script Labels 16

Rem Given a script "myVBScript" and an array of parameters "myParameters"...

myInDesign.DoScript myVBScript, idScriptLanguage.idVisualBasic, myParameters,

idUndoModes.idFastEntireScript, "Script Action"

Rem idUndoModes can be:

Rem idUndoModes.idAutoUnto: Add no events to the Undo queue.

Rem idUndoModes.idEntireScript: Put a single event in the Undo queue.

Rem idUndoModes.idFastEntireScript: Put a single event in the Undo queue.

Rem idUndoModes.idScriptRequest: Undo each script action as a separate event.

Rem The last parameter is the text that appears in the Undo menu item.

Working with Script Labels

Many objects in InDesign scripting have a label property, including page items (rectangles, ovals, groups,

polygons, text frames, and graphic lines), table cells, documents, stories, and pages. This property can

store a very large amount of text.

The label of page items can be viewed, entered, or edited using the Script Label panel (choose Window >

Utilities > Script Label to display this panel), shown below. You also can add a label to an object using

scripting, and you can read the script label via scripting. For many objects, like stories, pages, and

paragraph styles, you cannot set or view the label using the Script Label panel.

The label property can contain any form of text data, such as tab- or comma-delimited text, HTML, or

XML. Because scripts also are text, they can be stored in the label property.

Page items can be referred to by their label, just like named items (such as paragraph styles, colors, or

layers) can be referred to by their name. The following script fragment demonstrates this special case of the

label property (for the complete script, see ScriptLabel):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

myPageWidth = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth

myPageHeight = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight

Rem Create 10 random page items.

For i = 1 To 10

myX1 = myGetRandom(0, myPageWidth, False)

myY1 = myGetRandom(0, myPageHeight, False)

myX2 = myGetRandom(0, myPageWidth, False)

myY2 = myGetRandom(0, myPageHeight, False)

Set myRectangle = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myRectangle.GeometricBounds = Array(myY1, myX1, myY2, myX2)

If myGetRandom(0, 1, True) > 0 Then

myRectangle.Label = "myScriptLabel"

End If

Count = 0

For i = 1 To myPage.PageItems.Count

CHAPTER 2: Scripting Features Running Scripts at Startup 17

If myPage.PageItems.Item(i).Label = "myScriptLabel" Then

Count = Count + 1

End If

MsgBox ("Found " & CStr(Count) & " page items with the label.")

Rem This function gets a random number in the range myStart to myEnd.

Function myGetRandom(myStart, myEnd, myInteger)

Rem Here's how to generate a random number from a given range:

Rem Int((upperbound - lowerbound + 1) * Rnd + lowerbound)

If myInteger = True Then

myGetRandom = Int(((myEnd - myStart + 1) * Rnd) + myStart)

Else

myGetRandom = ((myEnd - myStart + 1) * Rnd) + myStart

End If

End Function

In addition, all objects that support the label property also support custom labels. A script can set a

custom label using the InsertLabel method, and extract the custom label using the ExtractLabel

method, as shown in the following script fragment (from the CustomLabel tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

myDocument.ViewPreferences.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myDocument.ViewPreferences.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

Set myRectangle = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myRectangle.GeometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Rem Insert a custom label using insertLabel. The first parameter is the

Rem name of the label, the second is the text to add to the label.

myRectangle.InsertLabel "CustomLabel", "This is some text stored in a custom label."

Rem Extract the text from the label and display it in an message box.

myString = myRectangle.ExtractLabel("CustomLabel")

MsgBox ("Custom label contained: " + myString)

Running Scripts at Startup

To run a script when InDesign starts, put the script in the Startup Scripts folder in the Scripts folder (for

more information, see “Installing Scripts” in Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial).

3Documents

The work you do in InDesign revolves around documents—creating them, saving them, printing or

exporting them, and populating them with page items, colors, styles, and text. Almost every

document-related task can be automated using InDesign scripting.

This chapter shows you how to do the following

Perform basic document-management tasks, including:

Creating a new document.

Opening a document.

Saving a document.

Closing a document.

Perform basic page-layout operations, including:

Setting the page size and document length.

Defining bleed and slug areas.

Specifying page columns and margins.

Change the appearance of the pasteboard.

Use guides and grids.

Change measurement units and ruler origin.

Define and apply document presets.

Set up master pages (master spreads)

Set text-formatting defaults.

Add XMP metadata (information about a file).

Create a document template.

Create watermarks.

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Changes • Updated list of what this chapter shows you how to do.

•Added section “Making an Adaptive Layout” on page 43.

•Added section “Collecting and Dropping Content” on page 46.

• Added subsection “Exporting to grayscale PDF” on page 52.

• Added subsection “Exporting as a PDF form” on page 54.

•In “Adjusting Page Sizes and Layout” on page 40, “Resizing and reframing pages” on page 41, and “Transforming pages” on

page 41, removed outdated references to features being new in CS5.

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Document Operations 19

Apply different sizes to different pages (multiple page sizes).

Apply flexible layout formats to the same pages for use in different devices or documents with

different sizes or orientation.

Print a document.

Export a document as Adobe PDF.

Export pages of a document as EPS.

Export a document as an ePub file.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create, install,

and run a script.

Basic Document Operations

Opening, closing, and saving documents are some of the most basic document tasks. This section shows

how to do them using scripting.

Creating a new document

The following script shows how to make a new document using scripting. (For the complete script, see

MakeDocument.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

To create a document using a document preset, the Add method includes an optional parameter you can

use to specify a document preset, as shown in the following script. (For the complete script, see

MakeDocumentWithPreset.)

Rem Creates a new document using the specified document preset.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Replace "myDocumentPreset" in the following line with the name

Rem of the document preset you want to use.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add(True,

myInDesign.DocumentPresets.Item("myDocumentPreset"))

You can create a document without displaying it in a window, as shown in the following script fragment

(from the MakeDocumentWithParameters tutorial script):

Rem Creates a new document using the specified document preset.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Replace "myDocumentPreset" in the following line with the name

Rem of the document preset you want to use.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add(False)

Rem To show the window:

Set myWindow = myDocument.Windows.Add

Some script operations are much faster when the document window is hidden.

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Document Operations 20

Opening a document

The following script shows how to open an existing document. (For the complete script, see

OpenDocument.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Open("c:\myTestDocument.indd")

You can choose to prevent the document from displaying (that is, hide it) by setting the showing window

parameter of the Open method to false (the default is true). You might want to do this to improve

performance of a script. To show a hidden document, create a new window, as shown in the following

script fragment (from the OpenDocumentInBackground tutorial script):

Rem Opens an existing document in the background, then shows the document.

Rem Youíll have to fill in your own file path.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Open("c:\myTestDocument.indd", False)

Rem At this point, you can do things with the document without showing

Rem the document window. In some cases, scripts will run faster when

Rem the document window is not visible.

Rem When you want to show the hidden document, create a new window.

Set myLayoutWindow = myDocument.Windows.Add

Saving a document

In the InDesign user interface, you save a file by choosing File > Save, and you save a file to another file

name by choosing File > Save As. In InDesign scripting, the Save method can do either operation, as

shown in the following script fragment (from the SaveDocument tutorial script):

Rem If the active document has been changed since it was last saved, save it.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Modified = True Then

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Save

End If

The Save method has two optional parameters: The first (to) specifies the file to save to; the second

(stationery) can be set to true to save the document as a template, as shown in the following script

fragment (from the SaveDocumentAs tutorial script):

Rem If the active document has not been saved (ever), save it.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myDocument.Saved = False Then

Rem If you do not provide a file name,

Rem InDesign displays the Save dialog box.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Save "c:\myTestDocument.indd"

End If

You can save a document as a template, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

SaveAsTemplate tutorial script):

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Document Operations 21

Rem Save the active document as a template.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Saved = True Then

Rem Convert the file name to a string.

myFileName = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.FullName

Rem If the file name contains the extension ".indd",

Rem change it to ".indt".

If InStr(1, myFileName, ".indd") <> 0 Then

myFileName = Replace(myFileName, ".indd", ".indt")

End If

Else

Rem If the document has not been saved, then give it a

Rem default file name/file path.

myFileName = "c:\myTestDocument.indt"

End If

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Save myFileName, True

Closing a document

The Close method closes a document, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

CloseDocument tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Close

Rem Note that you could also use:

Rem myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Close

The Close method can take up to two optional parameters, as shown in the following script fragment

(from the CloseWithParameters tutorial script):

Rem Use idSaveOptions.idYes to save the document,idSaveOptions.idNo

Rem to close the document without saving, or idSaveOptions.idAsk to

Rem display a prompt. If you use idSaveOptions.idYes, you'll need to

Rem provide a reference to a file to save to in the second parameter Rem(SavingIn).

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem If the file has not been saved, display a prompt.

If myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Saved <> True Then

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Close idSaveOptions.idAsk

Rem Or, to save to a specific file name:

Rem myFile = "c:\myTestDocument.indd"

Rem myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Close idSaveOptions.idYes, myFile

Else

Rem If the file has already been saved, save it.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Close idSaveOptions.idYes

End If

You can close all open documents without saving them, as shown in the following script fragment (from

the CloseAll tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

For myCounter = myInDesign.Documents.Length To 1 Step -1

myInDesign.Documents.Item(myCounter).Close idSaveOptions.idNo

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 22

Basic Page Layout

Each document has a default page size, assigned number of pages, bleed and slug working areas, and

columns and margins to define the area into which material is placed. Again, all these parameters are

accessible to scripting, as shown in the examples in this section.

Defining page size and document length

When you create a new document using the InDesign user interface, you can specify the default page size,

number of pages, page orientation, and whether the document uses facing pages. To create a document

using InDesign scripting, use the Documents.Add method, which does not specify these settings. After

creating a document, you can use the DocumentPreferences object to control the settings, as shown in

the following script fragment (from the DocumentPreferences tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

With myDocument.DocumentPreferences

.PageHeight = "800pt"

.PageWidth = "600pt"

.PageOrientation = idPageOrientation.idLandscape

.PagesPerDocument = 16

End With

NOTE: The Application object also has a DocumentPreferences object. You can set the application

defaults for page height, page width, and other properties by changing the properties of this object. You

can also set individual page sizes; see “Adjusting Page Sizes and Layout”.

Defining bleed and slug areas

Within InDesign, a bleed or a slug is an area outside the page margins that can be printed or included in an

exported PDF. Typically, these areas are used for objects that extend beyond the page edges (bleed) and

job/document information (slug). The two areas can be printed and exported independently; for example,

you might want to omit slug information for the final printing of a document. The following script shows

how to set up the bleed and slug for a new document. (For the complete script, see BleedAndSlug.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem The bleed and slug properties belong to the DocumentPreferences object.

With myDocument.DocumentPreferences

Rem Bleed

.DocumentBleedBottomOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedTopOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset = "3p"

Rem Slug

.SlugBottomOffset = "18p"

.SlugTopOffset = "3p"

.SlugInsideOrLeftOffset = "3p"

.SlugRightOrOutsideOffset = "3p"

End With

Alternately, if all the bleed distances are equal, as in the preceding example, you can use the

DocumentBleedUniformSize property, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

UniformBleed tutorial script):

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 23

Rem Create a new document.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem The bleed properties belong to the documentPreferences object.

With myDocument.DocumentPreferences

Rem Bleed

.DocumentBleedTopOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedUniformSize = True

End With

If all the slug distances are equal, you can use the DocumentSlugUniformSize property, as shown in the

following script fragment (from the UniformSlug tutorial script):

Rem Create a new document.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem The slug properties belong to the documentPreferences object.

With myDocument.DocumentPreferences

Rem Slug:

.SlugTopOffset = "3p"

.DocumentSlugUniformSize = True

End With

In addition to setting the bleed and slug widths and heights, you can control the color used to draw the

guides defining the bleed and slug. This property is not in the DocumentPreferences object; instead, it is

in the PasteboardPreferences object, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

BleedSlugGuideColors tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

With myInDesign.ActiveDocument.PasteboardPreferences

Rem Any of InDesign's guides can use the UIColors constants...

.BleedGuideColor = idUIColors.idCuteTeal

.SlugGuideColor = idUIColors.idCharcoal

Rem ...or you can specify an array of RGB values

Rem(with values from 0 to 255)

Rem .BleedGuideColor = Array(0, 198, 192)

Rem .SlugGuideColor = Array(192, 192, 192)

End With

Setting page margins and columns

Each page in a document can have its own margin and column settings. With InDesign scripting, these

properties are part of the MarginPreferences object for each page. This following sample script creates a

new document, then sets the margins and columns for all pages in the master spread. (For the complete

script, see PageMargins.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

With myDocument.Pages.Item(1).MarginPreferences

.ColumnCount = 3

Rem columnGutter can be a number or a measurement string.

.ColumnGutter = "1p"

.Top = "4p"

.Bottom = "6p"

Rem When document.documentPreferences.facingPages = true,

Rem "left" means inside "right" means outside.

.Left = "6p"

.Right = "4p"

End With

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 24

To set the page margins for an individual page, use the margin preferences for that page, as shown in the

following script fragment (from the PageMarginsForOnePage tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

With myDocument.Pages.Item(1).MarginPreferences

.ColumnCount = 3

Rem columnGutter can be a number or a measurement string.

.ColumnGutter = "1p"

.Top = "4p"

.Bottom = "6p"

Rem When document.documentPreferences.facingPages = true,

Rem "left" means inside "right" means outside.

.Left = "6p"

.Right = "4p"

End With

InDesign does not allow you to create a page that is smaller than the sum of the relevant margins; that is,

the width of the page must be greater than the sum of the left and right page margins, and the height of

the page must be greater than the sum of the top and bottom margins. If you are creating very small

pages (for example, for individual newspaper advertisements) using the InDesign user interface, you can

easily set the correct margin sizes as you create the document, by entering new values in the document

default page Margin fields in the New Document dialog box.

From scripting, however, the solution is not as clear: when you create a document, it uses the application’s

default-margin preferences. These margins are applied to all pages of the document, including master

pages. Setting the document margin preferences affects only new pages and has no effect on existing

pages. If you try to set the page height and page width to values smaller than the sum of the

corresponding margins on any existing pages, InDesign does not change the page size.

There are two solutions. The first is to set the margins of the existing pages before you try to change the

page size, as shown in the following script fragment (from the PageMarginsForSmallPages tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myDocument.ViewPreferences.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myDocument.ViewPreferences.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

With myDocument.MarginPreferences

.Top = 0

.Left = 0

.Bottom = 0

.Right = 0

.ColumnCount = 1

.ColumnGutter = 0

End With

Rem The following assumes that your default document contains a single page.

With myDocument.Pages.Item(1).MarginPreferences

.Top = 0

.Left = 0

.Bottom = 0

.Right = 0

.ColumnCount = 1

.ColumnGutter = 0

End With

Rem The following assumes that your default master spread contains two pages.

With myDocument.MasterSpreads.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).MarginPreferences

.Top = 0

.Left = 0

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 25

.Bottom = 0

.Right = 0

.ColumnCount = 1

.ColumnGutter = 0

End With

With myDocument.MasterSpreads.Item(1).Pages.Item(2).MarginPreferences

.Top = 0

.Left = 0

.Bottom = 0

.Right = 0

.ColumnCount = 1

.ColumnGutter = 0

End With

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight = "1p"

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth = "6p"

Alternately, you can change the application’s default-margin preferences before you create the document,

as shown in the following script fragment (from the ApplicationPageMargins tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

With myInDesign.MarginPreferences

Rem Save the current application default margin preferences.

myY1 = .Top

myX1 = .Left

myY2 = .Bottom

myX2 = .Right

Rem Set the application default margin preferences.

.Top = 0

.Left = 0

.Bottom = 0

.Right = 0

End With

Rem Create a new example document to demonstrate the change.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight = "1p"

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth = "6p"

Rem Reset the application default margin preferences to their former state.

With myInDesign.MarginPreferences

.Top = myY1

.Left = myX1

.Bottom = myY2

.Right = myX2

End With

Changing the appearance of the pasteboard

The pasteboard is the area that surrounds InDesign pages and spreads. You can use it for temporary

storage of page items or for job-tracking information. You can change the size of the pasteboard and its

color using scripting. The PreviewBackgroundColor property sets the color of the pasteboard in Preview

mode, as shown in the following script fragment (from the PasteboardPreferences tutorial script):

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 26

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

With myDocument.PasteboardPreferences

Rem You can use either a number or a measurement

Rem string to set the space above/below.

.MinimumSpaceAboveAndBelow = "12p"

Rem You can set the preview background color (which you'll only see

Rem in Preview mode) to any of the predefined UIColor constants...

.PreviewBackgroundColor = idUIColors.idGrassGreen

Rem ...or you can specify an array of RGB values (with values from 0 to 255)

Rem .PreviewBackgroundColor = Array(192, 192, 192)

End With

Guides and grids

Guides and grids make it easy to position objects on your document pages. These are very useful items to

add when you are creating templates for others to use.

Defining guides

Guides in InDesign give you an easy way to position objects on the pages of your document. The following

script fragment shows how to use guides. (For the complete script, see Guides.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myPageWidth = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth

myPageHeight = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight

With myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myMarginPreferences = .MarginPreferences

Rem Place guides at the margins of the page.

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = myMarginPreferences.Left

End With

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = (myPageWidth - myMarginPreferences.Right)

End With

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = myMarginPreferences.Top

End With

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = (myPageHeight - myMarginPreferences.Bottom)

End With

Rem Place a guide at the vertical center of the page.

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = (myPageWidth / 2)

End With

Rem Place a guide at the horizontal center of the page.

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = (myPageHeight / 2)

End With

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 27

Horizontal guides can be limited to a given page or extend across all pages in a spread. From InDesign

scripting, you can control this using the FitToPage property. This property is ignored by vertical guides.

You can use scripting to change the layer, color, and visibility of guides, just as you can from the user

interface, as shown in the following script fragment (from the GuideOptions tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myPageWidth = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth

myPageHeight = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight

With myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myMarginPreferences = .MarginPreferences

Rem Place guides at the margins of the page.

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = myMarginPreferences.Left

End With

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = (myPageWidth - myMarginPreferences.Right)

End With

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = myMarginPreferences.Top

End With

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = (myPageHeight - myMarginPreferences.Bottom)

End With

Rem Place a guide at the vertical center of the page.

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = (myPageWidth / 2)

End With

Rem Place a guide at the horizontal center of the page.

With .Guides.Add

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = (myPageHeight / 2)

End With

You also can create guides using the CreateGuides method on spreads and master spreads, as shown in

the following script fragment (from the CreateGuides tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Parameters (all optional): row count, column count, row gutter,

Rem column gutter,guide color, fit margins, remove existing, layer.

Rem Note that the createGuides method does not take an RGB array

Rem for the guide color parameter.

myDocument.Spreads.Item(1).CreateGuides 4, 4, "1p", "1p", idUIColors.idGray, True,

True, myDocument.Layers.Item(0)

Setting grid preferences

To control the properties of the document and baseline grid, you set the properties of the

GridPreferences object, as shown in the following script fragment (from the DocumentAndBaselineGrid

tutorial script):

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 28

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Set the document measurement units to points.

myDocument.ViewPreferences.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myDocument.ViewPreferences.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

Rem Set up grid preferences.

With myDocument.GridPreferences

.BaselineStart = 56

.BaselineDivision = 14

.BaselineGridShown = True

.HorizontalGridlineDivision = 14

.HorizontalGridSubdivision = 5

.VerticalGridlineDivision = 14

.VerticalGridSubdivision = 5

.DocumentGridShown = True

End With

Snapping to guides and grids

All snap settings for a document’s grids and guides are in the properties of the GuidePreferences and

GridPreferences objects. The following script fragment shows how to set guide and grid snap

properties. (For the complete script, see GuideGridPreferences.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

With myDocument.guidePreferences

.GuidesInBack = True;

.GuidesLocked = False;

.GuidesShown = True;

.GuidesSnapTo = True;

End With

With myDocument.gridPreferences {

.DocumentGridShown = False;

.DocumentGridSnapTo = True;

//Objects "snap" to the baseline grid when

//guidePreferences.guideSnapTo is set to true.

.BaselineGridShown = True;

End With

}

Changing measurement units and ruler

Thus far, the sample scripts used measurement strings, strings that force InDesign to use a specific

measurement unit (for example, “8.5i” for 8.5 inches). They do this because you might be using a different

measurement system when you run the script.

To specify the measurement system used in a script, use the document’s ViewPreferences object, as

shown in the following script fragment (from the ViewPreferences tutorial script):

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 29

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

With myDocument.ViewPreferences

Rem Measurement unit choices are:

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idAgates

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idPicas

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idInches

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idInchesDecimal

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idMillimeters

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idCentimeters

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idCiceros

Rem * idMeasurementUnits.idCustom

Rem If you set the the vertical or horizontal measurement units

Rem to idMeasurementUnits.idCustom, you can also set a custom

Rem ruler increment (in points) using:

Rem .HorizontalCustomPoints = 15

Rem .VerticalCustomPoints = 15

Rem Set horizontal and vertical measurement units to points.

.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

End With

If you are writing a script that needs to use a specific measurement system, you can change the

measurement units at the beginning of the script, then restore the original measurement units at the end

of the script. This is shown in the following script fragment (from the ResetMeasurementUnits tutorial

script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

With myDocument.ViewPreferences

myOldXUnits = .HorizontalMeasurementUnits

myOldYUnits = .VerticalMeasurementUnits

.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

End With

Rem At this point, you can perform any series of script actions that

Rem depend on the measurement units you've set. At the end of the

Rem script, reset the units to their original state.

With myDocument.ViewPreferences

.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = myOldXUnits

.VerticalMeasurementUnits = myOldYUnits

End With

Defining and applying document presets

InDesign document presets enable you to store and apply common document set-up information (page

size, page margins, columns, and bleed and slug areas). When you create a new document, you can base

the document on a document preset.

Creating a preset by copying values

To create a document preset using an existing document’s settings as an example, open a document that

has the document set-up properties you want to use in the document preset, then run the following script

(from the DocumentPresetByExample tutorial script):

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 30

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Rem If the document preset "myDocumentPreset" does not

Rem already exist, create it.

Rem Disable normal error handling.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Set myDocumentPreset = myInDesign.DocumentPresets.Item("myDocumentPreset")

Rem If the document preset did not exist, the above line

Rem generates an error. Handle the error.

If (Err.Number <> 0) Then

Set myDocumentPreset = myInDesign.DocumentPresets.Add

myDocumentPreset.Name = "myDocumentPreset"

Err.Clear

End If

Rem Restore normal error handling.

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Fill in the properties of the document preset with the corresponding

Rem properties of the active document.

With myDocumentPreset

Rem Note that the following gets the page margins

rem from the margin preferences of the document to get the margin

Rem preferences from the active page, replace "myDocument" with

Rem "myInDesign.activeWindow.activePage" in the following six lines

Rem (assuming the active window is a layout window).

.Left = myDocument.MarginPreferences.Left

.Right = myDocument.MarginPreferences.Right

.Top = myDocument.MarginPreferences.Top

.Bottom = myDocument.MarginPreferences.Bottom

.ColumnCount = myDocument.MarginPreferences.ColumnCount

.ColumnGutter = myDocument.MarginPreferences.ColumnGutter

.DocumentBleedBottomOffset =

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.DocumentBleedBottomOffset

.DocumentBleedTopOffset =

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.DocumentBleedTopOffset

.DocumentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset =

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.DocumentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset

.DocumentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset =

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.DocumentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset

.FacingPages = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.FacingPages

.PageHeight = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight

.PageWidth = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth

.PageOrientation = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageOrientation

.PagesPerDocument = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PagesPerDocument

.SlugBottomOffset = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.SlugBottomOffset

.SlugTopOffset = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.SlugTopOffset

.SlugInsideOrLeftOffset =

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.SlugInsideOrLeftOffset

.SlugRightOrOutsideOffset =

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.SlugRightOrOutsideOffset

End With

End If

Creating a document preset

To create a document preset using explicit values, run the following script (from the DocumentPreset

tutorial script):

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 31

On Error Resume Next

Set myDocumentPreset = myInDesign.DocumentPresets.Item("myDocumentPreset")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myDocumentPreset = myInDesign.DocumentPresets.Add

myDocumentPreset.Name = "myDocumentPreset"

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Fill in the properties of the document preset.

With myDocumentPreset

.PageHeight = "9i"

.PageWidth = "7i"

.Left = "4p"

.Right = "6p"

.Top = "4p"

.Bottom = "9p"

.ColumnCount = 1

.DocumentBleedBottomOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedTopOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset = "3p"

.FacingPages = True

.PageOrientation = idPageOrientation.idPortrait

.PagesPerDocument = 1

.SlugBottomOffset = "18p"

.SlugTopOffset = "3p"

.SlugInsideOrLeftOffset = "3p"

.SlugRightOrOutsideOffset = "3p"

End With

Setting up master spreads

After setting up the basic document page size, slug, and bleed, you probably will want to define the

document’s master spreads. The following script shows how to do that. (For the complete script, see

MasterSpread.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Set up the first master spread in a new document.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Set up the document.

With myDocument.DocumentPreferences

.PageHeight = "11i"

.PageWidth = "8.5i"

.FacingPages = True

.PageOrientation = idPageOrientation.idPortrait

End With

Rem Set the document's ruler origin to page origin. This is very important

Rem --if you don't do this, getting objects to the correct position on the

Rem page is much more difficult.

myDocument.ViewPreferences.RulerOrigin = idRulerOrigin.idPageOrigin

With myDocument.MasterSpreads.Item(1)

Rem Set up the left page (verso).

With .Pages.Item(1)

With .MarginPreferences

.ColumnCount = 3

.ColumnGutter = "1p"

.Bottom = "6p"

Rem "left" means inside "right" means outside.

.Left = "6p"

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 32

.Right = "4p"

.Top = "4p"

End With

Rem Add a simple footer with a section number and page number.

With .TextFrames.Add

.GeometricBounds = Array("61p", "4p", "62p", "45p")

.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idSectionMarker

.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents = idSpecialCharacters.idEmSpace

.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idAutoPageNumber

.Paragraphs.Item(1).Justification = idJustification.idLeftAlign

End With

Rem Set up the right page (recto).

With .Pages.Item(2)

With .MarginPreferences

.ColumnCount = 3

.ColumnGutter = "1p"

.Bottom = "6p"

Rem "left" means inside "right" means outside.

.Left = "6p"

.Right = "4p"

.Top = "4p"

End With

Rem Add a simple footer with a section number and page number.

With .TextFrames.Add

.GeometricBounds = Array("61p", "6p", "62p", "47p")

.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idAutoPageNumber

.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents = idSpecialCharacters.idEmSpace

.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idSectionMarker

.Paragraphs.Item(1).Justification = idJustification.idRightAlign

End With

To apply a master spread to a document page, use the AppliedMaster property of the document page, as

shown in the following script fragment (from the ApplyMaster tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Assumes that the active document has a master page named "B-Master"

Rem and at least two pages.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Pages.Item(2).AppliedMaster =

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.MasterSpreads.Item("B-Master")

Use the same property to apply a master spread to a master spread page, as shown in the following script

fragment (from the ApplyMasterToMaster tutorial script):

Rem Assumes that the default master spread name is "A-Master".

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Create a new master spread.

Set myBMaster = myDocument.MasterSpreads.Add

myBMaster.NamePrefix = "B"

myBMaster.BaseName = "Master"

Rem Apply master spread "A" to the first page of the new master spread.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.MasterSpreads.Item("B-Master").Pages.Item(1).AppliedMaster

= myInDesign.ActiveDocument.MasterSpreads.Item("A-Master")

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 33

Adding XMP metadata

Metadata is information that describes the content, origin, or other attributes of a file. In the InDesign user

interface, you enter, edit, and view metadata using the File Info dialog (choose File > File Info). This

metadata includes the document’s creation and modification dates, author, copyright status, and other

information. All this information is stored using XMP (Adobe Extensible Metadata Platform), an open

standard for embedding metadata in a document.

To learn more about XMP, see the XMP specification at

http://partners.adobe.com/asn/developer/pdf/MetadataFramework.pdf.

You also can add XMP information to a document using InDesign scripting. All XMP properties for a

document are in the document’s metadataPreferences object. The example below fills in the standard

XMP data for a document.

This example also shows that XMP information is extensible. If you need to attach metadata to a document

and the data does not fall into a category provided by the metadata preferences object, you can create

your own metadata container (email, in this example). (For the complete script, see MetadataExample.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

With myDocument.MetadataPreferences

.Author = "Adobe"

.CopyrightInfoURL = "http://www.adobe.com"

.CopyrightNotice = "This document is copyrighted."

.CopyrightStatus = idCopyrightStatus.idYes

.Description = "Example of xmp metadata scripting in InDesign CS"

.DocumentTitle = "XMP Example"

.JobName = "XMP_Example_2004"

.Keywords = Array("animal", "mineral", "vegetable")

Rem The metadata preferences object also includes the read-only

Rem creator, format, creationDate, modificationDate, and serverURL properties that

are

Rem automatically entered and maintained by InDesign.

Rem Create a custom XMP container, "email"

.CreateContainerItem "http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/", "email"

.SetProperty "http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/", "email/*[1]", "someone@adobe.com"

End With

Creating a document template

This example creates a new document, defines slug and bleed areas, adds information to the document’s

XMP metadata, sets up master pages, adds page footers, and adds job information to a table in the slug

area. (For the complete script, see DocumentTemplate.)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 34

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Set the application measurement unit defaults to points.

myInDesign.ViewPreferences.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myInDesign.ViewPreferences.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

Rem Set the application default margin preferences.

With myInDesign.MarginPreferences

Rem Save the current application default margin preferences.

myY1 = .Top

myX1 = .Left

myY2 = .Bottom

myX2 = .Right

Rem Set the application default margin preferences.

Rem Document baseline grid will be based on 14 points, and

Rem all margins are set in increments of 14 points.

.Top = 14 * 4

.Left = 14 * 4

.Bottom = 74

.Right = 14 * 5

End With

Rem Make a new document.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth = "7i"

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight = "9i"

myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageOrientation = idPageOrientation.idPortrait

Rem At this point, we can reset the application default margins

Rem to their original state.

With myInDesign.MarginPreferences

.Top = myY1

.Left = myX1

.Bottom = myY2

.Right = myX2

End With

Rem Set up the bleed and slug areas.

With myDocument.DocumentPreferences

Rem Bleed

.DocumentBleedBottomOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedTopOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset = "3p"

.DocumentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset = "3p"

Rem Slug

.SlugBottomOffset = "18p"

.SlugTopOffset = "3p"

.SlugInsideOrLeftOffset = "3p"

.SlugRightOrOutsideOffset = "3p"

End With

Rem Create a color.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Rem If the color does not already exist, InDesign will generate an error.

Set myColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("PageNumberRed")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myColor = myDocument.Colors.Add

myColor.Name = "PageNumberRed"

myColor.colorModel = idColorModel.idProcess

myColor.ColorValue = Array(20, 100, 80, 10)

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Next, set up some default styles.

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 35

Rem Create up a character style for the page numbers.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Rem If the character style does not already exist, InDesign generates an error.

Set myCharacterStyle = myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("page_number")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myCharacterStyle = myDocument.CharacterStyles.Add

myCharacterStyle.Name = "page_number"

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("page_number").FillColor =

myDocument.Colors.Item("PageNumberRed")

Rem Create up a pair of paragraph styles for the page footer text.

Rem These styles have only basic formatting.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Rem If the paragraph style does not already exist, InDesign generates an error.

Set myParagraphStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("footer_left")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myParagraphStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Add

myParagraphStyle.Name = "footer_left"

myParagraphStyle.PointSize = 11

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 14

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Rem If the paragraph style does not already exist, InDesign generates an error.

Set myParagraphStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("footer_right")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myParagraphStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Add

myParagraphStyle.Name = "footer_right"

myParagraphStyle.BasedOn = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("footer_left")

myParagraphStyle.Justification = idJustification.idRightAlign

myParagraphStyle.PointSize = 11

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 14

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Create a layer for guides.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add

myLayer.Name = "GuideLayer"

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Create a layer for the footer items.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Footer")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 36

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add

myLayer.Name = "Footer"

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Create a layer for the slug items.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Slug")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add

myLayer.Name = "Slug"

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Create a layer for the body text.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("BodyText")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add

myLayer.Name = "BodyText"

Err.Clear

End If

Rem restore normal error handling

On Error GoTo 0

With myDocument.ViewPreferences

.RulerOrigin = idRulerOrigin.idPageOrigin

.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

End With

Rem Document baseline grid and document grid

With myDocument.GridPreferences

.BaselineStart = 56

.BaselineDivision = 14

.BaselineGridShown = False

.HorizontalGridlineDivision = 14

.HorizontalGridSubdivision = 5

.VerticalGridlineDivision = 14

.VerticalGridSubdivision = 5

.DocumentGridShown = False

End With

Rem Document XMP information.

With myDocument.MetadataPreferences

.Author = "Olav Martin Kvern"

.CopyrightInfoURL = "http:rem www.adobe.com"

.CopyrightNotice = "This document is not copyrighted."

.CopyrightStatus = idCopyrightStatus.idNo

.Description = "Example 7 x 9 book layout"

.DocumentTitle = "Example"

.JobName = "7 x 9 book layout template"

.Keywords = Array("7 x 9", "book", "template")

.CreateContainerItem "http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/", "email"

.SetProperty "http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/", "email/*[1]", "okvern@adobe.com"

End With

Rem Set up the master spread.

With myDocument.MasterSpreads.Item(1)

With .Pages.Item(1)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 37

Rem Left and right are reversed for left-hand pages (becoming "inside" and

"outside"--

Rem this is also true in the InDesign user interface).

myTopMargin = .MarginPreferences.Top

myBottomMargin = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight -

.MarginPreferences.Bottom

myRightMargin = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth -

.MarginPreferences.Left

myLeftMargin = .MarginPreferences.Right

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = myLeftMargin

End With

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = myRightMargin

End With

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = myTopMargin

.FitToPage = False

End With

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = myBottomMargin

.FitToPage = False

End With

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = myBottomMargin + 14

.FitToPage = False

End With

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

.Location = myBottomMargin + 28

.FitToPage = False

End With

Set myLeftFooter = .TextFrames.Add

myLeftFooter.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Footer")

myLeftFooter.GeometricBounds = Array(myBottomMargin + 14,

.MarginPreferences.Right, myBottomMargin + 28, myRightMargin)

myLeftFooter.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idSectionMarker

myLeftFooter.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idEmSpace

myLeftFooter.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idAutoPageNumber

myLeftFooter.ParentStory.Characters.Item(1).AppliedCharacterStyle =

myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("page_number")

myLeftFooter.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).ApplyStyle

myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("footer_left"), False

Rem Slug information.

myDate = Date

With myDocument.MetadataPreferences

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 38

myString = "Author:" & vbTab & .Author & vbTab & "Description:" & vbTab &

.Description & vbCrLf & _

"Creation Date:" & vbTab & myDate & vbTab & "Email Contact" & vbTab &

.GetProperty("http://ns.adobe.com/xap/1.0/", "email/*[1]")

End With

Set myLeftSlug = .TextFrames.Add

myLeftSlug.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Slug")

myLeftSlug.GeometricBounds = Array(myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight +

36, .MarginPreferences.Right, myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight + 144,

myRightMargin)

myLeftSlug.Contents = myString

myLeftSlug.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1).ConvertToTable

Rem Body text master text frame.

Set myLeftFrame = .TextFrames.Add

myLeftFrame.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("BodyText")

myLeftFrame.GeometricBounds = Array(.MarginPreferences.Top,

.MarginPreferences.Right, myBottomMargin, myRightMargin)

End With

With .Pages.Item(2)

myTopMargin = .MarginPreferences.Top

myBottomMargin = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight -

.MarginPreferences.Bottom

myRightMargin = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth -

.MarginPreferences.Right

myLeftMargin = .MarginPreferences.Left

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = myLeftMargin

End With

With .Guides.Add

.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("GuideLayer")

.Orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

.Location = myRightMargin

End With

Set myRightFooter = .TextFrames.Add

myRightFooter.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Footer")

myRightFooter.GeometricBounds = Array(myBottomMargin + 14,

.MarginPreferences.Left, myBottomMargin + 28, myRightMargin)

myRightFooter.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idAutoPageNumber

myRightFooter.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idEmSpace

myRightFooter.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idSectionMarker

myRightFooter.ParentStory.Characters.Item(-1).AppliedCharacterStyle =

myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("page_number")

myRightFooter.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).ApplyStyle

myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("footer_right"), False

Rem Slug information.

Set myRightSlug = .TextFrames.Add

myRightSlug.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Slug")

myRightSlug.GeometricBounds = Array(myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight +

36, myLeftMargin, myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight + 144, myRightMargin)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Basic Page Layout 39

myRightSlug.Contents = myString

myRightSlug.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1).ConvertToTable

Rem Body text master text frame.

Set myRightFrame = .TextFrames.Add

myRightFrame.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("BodyText")

myRightFrame.GeometricBounds = Array(.MarginPreferences.Top,

.MarginPreferences.Left, myBottomMargin, myRightMargin)

myRightFrame.PreviousTextFrame = myLeftFrame

End With

Rem Add section marker text--this text will appear in the footer.

myDocument.Sections.Item(1).Marker = "Section 1"

Rem When you link the master page text frames, one of the frames

Rem sometimes becomes selected. Deselect it.

myInDesign.Select idNothingEnum.idNothing

Creating watermarks

You can apply watermarks to documents in InDesign or InDesign Server using scripting. Currently, no user

interface component exists in InDesign for managing watermarks.

A document’s watermark preferences can be set in two ways using scripting:

Application-level watermark preferences, if any are set, are applied to the document watermark

preferences for each new document created by InDesign. This setting has no effect on existing

documents.

Document-level watermark preferences apply only to that document. Setting or changing a

document’s watermark preferences replaces any previous watermark settings for the document.

Both the document and application watermark preference settings persist after the document or

application is closed until a script changes them.

The same group of watermark preferences exist for both the document and the application objects.

Setting watermark preferences

The following script fragment shows how to set watermarks at the application level. A watermark will be

applied to all documents created after this code finishes. (For the complete script for setting application

preferences, see ApplicationWatermark.)

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkVisibility = true

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkDoPrint = true

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkDrawInBack = true

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkText = "Confidential"

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkFontFamily = "Arial"

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkFontStyle = "Bold"

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkFontPointSize = 72

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkFontColor = idUIColors.idRed

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkOpacity = 60

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkRotation = -45

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkHorizontalPosition =

idWatermarkHorizontalPositionEnum.idWatermarkHCenter

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkHorizontalOffset = 0

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkVerticalPosition =

idWatermarkVerticalPositionEnum.idWatermarkVCenter

myInDesign.watermarkPreferences.watermarkVerticalOffset = 0

CHAPTER 3: Documents Adjusting Page Sizes and Layout 40

The same preferences can be applied to a document object by referring to a document, rather than to the

application. (For the complete script for setting document preferences, see DocumentWatermark.)

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkVisibility = true

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkDoPrint = true

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkDrawInBack = true

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkText = "Confidential"

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkFontFamily = "Arial"

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkFontStyle = "Bold"

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkFontPointSize = 72

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkFontColor =

idUIColors.idRed

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkOpacity = 60

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkRotation = -45

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkHorizontalPosition =

idWatermarkHorizontalPositionEnum.idWatermarkHCenter

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkHorizontalOffset = 0

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkVerticalPosition =

idWatermarkVerticalPositionEnum.idWatermarkVCenter

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkPreferences.watermarkVerticalOffset = 0

Disabling watermarks

After turning off the application setting for watermarks, InDesign no longer turns on the watermark

settings for new documents by default. However, you can still set watermarks for individual documents.

The following script fragment shows how to turn off application-level watermarks.

Rem Given a reference to the InDesign application object "myInDesign"...

myInDesign.WatermarkVisibility = False

You can turn off watermarks in an individual document at any time, as shown in the following script

fragment.

Rem Given a reference to the InDesign application object "myInDesign"...

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).WatermarkVisibility = False

Adjusting Page Sizes and Layout

InDesign allows different page sizes within a single InDesign document. For information on setting the

default page size, see “Defining page size and document length”.

You can also apply geometric transformations to individual pages.

Selecting pages

Before changing a page’s size or applying a transformation to the page, you must select the page. In the

InDesign user interface, you do this using the Page Tool on the Tools Panel. You can also select a page

using scripting. The following script shows how. (For the complete script, see PageSelect.)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Adjusting Page Sizes and Layout 41

Rem Given a document with four pages (1, 2, 3, 4)...

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Set myPages = myDocument.Pages

Rem Select page 2 and 3.

myPages.Item(2).Select()

myPages.Item(3).select(idSelectionOptions.idAddTo)

Rem Select last page.

Call myDocument.Select(myPages.Item(-1), idSelectionOptions.idAddTo)

Resizing and reframing pages

You can resize or reframe page items on a page by scripting. You can also apply the resize and reframe

operations to pages to change their sizes.

NOTE: Your minimum page size is determined by the page’s margins. See “Setting page margins and

columns” for more information.

The following script shows how to change a page’s size using the resize method. (For the complete script,

see PageResize.)

Rem Given a document with four pages (1, 2, 3, 4)...

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Set myPages = myDocument.Pages

Rem Resize page to two times bigger

Call myPages.Item(2).Resize(idCoordinateSpaces.idInnerCoordinates, _

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, _

idResizeMethods.idMultiplyingCurrentDimensionsBy, _

Array(2, 2))

Rem Resize page to 400 points width and 600 points height.

Call myPages.item(3).Resize(idCoordinateSpaces.idInnerCoordinates, _

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, _

idResizeMethods.idReplacingCurrentDimensionsWith, _

Array(400, 600))

Reframing changes the bounding box of a page, so reframing can be used to change a page’s size by

making the bounding box larger or smaller. The following script shows how to change a page’s size using

the reframe method. (For the complete script, see PageReframe.)

Rem Given a document with four pages (1, 2, 3, 4)...

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Set myPages = myDocument.Pages

Rem Make the page one inch wider and one inch higher.

Set myPage = myPages.Item(2)

myBounds = myPage.Bounds

myY1 = myBounds(0)

myX1 = myBounds(1)

myY2 = myBounds(2)+72

myX2 = myBounds(3)+72

Call myPage.Reframe(idCoordinateSpaces.idInnerCoordinates, _

Array(Array(myX1, myY1), _

Array(myX2, myY2)))

Transforming pages

Operations that change the geometry of objects are called transformations. The transform method can

rotate, scale, shear, and move (translate) page items on a page and can also be used on pages. For

technical details about transformation architecture, refer to “Transforming Page Items”.

CHAPTER 3: Documents Adjusting Page Sizes and Layout 42

To transform a page:

1. Create a transformation matrix.

2. Apply the transformation matrix to the page using the transform method.

The following script shows how to transform a page with scripting. (For the complete script, see

PageTransform.)

Rem Given a document with four pages (1, 2, 3, 4)...

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Set myPages = myDocument.Pages

Rem Rotate a page around its center point.

Set myRotateMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , 27)

myTransform myPages.Item(1), myRotateMatrix

Rem Scale a page around its center point.

Set myScaleMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(0.8, 0.8)

myTransform myPages.Item(2), myScaleMatrix

Rem Shear a page around its center point.

Set myShearMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , 30)

myTransform myPages.Item(3), myShearMatrix

Function myTransform(myPage, myTransformationMatrix)

myPage.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates, _

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, _

myTransformationMatrix

End Function

Master page overlay

Because pages can have multiple sizes, it is possible for a page and its master page to be different sizes. In

addition to tracking which master is applied, pages also maintain a matrix that determines how the master

page draws on the page. This is called the Master Page Overlay. When you select a page using the Page

Tool on the Tools Panel, you can see how the master page is positioned by checking the Show Master Page

Overlay checkbox on the control panel. You can move the overlay around with the mouse. InDesign

achieves this by applying a transform to the master overlay matrix. Although the user interface allows only

translation (moving x and y), you can do more by scripting. The following script shows how to transform a

master page overlay. (For the complete script, see MasterPageTransform.)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Making an Adaptive Layout 43

Rem Given a document with four pages (1, 2, 3, 4)...

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Set myPages = myDocument.Pages

Rem Rotate master page overlay around its top-left corner.

Set myRotateMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , 27)

myPages.Item(1).MasterPageTransform = myRotateMatrix

Rem Scale master page overlay around its top-left corner.

Set myScaleMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(0.5, 0.5)

myPages.Item(2).MasterPageTransform = myScaleMatrix

Rem Shear master page overlay around its top-left corner.

Set myShearMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , 30)

myPages.Item(3).MasterPageTransform = myShearMatrix

Rem Translate master page overlay 1 inch right and 2 inches down.

Set myTranslateMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , , 72, 144)

myPages.Item(4).MasterPageTransform = myTranslateMatrix

Making an Adaptive Layout

Using InDesign’s layout adaptation workflow, you create your primary layout the same way that you would

create it for a document that will be printed, but then you can quickly adapt that layout to another

orientation, to another dimension or aspect ratio, or to a completely different device class. This workflow

mainly involves two features: Liquid Layout makes the layout flexible, and Create Alternate Layout creates

alternative layouts for different orientations and device classes.

Making a flexible layout

Using layout rules, a designer can create one InDesign file with one set of physical pages that can display

their content suitably on different devices with different sizes and orientations. You can optionally control

the pages’ appearance for each size and orientation. The following example script shows how to do this.

(For the complete script, see LiquidLayout.)

Set doc = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPage = doc.Pages.item(1)

REM Set layout policy to LayoutRuleOptions.OBJECT_BASED

myPage.LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idOBJECTBASED

REM Create a text frame on the first page.

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds=myGetBounds(doc, myPage)

myTextFrame.Contents="This is object-based LayoutRule sample doc."

REM Create a rectangle

Set myItem = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myItem.GeometricBounds=Array(20,20,70,70)

myItem.VerticalLayoutConstraints = _

Array(idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension)

myItem.HorizontalLayoutConstraints = _

Array(idDimensionsConstraints.idFixedDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idflexibleDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension)

Set doc2 = myInDesign.Documents.Add()

CHAPTER 3: Documents Making an Adaptive Layout 44

Set myPage2 = doc2.Pages.item(1)

REM Set layout rule to LayoutRuleOptions.SCALE

myPage2.LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idSCALE

REM Create a text frame on the first page.

Set myTextFrame2 = myPage2.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame2.GeometricBounds=myGetBounds(doc2, myPage2)

myTextFrame2.Contents="This is scale LayoutRule sample doc."

Set myItem2 = myPage2.Rectangles.Add

myItem2.GeometricBounds=Array(20,20,70,70)

Set doc3 = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPage3 = doc3.Pages.item(1)

REM Set layout rule to LayoutRuleOptions.RECENTER

myPage3.LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idRECENTER

REM Create a text frame on the first page.

Set myTextFrame3 = myPage3.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame3.GeometricBounds=myGetBounds(doc3, myPage3)

myTextFrame3.Contents="This is recenter LayoutRule sample doc."

Set myItem3 = myPage3.Rectangles.Add

myItem3.GeometricBounds=Array(20,20,70,70)

Set doc4 = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPage4 = doc4.Pages.item(1)

REM Set layout rule to LayoutRuleOptions.GUIDE_BASED

myPage4.LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idGUIDEBASED

REM Create a text frame on the first page.

Set myTextFrame4 = myPage4.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame4.GeometricBounds=myGetBounds(doc4, myPage4)

myTextFrame4.Contents="This is guide-based LayoutRule sample doc."

Set myItem4 = myPage4.Rectangles.Add

myItem4.GeometricBounds=Array(20,20,70,70)

with doc4

With .Guides.Add

.GuideType=idGuideTypeOptions.idLIQUID

.Location=20

.Orientation=idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

End With

Set doc5 = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPage5 = doc5.Pages.item(1)

REM Set layout rule to LayoutRuleOptions.USE_MASTER

myPage5.LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idUSEMASTER

REM Create a text frame on the first page.

Set myTextFrame5 = myPage5.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame5.GeometricBounds=myGetBounds(doc5, myPage5)

myTextFrame5.Contents="This is master page LayoutRule sample doc."

Set myItem5 = myPage5.Rectangles.Add

myItem5.GeometricBounds=Array(20,20,70,70)

Adding guides for a guide-based layout

The following example script shows how to add guide slices for guide-based layout rules. (For the

complete script, see AddGuides.)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Making an Adaptive Layout 45

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Create a text frame on the current page.

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Rem Set layout policy

Rem Use guide slicing to resize objects on the page as it resizes.

myPage.LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idGUIDEBASED

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

myTextFrame.Contents = "This is guide-based LayoutRule sample doc."

Set myItem = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myItem.GeometricBounds = Array(20, 20, 70, 70)

With myDocument

Set myGuide = .Guides.Add

myGuide.GuideType = idGuideTypeOptions.idLIQUID

myGuide.Location = 20

myGuide.orientation = idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

End With

Setting constraints for an object-based layout

The following example script shows how to set constraints for object-based layout rules. (For the complete

script, see SetConstraints.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Create a text frame on the current page.

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Rem Set layout rule

Rem Use guide slicing to resize objects on the page as it resizes.

myPage.LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idOBJECTBASED

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

myTextFrame.Contents = "This is object-based layoutRule sample doc."

Set myItem = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myItem.GeometricBounds = Array(20, 20, 70, 70)

myItem.VerticalLayoutConstraints = _

Array(idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension)

myItem.HorizontalLayoutConstraints = _

Array(idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension, _

idDimensionsConstraints.idFlexibleDimension)

Creating alternative layouts

Create Alternate Layout takes a range of existing pages with content and automatically creates linked

copies of the content on a set of new pages within the same document. Use this when you need to create

unique layouts for different orientations and device classes. (For the complete script, see

CreateAlternateLayout.)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Collecting and Dropping Content 46

Set myDoc = myInDesign.Documents.Add

With myDoc.DocumentPreferences

.facingPages=false

.pagesPerDocument=1

.pageWidth=1024

.pageHeight=768

End With

REM Reposition and resize objects on the page as it resizes.

myDoc.Pages.item(1).LayoutRule = idLayoutRuleOptions.idOBJECTBASED

With myDoc

Set myItem = .Pages.Item(1).Rectangles.Add

myItem.GeometricBounds=Array(50,50,100,100)

End With

REM create alternate layout

myDoc.CreateAlternateLayout myDoc.Spreads, "new layout", _

myDoc.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight, _

myDoc.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth, _

true, true, _

idLayoutRuleOptions.idPRESERVEEXISTING

Collecting and Dropping Content

With Content Dropper, you can copy the content from a file designed for printing and paste it into another

document.

The following script shows how to collect content in a document using scripting. (For the complete script,

see ContentCollectorAndPlacer.)

REM Invoke load with full parameters

contentPlacer.load myPage.Rectangles, true, true, true, true

The following script shows how to place collected content into another document. (For the complete

script, see ContentCollectorAndPlacer.)

REM Invoke Page.contentPlace with full parameters

myPage1.ContentPlace myPage.Rectangles, _

true, _

Array(0, 0, 40, 40), _

myDocument1.ActiveLayer, _

true

Printing a Document

The following script prints the active document using the current print preferences. (For the complete

script, see PrintDocument.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem The PrintOut method has two optional parameters:

Rem PrintDialog--if true, display the Print dialog box

Rem Using--the printer preset to use. The following line

Rem prints the document using the default settings and

Rem without displaying the Print dialog box.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.PrintOut False

CHAPTER 3: Documents Printing a Document 47

Printing using page ranges

To specify a page range to print, set the PageRange property of the document’s print preferences

object before printing, as shown in the following script fragment (from the PrintPageRange tutorial script):

Rem Prints a page range from the active document.

Rem The page range can be either idPageRange.idAllPages or a page range string.

Rem A page number entered in the page range must correspond to a page

Rem name in the document (i.e., not the page index). If the page name is

Rem not found, InDesign will display an error message.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.PrintPreferences.PageRange = "1-3, 6, 9"

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.PrintOut False

Setting print preferences

The print preferences object contains properties corresponding to the options in the panels of the Print

dialog. The following script shows how to set print preferences using scripting. (For the complete script,

see PrintPreferences.)

Rem PrintPreferences.vbs

Rem An InDesign CS6 VBScript

Rem Sets the print preferences of the active document.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

With myInDesign.ActiveDocument.PrintPreferences

Rem Properties corresponding to the controls in the General panel

Rem of the Print dialog box.

Rem ActivePrinterPreset is ignored in this example--we'll set our own

Rem print preferences.

Rem printer can be either a string (the name of the printer) or

Rem idPrinter.idPostscriptFile.

.Printer = idPrinter.idPostscriptFile

Rem If the printer property is the name of a printer, then the ppd property

Rem is locked (and will return an error if you try to set it).

On Error Resume Next

Rem ppd = "AGFA-SelectSet5000SF"

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

Rem If the printer property is set to Printer.postscript file, the copies

Rem property is unavailable. Attempting to set it will generate an error.

Rem.Copies = 1

Rem If the printer property is set to Printer.postscript file, or if the

Rem selected printer does not support collation, then the collating

Rem property is unavailable. Attempting to set it will generate an error.

Rem collating = false

.ReverseOrder = False

Rem pageRange can be either PageRange.allPages or a page range string.

.PageRange = idPageRange.idAllPages

.PrintSpreads = False

.PrintMasterPages = False

Rem If the printer property is set to Printer.postScript file, then

Rem the printFile property contains the file path to the output file.

Rem printFile = "/c/test.ps"

.Sequence = idSequences.idAll

Rem If trapping is set to either idTrapping.idApplicationBuiltIn

Rem or idTrapping.idAdobeInRIP,

Rem then setting the following properties will produce an error.

If (.ColorOutput = idColorOutputModes.idInRIPSeparations) Or _

CHAPTER 3: Documents Printing a Document 48

(.ColorOutput = idColorOutputModes.idSeparations) Then

If .Trapping = idTrapping.idOff Then

.PrintBlankPages = False

.PrintGuidesGrids = False

.PrintNonprinting = False

End If

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem Properties corresponding to the controls in the Setup panel

Rem of the Print dialog box.

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

.PaperSize = idPaperSizes.idCustom

Rem Page width and height are ignored if paperSize is not PaperSizes.custom.

Rem .PaperHeight = 1200

Rem .PaperWidth = 1200

.PrintPageOrientation = idPrintPageOrientation.idPortrait

.PagePosition = idPagePositions.idCentered

.PaperGap = 0

.PaperOffset = 0

.PaperTransverse = False

.ScaleHeight = 100

.ScaleWidth = 100

.ScaleMode = idScaleModes.idScaleWidthHeight

.ScaleProportional = True

Rem If trapping is set to either idTrapping.idApplicationBuiltIn or

Rem idTrapping.idAdobeInRIP,then setting the following properties will

Rem produce an error.

If (.ColorOutput = idColorOutputModes.idInRIPSeparations) Or _

(.ColorOutput = idColorOutputModes.idSeparations) Then

If .Trapping = idTrapping.idOff Then

.TextAsBlack = False

.Thumbnails = False

Rem The following properties is not needed because thumbnails

Rem is set to false.

Rem thumbnailsPerPage = 4

.Tile = False

Rem The following properties are not needed

Rem because tile is set to false.

Rem .TilingOverlap = 12

Rem .TilingType = TilingTypes.auto

End If

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem Properties corresponding to the controls in the Marks and Bleed

Rem panel of the Print dialog box.

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem Set the following property to true to print all printer's marks.

Rem allPrinterMarks = true

.UseDocumentBleedToPrint = False

Rem If useDocumentBleedToPrint = false then setting any of

Rem the bleed properties will result in an error.

Rem Get the bleed amounts from the document's bleed and add a bit.

.BleedBottom = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.DocumentPreferences.

DocumentBleedBottomOffset + 3

.BleedTop = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.

DocumentPreferences.DocumentBleedTopOffset + 3

.BleedInside = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.DocumentPreferences.

DocumentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset + 3

.BleedOutside = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.DocumentPreferences.

DocumentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset + 3

CHAPTER 3: Documents Printing a Document 49

Rem If any bleed area is greater than zero, then print the bleed marks.

If ((.BleedBottom = 0) And (.BleedTop = 0) And (.BleedInside = 0) _

And (.BleedOutside = 0)) Then

.BleedMarks = True

Else

.BleedMarks = False

End If

.ColorBars = True

.CropMarks = True

.IncludeSlugToPrint = False

.MarkLineWeight = idMarkLineWeight.idP125pt

.MarkOffset = 6

Rem .MarkType = MarkTypes.default

.PageInformationMarks = True

.RegistrationMarks = True

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem Properties corresponding to the controls in the

Rem Output panel of the Print dialog box.

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

.Negative = True

.ColorOutput = idColorOutputModes.idSeparations

Rem Note the lowercase "i" in "Builtin"

.Trapping = idTrapping.idApplicationBuiltin

.Screening = "175 lpi/2400 dpi"

.Flip = idFlip.idNone

Rem The following options are only applicable if trapping is set to

Rem idTrapping.idAdobeInRIP.

If .Trapping = idTrapping.idAdobeInRIP Then

.PrintBlack = True

.PrintCyan = True

.PrintMagenta = True

.PrintYellow = True

End If

Rem Only change the ink angle and frequency when you want to override the

Rem screening set by the screening specified by the screening property.

Rem .BlackAngle = 45

Rem .BlackFrequency = 175

Rem .CyanAngle = 15

Rem .CyanFrequency = 175

Rem .MagentaAngle = 75

Rem .MagentaFreqency = 175

Rem .YellowAngle = 0

Rem .YellowFrequency = 175

Rem The following properties are not needed (because colorOutput

Rem is set to separations).

Rem .CompositeAngle = 45

Rem .CompositeFrequency = 175

Rem .SimulateOverprint = false

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem Properties corresponding to the controls in the Graphics

Rem panel of the Print dialog box.

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

.SendImageData = idImageDataTypes.idAllImageData

.FontDownloading = idFontDownloading.idComplete

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

.DownloadPPDFonts = True

.DataFormat = idDataFormat.idBinary

.PostScriptLevel = idPostScriptLevels.idLevel3

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting a Document as PDF 50

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem Properties corresponding to the controls in the Color

Rem Management panel of the Print dialog box.

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem If the UseColorManagement property of myInDesign.ColorSettings is false,

Rem attempting to set the following properties will return an error.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

.SourceSpace = SourceSpaces.useDocument

.Intent = RenderingIntent.useColorSettings

.CRD = ColorRenderingDictionary.useDocument

.Profile = Profile.postscriptCMS

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Rem Properties corresponding to the controls in the

Rem Advanced panel of the Print dialog box.

Rem-----------------------------------------------------------------------

.OPIImageReplacement = False

.OmitBitmaps = False

.OmitEPS = False

.OmitPDF = False

Rem The following line assumes that you have a flattener

Rem preset named "high quality flattener".

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

.FlattenerPresetName = "high quality flattener"

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.IgnoreSpreadOverrides = False

End With

Printing with printer presets

To print a document using a printer preset, include the printer preset in the print command.

Exporting a Document as PDF

InDesign scripting offers full control over the creation of PDF files from your page-layout documents.

Exporting to PDF

The following script exports the current document as PDF, using the current PDF export options. (For the

complete script, see ExportPDF.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Export idExportFormat.idPDFType, "c:\myTestDocument.pdf",

False

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting a Document as PDF 51

The following script fragment shows how to export to PDF using a PDF export preset. (For the complete

script, see ExportPDFWithPreset.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Export idExportFormat.idPDFType, "c:\myTestDocument.pdf",

False, myInDesign.PDFExportPresets.Item("[Press]")

Setting PDF export options

The following script sets the PDF export options before exporting. (For the complete script, see

ExportPDFWithOptions.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

With myInDesign.PDFExportPreferences

Rem Basic PDF output options.

.PageRange = idPageRange.idAllPages

.AcrobatCompatibility = idAcrobatCompatibility.idAcrobat6

.ExportGuidesAndGrids = False

.ExportLayers = False

.ExportNonprintingObjects = False

.ExportReaderSpreads = False

.GenerateThumbnails = False

On Error Resume Next

.IgnoreSpreadOverrides = False

.IncludeICCProfiles = True

On Error GoTo 0

.IncludeBookmarks = True

.IncludeHyperlinks = True

.IncludeSlugWithPDF = False

.IncludeStructure = False

.InteractiveElementsOption = idInteractiveElementsOptions.idDoNotInclude

Rem Setting subsetFontsBelow to zero disallows font subsetting

Rem set subsetFontsBelow to some other value to use font subsetting.

.SubsetFontsBelow = 0

Rem Bitmap compression/sampling/quality options

Rem (note the additional "s" in "compression").

.ColorBitmapCompression = idBitmapCompression.idZip

.ColorBitmapQuality = idCompressionQuality.idEightBit

.ColorBitmapSampling = idSampling.idNone

Rem ThresholdToCompressColor is not needed in this example.

Rem ColorBitmapSamplingDPI is not needed when

Rem ColorBitmapSampling is set to none.

.GrayscaleBitmapCompression = idBitmapCompression.idZip

.GrayscaleBitmapQuality = idCompressionQuality.idEightBit

.GrayscaleBitmapSampling = idSampling.idNone

Rem ThresholdToCompressGray is not needed in this

Rem example.

Rem GrayscaleBitmapSamplingDPI is not needed when

Rem GrayscaleBitmapSampling is set to none.

.MonochromeBitmapCompression = idBitmapCompression.idZip

.MonochromeBitmapSampling = idSampling.idNone

Rem ThresholdToCompressMonochrome is not needed in this example.

Rem MonochromeBitmapSamplingDPI is not needed when

Rem MonochromeBitmapSampling is set to none.

Rem Other compression options.

.CompressionType = idPDFCompressionType.idCompressNone

.CompressTextAndLineArt = True

.CropImagesToFrames = True

.OptimizePDF = True

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting a Document as PDF 52

Rem Printers marks and prepress options.

Rem Get the bleed amounts from the document's bleed.

.BleedBottom = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.DocumentPreferences.

DocumentBleedBottomOffset

.BleedTop = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.DocumentPreferences.

DocumentBleedTopOffset

.BleedInside = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.DocumentPreferences.

DocumentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset

.BleedOutside = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.DocumentPreferences.

DocumentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset

Rem If any bleed area is greater than zero, then export the bleed marks.

If ((.BleedBottom = 0) And (.BleedTop = 0) And (.BleedInside = 0) And

(.BleedOutside = 0)) Then

.BleedMarks = True

Else

.BleedMarks = False

End If

.ColorBars = True

Rem ColorTileSize and GrayTileSize are only used when

Rem the export format is set to JPEG2000.

Rem .ColorTileSize = 256

Rem .GrayTileSize = 256

.CropMarks = True

.OmitBitmaps = False

.OmitEPS = False

.OmitPDF = False

.PageInformationMarks = True

.PageMarksOffset = 12

.PDFColorSpace = idPDFColorSpace.idUnchangedColorSpace

.PDFMarkType = idMarkTypes.idDefault

.PrinterMarkWeight = idPDFMarkWeight.idP125pt

.RegistrationMarks = True

On Error Resume Next

.SimulateOverprint = False

On Error GoTo 0

.UseDocumentBleedWithPDF = True

Rem Set viewPDF to true to open the PDF in Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

.ViewPDF = False

End With

Rem Now export the document. You'll have to fill in your own file path.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Export idExportFormat.idPDFType, "c:\myTestDocument.pdf",

False

Exporting to grayscale PDF

An InDesign document that contains colors can be exported to a color PDF or to a grayscale PDF. You can

modify the script in the preceding “Setting PDF export options” on page 51 section to export in grayscale

by changing the idPDFColorSpace option from idUnchangedColorSpace to gray. For example:

With app.pdfExportPreferences

.PDFColorSpace = idPDFColorSpace.idGRAY

End With

(For a different script that creates a small document containing color and exports it to PDF in grayscale, see

GreyscalePDFforIDS.)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting a Document as PDF 53

Exporting a range of pages to PDF

The following script shows how to export a specified page range as PDF. (For the complete script, see

ExportPageRangeAsPDF.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Enter the names of the pages you want to export in the following line.

Rem Note that the page name is not necessarily the index of the page in the

Rem document (e.g., the first page of a document whose page numbering starts

Rem with page 21 will be "21", not 1).

myInDesign.PDFExportPreferences.PageRange = "1-3, 6, 9"

Rem Fill in your own file path.

myFile = "c:\myTestFile.pdf"

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Export idExportFormat.idPDFType, myFile, False

Exporting individual pages to PDF

The following script exports each page from a document as an individual PDF file. (For the complete script,

see ExportEachPageAsPDF.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count <> 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Rem VBScript doesn't have a native "get folder" statement, so we'll use

Rem InDesign's JavaScript to display a folder browser.

myJavaScript = "myFolder = Folder.selectDialog(""Choose a Folder"");

myFolderName = myFolder.fsName;"

Rem Run the string "myJavaScript" as a JavaScript

myFolderName = myInDesign.DoScript(myJavaScript,

idScriptLanguage.idJavascript)

If myFileSystemObject.FolderExists(myFolderName) Then

myExportPages myInDesign, myDocument, myFolderName

End If

Function myExportPages(myInDesign, myDocument, myFolderName)

myDocumentName = myDocument.Name

Set myDialog = myInDesign.Dialogs.Add

With myDialog

.Name = "ExportPages"

With .DialogColumns.Add

With .DialogRows.Add

With .StaticTexts.Add

.StaticLabel = "Base Name:"

End With

Set myBaseNameField = .TextEditboxes.Add

myBaseNameField.EditContents = myDocumentName

myBaseNameField.MinWidth = 160

End With

myResult = myDialog.Show

If myResult = True Then

myBaseName = myBaseNameField.EditContents

Rem Remove the dialog box from memory.

myDialog.Destroy

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.Pages.Count

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting a Document as PDF 54

myPageName = myDocument.Pages.Item(myCounter).Name

myInDesign.PDFExportPreferences.PageRange = myPageName

Rem Generate a file path from the folder name,

Rem the base document name, and the page name.

Rem Replace the colons in the page name (e.g., "Sec1:1") wtih

Rem underscores.

myPageName = Replace(myPageName, ":", "_")

myFilePath = myFolderName & "\" & myBaseName & "_" &

myPageName & ".pdf"

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idPDFType, myFilePath, False

Else

myDialog.Destroy

End If

End Function

Exporting PDF with interactive features

The following script exports a document with interactive features as a PDF. (For the complete script, see

ExportInteractivePDF.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument," add page transitions...

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.Spreads.Count

myDocument.Spreads.Item(myCounter).PageTransitionType =

idPageTransitionTypeOptions.idWipeTransition

myDocument.Spreads.Item(myCounter).PageTransitionDirection =

idPageTransitionDirectionOptions.idDown

myDocument.Spreads.Item(myCounter).PageTransitionDuration =

idPageTransitionDurationOptions.idMedium

myInDesign.InteractivePDFExportPreferences.FlipPages = True

myInDesign.InteractivePDFExportPreferences.FlipPagesSpeed = 5

myInDesign.InteractivePDFExportPreferences.OpenInFullScreen = True

myInDesign.InteractivePDFExportPreferences.InteractivePDFInteractiveElementsOption =

idInteractivePDFInteractiveElementsOptions.idIncludeAllMedia

Rem Export the document to PDF.

Rem You'll have to fill in your own file path.

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idInteractivePDF, "C:\InteractivePDF.pdf", False

Exporting as a PDF form

To create a PDF that contains form fields, you can either save the InDesign document as PDF, then open it

in Acrobat and apply form fields, or apply text fields, radio buttons, signature fields, and so on directly in

InDesign and export the document to PDF as a form with no additional Acrobat editing required.

The following script applies form elements to an InDesign document and exports the document as a PDF

form. (For the complete script, see ExportInteractivePDFForm.)

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting a Document as PDF 55

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

REM Create a textframe as firstname label

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 15, 20, 35)

myTextFrame.Contents = "FirstName: "

REM Create a textbox as firstname input box

Set myTextBox = myPage.TextBoxes.Add

myTextBox.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 40, 20, 75)

REM Create another textframe as lastname label

Set myTextFrame1 = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame1.GeometricBounds = Array(30, 15, 25, 35)

myTextFrame1.Contents = "LastName: "

REM Create another textbox as lastname input box

Set myTextBox = myPage.TextBoxes.Add

myTextBox.GeometricBounds = Array(30, 40, 25, 75)

REM Create a TextFrame to introduce the following checkbox

Set myTextFrame2 = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame2.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 80, 20, 95)

myTextFrame2.Contents = "Hobby: "

REM Create some CheckBoxes

Set myCheckBox = myPage.CheckBoxes.Add

myCheckBox.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 100, 20, 105)

myCheckBox.Name = "Football "

Set myTextFrame3 = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame3.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 107, 20, 125)

myTextFrame3.Contents = "Football "

Set myCheckBox1 = myPage.CheckBoxes.Add

myCheckBox1.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 130, 20, 135)

myCheckBox1.Name = "Basketball "

Set myTextFrame4 = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame4.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 137, 20, 160)

myTextFrame4.Contents = "Basketball "

Set myCheckBox2 = myPage.CheckBoxes.Add

myCheckBox2.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 165, 20, 170)

myCheckBox2.Name = "Pingpong "

Set myTextFrame5 = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame5.GeometricBounds = Array(15, 172, 20, 193)

myTextFrame5.Contents = "Pingpong "

REM Create a button for submit

Set submitButton = myPage.Buttons.Add

submitButton.GeometricBounds = Array(45, 15, 35, 35)

submitButton.Name = "Submit"

REM Fill contents to the button

Set myRightArrow1 = submitButton.States.Item(1).Polygons.Add

myRightArrow1.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Green")

myRightArrow1.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(15, 35),Array(35,40),Array(15,

45))

REM Add the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverState1 = submitButton.States.Add

REM Add a shadow to the polygon in the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverArrow1 = myRolloverState1.Polygons.Add

myRolloverArrow1.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Green")

myRolloverArrow1.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(15, 35),Array(35,40),Array(15,

45))

Set myFillTransparencySettings1 = myRolloverArrow1.FillTransparencySettings

myFillTransparencySettings1.DropShadowSettings.Mode = idShadowMode.idDrop

myFillTransparencySettings1.DropShadowSettings.Angle = 90

myFillTransparencySettings1.DropShadowSettings.XOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings1.DropShadowSettings.YOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings1.DropShadowSettings.Size = 6

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting Pages as EPS 56

REM Add a shadow to the polygon in the Click state.

Set myClickState1 = submitButton.States.Add

Set myClickArrow1 = myClickState1.Polygons.Add

myClickArrow1.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Blue")

myClickArrow1.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(15,

35),Array(35,40),Array(15,45))

REM Set the behavior for the button.

Set SubmitForm = submitButton.SubmitFormBehaviors.Add

SubmitForm.BehaviorEvent = idBehaviorEvents.idMouseUp

REM Create a button for print

Set printButton = myPage.Buttons.Add

printButton.GeometricBounds = Array(45, 40, 35, 60)

REM Fill contents to the button

Set myRightArrow2 = printButton.States.Item(1).Polygons.Add

myRightArrow2.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Red")

myRightArrow2.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(40, 35),Array(60,40),Array(40,

45))

REM Add the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverState2 = printButton.States.Add

REM Add a shadow to the polygon in the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverArrow2 = myRolloverState2.Polygons.Add

myRolloverArrow2.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Red")

myRolloverArrow2.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(40, 35),Array(60,40),Array(40,

45))

Set myFillTransparencySettings2 = myRolloverArrow2.FillTransparencySettings

myFillTransparencySettings2.DropShadowSettings.Mode = idShadowMode.idDrop

myFillTransparencySettings2.DropShadowSettings.Angle = 90

myFillTransparencySettings2.DropShadowSettings.XOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings2.DropShadowSettings.YOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings2.DropShadowSettings.Size = 6

REM Add a shadow to the polygon in the Click state.

Set myClickState2 = printButton.States.Add

Set myClickArrow2 = myClickState2.Polygons.Add

myClickArrow2.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Blue")

myClickArrow2.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(40,

35),Array(60,40),Array(40,45))

REM Set the behavior for the button.

Set PrintForm = printButton.PrintFormBehaviors.Add

PrintForm.BehaviorEvent = idBehaviorEvents.idMouseUp

REM Export the document to PDF.

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idInteractivePDF, "C:\SubmitForm.pdf", False

Exporting Pages as EPS

When you export a document as EPS, InDesign saves each page of the file as a separate EPS graphic (an

EPS, by definition, can contain only a single page). If you export more than a single page, InDesign

appends the index of the page to the filename. The index of the page in the document is not necessarily

the name of the page (as defined by the section options for the section containing the page).

Exporting all pages to EPS

The following script exports the pages of the active document to one or more EPS files. (For the complete

script, see ExportAsEPS.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myFile = "c:\myTestFile.eps"

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Export idExportFormat.idEPSType, myFile, False

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting Pages as EPS 57

Exporting a range of pages to EPS

To control which pages are exported as EPS, set the page range property of the EPS export preferences to

a page-range string containing the page or pages you want to export, before exporting. (For the complete

script, see ExportPageRangeAsEPS.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Enter the name of the page you want to export in the following line.

Rem Note that the page name is not necessarily the index of the page in the

Rem document (e.g., the first page of a document whose page numbering starts

Rem with page 21 will be "21", not 1).

myInDesign.EPSExportPreferences.PageRange = "1-3, 6, 9"

Rem Fill in your own file path.

myFile = "c:\myTestFile.eps"

myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Export idExportFormat.idEPSType, myFile, False

Exporting as EPS with file naming

The following script exports each page as an EPS, but it offers more control over file naming than the

earlier example. (For the complete script, see ExportEachPageAsEPS.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count <> 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Rem VBScript doesn't have a native "get folder" statement, so we'll use

Rem InDesign's JavaScript to display a folder browser.

myJavaScript = "myFolder = Folder.selectDialog(""Choose a Folder"");

myFolderName = myFolder.fsName;"

Rem Run the string "myJavaScript" as a JavaScript

myFolderName = myInDesign.DoScript(myJavaScript,

idScriptLanguage.idJavascript)

If myFileSystemObject.FolderExists(myFolderName) Then

myExportEPSPages myInDesign, myDocument, myFolderName

End If

Function myExportEPSPages(myInDesign, myDocument, myFolderName)

myDocumentName = myDocument.Name

Set myDialog = myInDesign.Dialogs.Add

With myDialog

.Name = "ExportPages"

With .DialogColumns.Add

With .DialogRows.Add

With .StaticTexts.Add

.StaticLabel = "Base Name:"

End With

Set myBaseNameField = .TextEditboxes.Add

myBaseNameField.EditContents = myDocumentName

myBaseNameField.MinWidth = 160

End With

myResult = myDialog.Show

If myResult = True Then

myBaseName = myBaseNameField.EditContents

Rem Remove the dialog box from memory.

myDialog.Destroy

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.Pages.Count

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting to EPub 58

myPageName = myDocument.Pages.Item(myCounter).Name

myInDesign.EPSExportPreferences.PageRange = myPageName

Rem Generate a file path from the folder name, the base document

Rem name, and the page name.

Rem Replace the colons in the page name (e.g., "Sec1:1") with

Rem underscores.

myPageName = Replace(myPageName, ":", "_")

myFilePath = myFolderName & "\" & myBaseName & "_" & _

myPageName & ".eps"

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idEPSType, myFilePath, False

Else

myDialog.Destroy

End If

End Function

Exporting to EPub

InDesign scripting offers full control over the creation of EPub files from your page-layout documents.

Exporting the current document

The following script exports the current document as EPub, using default options. (For the complete script,

see ExportEPub.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idEPUB, "C:\test\ExportEPub.epub", False

To give the user more control over the the creation of EPub files, specify true for the third parameter. This

opens the EPub export options dialog.

Setting EPub export options

The following script sets the EPub export options before exporting. (For the complete script, see

ExportEPubWithOptions.)

Rem Sets EPub export options, then exports the active document as EPub.

With myDocument.EPubExportPreferences

Rem Apply image alignment to anchored object settings.

.ApplyImageAlignmentToAnchoredObjectSettings = False

Rem The unit of space.

.SpaceUnit = idSpaceUnitType.idCssEm

Rem The unit of margin.

.MarginUnit = idSpaceUnitType.idCssEm

Rem Bottom margin of the epub.

.BottomMargin = 5

Rem Left margin of the epub.

.LeftMargin = 5

Rem Right margin of the epub.

.RightMargin = 5

Rem Top margin of the epub.

.TopMargin = 5

Rem If true, break InDesign document into smaller pieces when generating epub.

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting to EPub 59

.BreakDocument = False

Rem The bullet export option.

.BulletExportOption = idBulletListExportOption.idAsText

.CSSExportOption = idStyleSheetExportOption.idEmbeddedCSS

.CustomImageSizeOption = idImageSizeOption.idSizeRelativeToPageWidth

.EmbedFont = True

.EpubCover = idEpubCover.idFirstPage

Rem This will take effect only when EpubCover is set to idExternalImage.

Rem .CoverImageFile = "C:\conver.jpg"

.EpubPublisher = "Adobe Devtech"

Rem The export order.

.ExportOrder = idExportOrder.idLayoutOrder

Rem If true, output foornoteimmediately after its paragraph.

.FootnoteFollowParagraph = False

Rem If true, export epub in XHTML format. Otherwise, in DTBook format.

.Format = True

.GIFOptionsInterlaced = True

.GIFOptionsPalette = idGIFOptionsPalette.idWindowsPalette

Rem The epub unique identifier, like ISBN.

.Id = "123"

Rem Ignore object level image conversion settings.

.IgnoreObjectConversionSettings = True

Rem Alignment applied to images.

.ImageAlignment = idImageAlignmentType.idAlignCenter

Rem The file format to use for converted images.

Rem Valid only when copy optimized images and/or copy formatted images is true.

.ImageConversion = idImageConversion.idAutomatic

.ImageExportResolution = idImageResolution.idPpi150

Rem Image page break settings to be used with objects.

.ImagePageBreak = idImagePageBreakType.idPageBreakAfter

Rem Space After applied to images.

.ImageSpaceAfter = 2

Rem Space Before applied to images.

.ImageSpaceBefore = 2

Rem If true, include CSS definition.

.IncludeCSSDefinition = True

Rem If true, output document metadata into epub.

.IncludeDocumentMetadata = True

.JPEGOptionsFormat = idJPEGOptionsFormat.idBaselineEncoding

.JPEGOptionsQuality = idJPEGOptionsQuality.idHigh

Rem The PNG compression level.

.Level = 5

.NumberedListExportOption = idNumberedListExportOption.idAsText

Rem If true, format image based on layout appearence.

CHAPTER 3: Documents Exporting to EPub 60

.PreserveLayoutAppearence = True

Rem If true, output local style override.

.PreserveLocalOverride = True

.StripSoftReturn = True

Rem If true, image page break settings will be used in objects.

.UseImagePageBreak = True

Rem Use InDesign TOC style to generate epub TOC.

.UseTocStyle = True

.ViewDocumentAfterExport = False

End With

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idEPUB, "C:\test\ExportEPubWithOptions.epub", False

4Working with Layers

InDesign’s layers are the key to controlling the stacking order of objects in your layout. You can think of

layers as transparent planes stacked on top of each other. You also can use layers as an organizational tool,

putting one type of content on a given layer or set of layers.

A document can contain one or more layers, and each document includes at least one layer. Layers are

document wide, not bound to specific pages or spreads.

This chapter covers scripting techniques related to layers in an InDesign layout and discusses common

operations involving layers.

Understanding the Layer Object Model

The following figure shows the layer object model. Note the following about the diagram:

It focuses on the location of a layer and its contents in the context of the object hierarchy of a

document; it does not attempt to show all the other ways a script might work with the content of a

layer (e.g., you can get a reference to a text-frame object from a story, text object, page, or spread, in

addition to finding it inside a layer object).

It uses the JavaScript form of the object names; however, the object hierarchy is the same in all

scripting languages.

The basic properties of a layer are shown in the column at the left of the figure; the objects that may

be contained by the layer object, at the right.

It is important to note the distinction between the page-items collection and the AllPageItems

collection. The former is a collection containing only the top-level page items in a layer. If a page item is

inside a group, for example, it will not appear in the PageItems collection. In contrast, the AllPageItems

collection is a flattened collection of all page items assigned to the layer, regardless of their location in the

object hierarchy. A page item inside a group on the layer would appear in the AllPageItems collection.

Similarly, the AllGraphics property contains all graphics stored in page items assigned to the layer,

regardless of their location in the object hierarchy.

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

CHAPTER 4: Working with Layers Scripting Layers 62

Scripting Layers

In InDesign’s user interface, you add, delete, rearrange, duplicate, and merge layers using the Layers panel.

You also can change the layer to which a selected page item is assigned by dragging and dropping the

layer proxy in the Layers panel. (For more on assigning objects to a layer, see the InDesign online help.)

This section shows how to accomplish these tasks using InDesign scripting.

Creating layers

The following script fragment shows how to create a new layer. (For the complete script, see AddLayer.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument"...

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add()

When you create a new layer, the layer appears above all other layers in the document.

Referring to layers

InDesign scripting offers several ways to refer to a layer object. This section describes the most common

ways to refer to layers.

CHAPTER 4: Working with Layers Scripting Layers 63

Getting the active layer

The active layer is the layer on which new objects are created. You can get the active layer using scripting,

as shown in the following script fragment. (For the complete script, see ActiveLayer.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument"...

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myLayer = myDocument.ActiveLayer

Referring to layers by layer index

You can get a reference to a layer using the index of the layer in the layers collection of a document. The

script fragment below uses the layer index to iterate through layers. (For the complete script, see

HideOtherLayers.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument"...

Set myTargetLayer = myDocument.ActiveLayer

For myCounter = 1 to myDocument.Layers.Count

Rem If the layer is not the target layer, hide it.

If myDocument.Layers.Item(myCounter).Name <> myTargetLayer.Name Then

myDocument.Layers.Item(myCounter).Visible = False

End If

Note that you can use negative numbers to refer to the layers in the layers collection of a document. Layer

-1 refers to the last (bottom) layer in the collection.

Referring to layers by layer name

You also can get a reference to a layer using the name of the layer, as shown in the following script

fragment. (For the complete script, see LayerName.)

Rem Given a reference to the InDesign Application object "myInDesign"...

Set myLayer = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Layers.Item("Text Layer")

Using relative references

Given a layer, you can refer to the layer above using the PreviousItem method, or refer to the layer below

using the NextItem method, as shown in the following script fragment. (For the complete script, see

RelativeLayerReferences.) Both methods take a reference layer as a parameter.

Rem Given a document "myDocument"...

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item(5)

myDocument.activeLayer = myLayer

Set myNextLayer = myDocument.Layers.NextItem(myLayer)

Set myPreviousLayer = myDocument.Layers.PreviousItem(myLayer)

myString = "The layer below the target layer is " & myNextLayer.name & VBCr

myString = myString & "The layer above the target layer is " & myPreviousLayer.name

MsgBox(myString)

The PreviousItem and NextItem methods return an invalid layer reference if the specified (next or

previous) layer does not exist, rather than generating an error.

CHAPTER 4: Working with Layers Scripting Layers 64

Referring to ranges of layers

To refer to a series of layers, you can use the ItemByRange method. The following script fragment shows

how to get a reference to a range of layers, then set a property on all layers in the range. (For the complete

script, see HideLayersAbove.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument"...

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item(5)

myDocument.ActiveLayer = myLayer

Rem Now hide all of the layers above the current layer.

Set myLayers = myDocument.Layers.ItemByRange(1, myTargetLayer.Index - 1)

Rem Iterate through the range of layers.

For myCounter = 1 To myLayers.Count

myLayers.Item(myCounter).Visible = False

Deleting layers

Use the Delete method to delete a layer from a specific document, as shown in the following script

fragment. (For the complete script, see DeleteLayer.) You cannot delete the last remaining layer in a

document.

Rem Given a document "myDocument" containing a layer named "Delete This Layer"...

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Delete This Layer")

myLayer.Delete()

Moving layers

Use the move method to change the stacking order of layers in a document, as shown in the following

script fragment. (For the complete script, see MoveLayer.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument" containing at least two layers...

Set myLayerA = myDocument.Layers.Item(1)

Set myLayerB = myDocument.Layers.ITem(2)

myLayerA.Move idLocationOptions.idAfter,myLayerB

Duplicating layers

Use the duplicate method to create a copy of a layer, as shown in the following script fragment. (For the

complete script, see DuplicateLayer.)

Rem Given a layer "myLayer"...

Set myNewLayer = myLayer.Duplicate()

Merging layers

The following script fragment shows how to merge two or more layers, including the page items assigned

to them, into a single layer. (For the complete script, see MergeLayers.)

Rem Given the layers "myLayer1" and "myLayer2"...

myLayer1.Merge(myLayer2)

CHAPTER 4: Working with Layers Scripting Layers 65

Assigning page items to layers

You can assign a page item to a layer by either referring to the layer when you create the page item (the

add method of all page items can take a layer as a parameter) or setting the ItemLayer property of an

existing page item. The following script fragment shows how to assign a page item to a layer using both

techniques. (For the complete script, see AssignPageItemsToLayers.)

Rem Given a reference to a page "myPage," and a document "myDocument,"

Rem create a text frame on a layer named "TextFrames"

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add(myDocument.Layers.Item("TextFrames"))

myTextFrame.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Rem Create a rectangle on the current target layer.

Set myRectangle = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myRectangle.geometricBounds = Array(72, 144, 144, 216)

Rem Move the rectangle to a specific layer.

myRectangle.ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Rectangles")

Rem Create a series of ovals.

For myCounter = 72 To 172 Step 10

Set myOval = myPage.Ovals.Add

myOval.geometricBounds = Array(216, myCounter, 226, myCounter + 10)

Rem Move all of the ovals on the page to a specific layer.

For myCounter = 1 To myPage.Ovals.Count

myPage.Ovals.Item(myCounter).ItemLayer = myDocument.Layers.Item("Ovals")

Setting layer properties

Layer properties control the layer name, color, visibility, and other attributes of a layer. This section shows

how to work with layer properties.

Setting basic layer properties

Basic layer properties include the name of the layer, the highlight color of the layer, the visibility of the

layer, and whether text objects on the layer ignore text-wrap settings. The following script fragment shows

how to set these basic properties of a layer. (For the complete script, see BasicLayerProperties.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument"...

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add

myLayer.Name = "myLayer"

myLayer.LayerColor = idUIColors.idCHARCOAL

myLayer.IgnoreWrap = False

myLayer.Visible = True

CHAPTER 4: Working with Layers Scripting Layers 66

Working with layer guides

Guides can be assigned to a specific layer, just like page items. You can choose to show or hide the guides

for a layer, and you can lock or unlock the guides on a layer. The following script fragment shows how to

work with the guides on a layer. (For the complete script, see LayerGuides.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" containing at least one guide...

Rem Create a new layer.

Set myLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add

Rem Move all of the guides on the page to the new layer.

For myCounter = 1 to myPaqe.Guides.Count

myPage.Guides.Item(myCounter).ItemLayer = myLayer

myLayer.LockGuides = True

myLayer.ShowGuides = True

Controlling layer printing and visibility

You can control the printing and visibility of objects on a layer, as shown in the following script fragment.

(For the complete script, see LayerControl.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument" containing layers named "Background,"

Rem "Language A,", "Language B," and "Language C," export the "Background"

Rem layer and each "Language" layer to PDF as separate PDF files...

Set myFileSystemObject = New FileSystemObject

Set myFolder = myFileSystemObject.GetSpecialFolder(TemporaryFolder)

myPath = myFolder.ParentFolder.ParentFolder.Path & "\Desktop\"

For myCounter = 1 To 3

Select Case myCounter

Case 1:

myVersion = "Language A"

Case 2:

myVersion = "Language B"

Case 3:

myVersion = "Language C"

End Select

For myLanguageCounter = 1 To myDocument.Layers.Count

If myDocument.Layers.Item(myLanguageCounter).name = myVersion Or

myDocument.Layers.Item(myLanguageCounter).name = "Background" Then

myDocument.Layers.Item(myLanguageCounter).Visible = True

myDocument.Layers.Item(myLanguageCounter).Printable = True

Else

myDocument.Layers.Item(myLanguageCounter).Visible = False

myDocument.Layers.Item(myLanguageCounter).Printable = False

End If

myFilePath = myPath & myVersion & ".pdf"

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idPDFType, myFilePath

CHAPTER 4: Working with Layers Scripting Layers 67

Locking layers

Layers can be locked, which means the page items on the layers cannot be edited. The following script

fragment shows how to lock and unlock layers. (For the complete script, see LockLayersBelow.)

Rem Given a document "myDocument"...

Set myTargetLayer = myDocument.ActiveLayer

Set myLayers = myDocument.Layers.ItemByRange(myDocument.Layers.Count,

myTargetLayer.Index + 1)

For myCounter = 1 To myLayers.Count

myLayers.Item(myCounter).Locked = True

5Text and Type

Entering, editing, and formatting text are the tasks that make up the bulk of the time spent working on

most InDesign documents. Because of this, automating text and type operations can result in large

productivity gains.

This chapter shows how to script the most common operations involving text and type. The sample scripts

in this chapter are presented in order of complexity, starting with very simple scripts and building toward

more complex operations.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create, install,

and run a script. We also assume that you have some knowledge of working with text in InDesign and

understand basic typesetting terms.

Entering and Importing Text

This section covers the process of getting text into your InDesign documents. Just as you can type text into

text frames and place text files using the InDesign user interface, you can create text frames, insert text

into a story, or place text files on pages using scripting.

Creating a text frame

The following script creates a text frame, sets the bounds (size) of the frame, then enters text in the frame

(for the complete script, see the MakeTextFrame tutorial script):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

Rem Set the bounds of the text frame.

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 288, 288)

Rem Enter text in the text frame.

myTextFrame.Contents = "This is some example text."

The following script shows how to create a text frame that is the size of the area defined by the page

margins. myGetBounds is a useful function that you can add to your own scripts, and it appears in many

other examples in this chapter. (For the complete script, see MakeTextFrameWithinMargins.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Rem Create a text frame on the current page.

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

Rem Set the bounds of the text frame.

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

Rem Enter text in the text frame.

myTextFrame.Contents = "This is some example text."

The following script fragment shows the myGetBounds function.

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Updated Added section “Fitting text frames to content” on page 87.

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Entering and Importing Text 69

Function myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

myPageWidth = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth

myPageHeight = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight

If myPage.Side = idPageSideOptions.idLeftHand Then

myX2 = myPage.MarginPreferences.Left

myX1 = myPage.MarginPreferences.Right

Else

myX1 = myPage.MarginPreferences.Left

myX2 = myPage.MarginPreferences.Right

End If

myY1 = myPage.marginPreferences.Top

myX2 = myPageWidth - myX2

myY2 = myPageHeight - myPage.MarginPreferences.Bottom

myGetBounds = Array(myY1, myX1, myY2, myX2)

End Function

Adding text

To add text to a story, use the contents property of the insertion point at the location where you want to

insert the text. The following sample script uses this technique to add text at the end of a story (for the

complete script, see AddText):

set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Add text at the end of the text in the text frame.

Rem To do this, we'll use the last insertion point in the story.

Rem (vbCr is a return character, "&" concatenates two strings.)

myNewText = "This is a new paragraph of example text."

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents = vbCr & myNewText

Stories and text frames

All text in an InDesign layout is part of a story, and every story can contain one or more text frames.

Creating a text frame creates a story, and stories can contain multiple text frames.

In the preceding script, we added text at the end of the parent story rather than at the end of the text

frame. This is because the end of the text frame might not be the end of the story; that depends on the

length and formatting of the text. By adding the text to the end of the parent story, we can guarantee that

the text is added, regardless of the composition of the text in the text frame.

You always can get a reference to the story using the ParentTextFrame property of a text frame. It can be

useful to work with the text of a story instead of the text of a text frame; the following script demonstrates

the difference. The alerts shows that the text frame does not contain the overset text, but the story does

(for the complete script, see StoryAndTextFrame).

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Now add text beyond the end of the text frame.

myTextFrame.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents = vbCr & "This is some overset text"

myString = myTextFrame.Contents

MsgBox ("The last paragraph in this alert should be ""This is some overset text"". Is

it?" & vbCr & myString)

myString = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Contents

MsgBox ("The last paragraph in this alert should be ""This is some overset text"". Is

it?" & vbCr & myString)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Entering and Importing Text 70

For more on understanding the relationships between text objects in an InDesign document, see

“Understanding Text Objects” on page 78.

Replacing text

The following script replaces a word with a phrase by changing the contents of the appropriate object (for

the complete script, see ReplaceWord):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Replace the third word with the phrase

Rem "a little bit of".

myTextFrame.ParentStory.Words.Item(3).contents = "a little bit of"

The following script replaces the text in a paragraph (for the complete script, see ReplaceText):

Rem Replace the text in the second paragraph without replacing

Rem the return character at the end of the paragraph. To do this,

Rem we'll use the ItemByRange method.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Set myStartCharacter = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(2).Characters.Item(1)

Set myEndCharacter = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(2).Characters.Item(-2)

myTextFrame.Texts.ItemByRange(myStartCharacter, myEndCharacter).Item(1).Contents =

"This text replaces the text in paragraph 2."

In the preceding script, we used the ItemByRange method to get a reference to the text of the paragraph

(excluding the return character at the end of the paragraph), as a single text object. We excluded the

return character because deleting the return might change the paragraph style applied to the paragraph.

To use the ItemByRange method, we used the texts collection of the story, but we supplied two

characters—the starting and ending characters of the paragraph—as parameters. If we used

myTextFrame.ParentStory.Characters.ItemByRange, InDesign would return a collection of

Character objects. We wanted one Text object, so we could replace the contents in one action.

Inserting special characters

Because most VBScript editors support Unicode, you can simply enter Unicode characters in text strings

that you send to InDesign. The following script shows several ways to enter special characters. (We

omitted the myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68”

or in the SpecialCharacters tutorial script.)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Placing Text and Setting Text-Import Preferences 71

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Entering special characters directly.

myTextFrame.contents = "Registered trademark: Æ" & vbCr & "Copyright: ©" & vbCr &

"Trademark: ?" & vbCr & ""

Rem Entering special characters by their Unicode glyph ID

Rem value ("&H" indicates a hexadecimal number):

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents = "Not equal to: " &

ChrW(&H2260) & vbCr & "Square root: " & ChrW(&H221A) & vbCr & "Paragraph: " & ChrW(&HB6)

& vbCr

Rem Entering InDesign special characters by their enumerations:

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents = "Page number marker:"

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idAutoPageNumber

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents = vbCr

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents = "Section symbol:"

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idSectionSymbol

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents = vbCr

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents = "En dash:"

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents =

idSpecialCharacters.idEnDash

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).contents = vbCr

The easiest way to find the Unicode ID for a character is to use InDesign’s Glyphs palette: move the cursor

over a character in the palette, and InDesign displays its Unicode value. To learn more about Unicode, visit

http://www.unicode.org.

Placing Text and Setting Text-Import Preferences

In addition to entering text strings, you can place text files created using word processors and text editors.

The following script shows how to place a text file on a document page (for the complete script, see

PlaceTextFile):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

myX = myPage.MarginPreferences.Left

myY = myPage.MarginPreferences.Top

Rem Autoflow a text file on the current page.

Rem Parameters for Page.place():

Rem File as File object,

Rem [PlacePoint as Array [x, y]]

Rem [DestinationLayer as Layer object]

Rem [ShowingOptions as Boolean = False]

Rem [Autoflowing as Boolean = False]

Rem You'll have to fill in your own file path.

Set myTextFrame = myPage.Place("c:\test.txt", Array(myX, myY), , False, True)

Rem Note that if the PlacePoint parameter is inside a file, only the vertical (y)

Rem coordinate will be honored--the text frame will expand horizontally

Rem to fit the column.

The following script shows how to place a text file in an existing text frame. (We omitted the myGetBounds

function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68,” or see the

PlaceTextFileInFrame tutorial script.)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Placing Text and Setting Text-Import Preferences 72

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Place a text file in the text frame.

Rem Parameters for TextFrame.place():

Rem File as string,

Rem [ShowingOptions as Boolean = False]

Rem You'll have to fill in your own file path.

myTextFrame.Place "c:\test.txt"

The following script shows how to insert a text file at a specific location in text. (We omitted the

myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68,” o r s e e th e

InsertTextFile tutorial script.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Rem Create a text frame.

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.geometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

myTextFrame.Contents = "Inserted text file follows:" & vbCr

Rem Place a text file at the end of the text.

Rem Parameters for InsertionPoint.place():

Rem File as string (file path),

Rem [ShowingOptions as Boolean = False]

Rem You'll have to fill in your own file path.

myTextFrame.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Place "c:\test.txt"

To specify the import options for the specific type of text file you are placing, use the corresponding

import-preferences object. The following script shows how to set text-import preferences (for the

complete script, see TextImportPreferences). The comments in the script show the possible values for each

property.

With myInDesign.TextImportPreferences

Rem Options for characterSet: idTextImportCharacterSet

.CharacterSet = idTextImportCharacterSet.idUTF8

.ConvertSpacesIntoTabs = True

.SpacesIntoTabsCount = 3

Rem Dictionary can take many values, such as French, Italian.

.Dictionary = "English: USA"

Rem platform options: idImportPlatform

.Platform = idImportPlatform.idPC

.StripReturnsBetweenLines = True

.StripReturnsBetweenParagraphs = True

.UseTypographersQuotes = True

End With

The following script shows how to set tagged text import preferences (for the complete script, see

TaggedTextImportPreferences):

With myInDesign.TaggedTextImportPreferences

.RemoveTextFormatting = False

Rem .styleConflict property can be:

Rem idStyleConflict.idPublicationDefinition

Rem idStyleConflict.idTagFileDefinition

.StyleConflict = idStyleConflict.idPublicationDefinition

.UseTypographersQuotes = True

End With

The following script shows how to set Word and RTF import preferences (for the complete script, see

WordRTFImportPreferences):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Exporting Text and Setting Text-Export Preferences 73

With myInDesign.WordRTFImportPreferences

Rem convertPageBreaks property can be:

Rem idConvertPageBreaks.idColumnBreak

Rem idConvertPageBreaks.idNone

Rem idConvertPageBreaks.idPageBreak

.ConvertPageBreaks = idConvertPageBreaks.idNone

Rem convertTablesTo property can be:

Rem idConvertTablesOptions.idUnformattedTabbedText

Rem idConvertTablesOptions.idUnformattedTable

.ConvertTablesTo = idConvertTablesOptions.idUnformattedTable

.ImportEndnotes = True

.ImportFootnotes = True

.ImportIndex = True

.ImportTOC = True

.ImportUnusedStyles = False

.PreserveGraphics = False

.PreserveLocalOverrides = False

.PreserveTrackChanges = False

.RemoveFormatting = False

Rem resolveCharacterStyleClash and resolveParagraphStyleClash properties can be:

Rem idResolveStyleClash.idResolveClashAutoRename

Rem idResolveStyleClash.iduseExisting

Rem idResolveStyleClash.iduseNew

.ResolveCharacterStyleClash = idResolveStyleClash.idResolveClashUseExisting

.ResolveParagraphStyleClash = idResolveStyleClash.idResolveClashUseExisting

.UseTypographersQuotes = True

End With

The following script shows how to set Excel import preferences (for the complete script, see

ExcelImportPreferences):

With myInDesign.ExcelImportPreferences

Rem alignmentStyle property can be:

Rem AlignmentStyleOptions.centerAlign

Rem AlignmentStyleOptions.leftAlign

Rem AlignmentStyleOptions.rightAlign

Rem AlignmentStyleOptions.spreadsheet

.AlignmentStyle = idAlignmentStyleOptions.idSpreadsheet

.DecimalPlaces = 4

.PreserveGraphics = False

Rem Enter the range you want to import as "start cell:end cell".

.RangeName = "A1:B16"

.SheetIndex = 1

.SheetName = "pathpoints"

.ShowHiddenCells = False

Rem tableFormatting property can be:

Rem idTableFormattingOptions.idExcelFormattedTable

Rem idTableFormattingOptions.idExcelUnformattedTabbedText

Rem idTableFormattingOptions.idExcelUnformattedTable

.TableFormatting = idTableFormattingOptions.idExcelFormattedTable

.UseTypographersQuotes = True

.ViewName = ""

End With

Exporting Text and Setting Text-Export Preferences

The following script shows how to export text from an InDesign document. Note that you must use text or

story objects to export into text file formats; you cannot export all text in a document in one operation.

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Exporting Text and Setting Text-Export Preferences 74

(We omitted the myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on

page 68,” or see the ExportTextFile tutorial script.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Text export method parameters:

Rem Format as idExportFormat

Rem To As File

Rem [ShowingOptions As Boolean = False]

Rem

Rem Format parameter can be:

Rem idExportFormat.idInCopy

Rem idExportFormat.idInCopyCS2Story

Rem idExportFormat.idRTF

Rem idExportFormat.idTaggedText

Rem idExportFormat.idTextType

Rem

Rem Export the story as text. You'll have to fill in a valid file path on your system.

myTextFrame.ParentStory.Export idExportFormat.idTextType, "C:\test.txt"

The following example shows how to export a specific range of text. (We omitted the myGetBounds

function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68,” or see the ExportTextRange

tutorial script.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Set myStory = myTextFrame.ParentStory

Set myStartCharacter = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).Characters.Item(1)

Set myEndCharacter = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).Characters.Item(-1)

Set myText = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Texts.ItemByRange(myStartCharacter,

myEndCharacter).Item(1)

Rem Text export method parameters:

Rem Format as idExportFormat

Rem To As File

Rem [ShowingOptions As Boolean = False]

Rem

Rem Format parameter can be:

Rem idExportFormat.idInCopy

Rem idExportFormat.idInCopyCS2Story

Rem idExportFormat.idRTF

Rem idExportFormat.idTaggedText

Rem idExportFormat.idTextType

Rem

Rem Export the text range. You'll have to fill in a valid file path on your system.

myText.Export idExportFormat.idTextType, "C:\test.txt"

To specify the export options for the specific type of text file you’re exporting, use the corresponding

export preferences object. The following script sets text-export preferences (for the complete script, see

TextExportPreferences):

With myInDesign.TextExportPreferences

Rem Options for characterSet: idTextExportCharacterSet

.CharacterSet = idTextExportCharacterSet.idUTF8

Rem platform options: idImportPlatform

.Platform = idImportPlatform.idPC

End With

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Exporting Text and Setting Text-Export Preferences 75

The following script sets tagged text export preferences (for the complete script, see

TaggedTextExportPreferences):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

With myInDesign.TaggedTextExportPreferences

Rem Options for characterSet:

Rem idTagTextExportCharacterSet.idAnsi

Rem idTagTextExportCharacterSet.idASCII

Rem idTagTextExportCharacterSet.idGB18030

Rem idTagTextExportCharacterSet.idKSC5601

Rem idTagTextExportCharacterSet.idShiftJIS

Rem idTagTextExportCharacterSet.idUnicode

.CharacterSet = idTagTextExportCharacterSet.idUnicode

Rem tagForm options:

Rem idTagTextForm.idAbbreviated

Rem idTagTextForm.idVerbose

.TagForm = idTagTextForm.idVerbose

End With

You cannot export all text in a document in one step. Instead, you need to either combine the text in the

document into a single story and then export that story, or combine the text files by reading and writing

files via scripting. The following script demonstrates the former approach. (We omitted the myGetBounds

function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68,” or see the ExportAllText

tutorial script.) For any format other than text only, the latter method can become quite complex.

If myInDesign.Documents.Count <> 0 Then

If myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Stories.Count <> 0 Then

myExportAllText myInDesign, myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Name

End If

Here is the ExportAllText function referred to in the preceding fragment:

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Exporting Text and Setting Text-Export Preferences 76

Function myExportAllText(myInDesign, myDocumentName)

mySeparatorString = "----------------------------------------" & vbCr

Rem If you want to add a separator line between stories,

Rem set myAddSeparator to true.

myAddSeparator = True

Set myNewDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(myDocumentName)

Set myTextFrame = myNewDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.geometricBounds = myGetBounds(myNewDocument,

myNewDocument.Pages.Item(1))

Set myNewStory = myTextFrame.ParentStory

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.Stories.Count

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(myCounter)

myStory.texts.item(1).duplicate idLocationOptions.idAfter,

myNewStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1)

Rem If the text did not end with a return, enter a return

Rem to keep the stories from running together.

If myCounter <> myDocument.Stories.Count Then

If myNewStory.Characters.Item(-1).Contents <> vbCr Then

myNewStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents = vbCr

End If

If myAddSeparator = True Then

myNewStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents = mySeparatorString

End If

myNewStory.Export idExportFormat.idTaggedText, "c:\test.txt"

myNewDocument.Close idSaveOptions.idNo

End Function

Do not assume that you are limited to exporting text using existing export filters. Because VBScript can

write text files to disk, you can have your script traverse the text in a document and export it in any order

you like, using whatever text mark-up scheme you prefer. Here is a very simple example that shows how to

export InDesign text as HTML. (We omitted the myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in

“Creating a text frame” on page 68,” or see the ExportHTML tutorial script.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Use the myStyleToTagMapping dictionary to set

Rem up your paragraph style to tag mapping.

Set myStyleToTagMapping = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")

Rem For each style to tag mapping, add a new item to the dictionary.

myStyleToTagMapping.Add "body_text", "p"

myStyleToTagMapping.Add "heading1", "h1"

myStyleToTagMapping.Add "heading2", "h2"

myStyleToTagMapping.Add "heading3", "h3"

Rem End of style to tag mapping.

If myDocument.Stories.Count <> 0 Then

Rem Open a new text file.

Set myDialog = CreateObject("UserAccounts.CommonDialog")

myDialog.Filter = "HTML Files|*.html|All Files|*.*"

myDialog.FilterIndex = 1

myDialog.InitialDir = "C:\"

myResult = myDialog.ShowOpen

Rem If the user clicked the Cancel button, the result is null.

If myResult = True Then

myTextFileName = myDialog.FileName

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set myTextFile = myFileSystemObject.CreateTextFile(myTextFileName)

For myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Stories.Count

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(myCounter)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Exporting Text and Setting Text-Export Preferences 77

For myParagraphCounter = 1 To myStory.Paragraphs.Count

Set myParagraph = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(myParagraphCounter)

If myParagraph.Tables.Count = 0 Then

If myParagraph.TextStyleRanges.Count = 1 Then

Rem If the paragraph is a simple paragraph--no tables,

Rem no local formatting--then simply export the text

Rem of the pararaph with the appropriate tag.

myTag = myStyleToTagMapping.Item(myParagraph.

AppliedParagraphStyle.Name)

Rem If the tag comes back empty, map it to the basic paragraph tag.

If myTag = "" Then

myTag = "p"

End If

myStartTag = "<" & myTag & ">"

myEndTag = "</" & myTag & ">"

Rem If the paragraph is not the last paragraph in the story,

Rem omit the return character.

If myParagraph.Characters.Item(-1).Contents = vbCr Then

myString = myParagraph.Texts.ItemByRange(myParagraph.

Characters.Item(1), myParagraph.Characters.Item(-2)).

Item(1).Contents

Else

myString = myParagraph.Contents

End If

Rem Write the paragraphs' text to the text file.

myTextFile.WriteLine myStartTag & myString & myEndTag

Else

Rem Handle text style range export by iterating

Rem through the text style ranges in the paragraph..

For myRangeCounter = 1 To myParagraph.TextStyleRanges.Length

myTextStyleRange = myParagraph.TextStyleRanges.Item

(myRangeCounter)

If myTextStyleRange.Characters.Item(-1) = vbCr Then

myString = myTextStyleRange.Texts.ItemByRange

(myTextStyleRange.Characters.Item(1),

myTextStyleRange.Characters.Item(-2)).Item(1).Contents

Else

myString = myTextStyleRange.Contents

End If

Select Case myTextStyleRange.FontStyle

Case "Bold":

myString = "<b>" & myString & "</b>"

Case "Italic":

myString = "<i>" & myString & "</i>"

End Select

myTextFile.write myString

myTextFile.write vbCr

End If

Else

Rem Handle table export (assumes that there is

Rem only one table per paragraph,

Rem and that the table is in the paragraph by itself).

Set myTable = myParagraph.Tables.Item(1)

myTextFile.write "<table border = 1>"

For myRowCounter = 1 To myTable.Rows.Count

myTextFile.write "<tr>"

For myColumnCounter = 1 To myTable.Columns.Count

If myRowCounter = 1 Then

myString = "<th>" & myTable.Rows.Item(myRowCounter).

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Understanding Text Objects 78

Cells.Item(myColumnCounter).Texts.Item(1).Contents &

"</th>"

Else

myString = "<td>" & myTable.Rows.Item(myRowCounter).

Cells.Item(myColumnCounter).Texts.Item(1).Contents &

"</td>"

End If

myTextFile.write myString

myTextFile.WriteLine "</tr>"

myTextFile.WriteLine "</table>"

End If

Rem Close the text file.

myTextFile.Close

End If

Here is the myFindTag function referred to in the above script:

function myFindTag (myStyleName, myStyleToTagMapping){

var myTag = "";

var myDone = false;

var myCounter = 0;

do{

if(myStyleToTagMapping[myCounter][0] == myStyleName){

myTag = myStyleToTagMapping[myCounter][1];

break;

}

myCounter ++;

} while((myDone == false)||(myCounter < myStyleToTagMapping.length))

return myTag;

}

Understanding Text Objects

The following diagram shows a view of InDesign’s text object model. As you can see, there are two main

types of text object: layout objects (text frames) and text-stream objects (for example, stories, insertion

points, characters, and words):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Understanding Text Objects 79

There are many ways to get a reference to a given text object. The following diagram shows a few ways to

refer to the first character in the first text frame of the first page of a new document:

For any text stream object, the parent of the object is the story containing the object. To get a reference to

the text frame (or text frames) containing the text object, use the ParentTextFrames property.

story

insertion points

characters

words

lines

paragraphs

text columns

text style ranges

texts

text frame

insertion points

characters

words

lines

paragraphs

text columns

text style ranges

texts

text containers

document

spread, page, layer

notes

document

pages.item(0)

textFrames.item(0)

characters.item(0)

stories.item(0)

characters.item(0)

textFrames.item(0)

paragraphs.item(0)

characters.item(0)

stories.item(0)

paragraphs.item(0)

characters.item(0)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Understanding Text Objects 80

For a text frame, the parent of the text frame usually is the page or spread containing the text frame. If the

text frame is inside a group or was pasted inside another page item, the parent of the text frame is the

containing page item. If the text frame was converted to an anchored frame, the parent of the text frame

is the character containing the anchored frame.

Working with text selections

Text-related scripts often act on a text selection. The following script demonstrates a way to determine

whether the current selection is a text selection. Unlike many of the other sample scripts, this script does

not actually do anything; it simply presents a selection-filtering routine that you can use in your own

scripts (for the complete script, see TextSelection).

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count <> 0 Then

Rem If the selection contains more than one item, the selection

Rem is not text selected with the Type tool.

If myInDesign.Selection.Count = 1 Then

Select Case TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(1))

Case "InsertionPoint", "Character", "Word", "TextStyleRange",

"Line", "Paragraph", "TextColumn", "Text"

MsgBox "The selection is a text object."

Rem A real script would now act on the text object

Rem or pass it on to a function.

Case "TextFrame"

Rem In addition to checking for the above text objects, we can

Rem also continue if the selection is a text frame selected with

Rem the Selection tool or the Direct Selection tool.

Rem If the selection is a text frame, you get a reference to the

Rem text in the text frame and then pass it along to a function.

Rem Set myText = myInDesign.Selection.Item(1).Texts.Item(1)

MsgBox "The selected object is a text frame."

Case Else

MsgBox "The selected object is not a text object.

Select some text and try again."

End Select

Else

MsgBox "Please select some text and try again."

End If

Else

MsgBox "No documents are open. Please open a document,

select some text, and try again."

End If

Moving and copying text

You can move a text object to another location in text using the move method. To copy the text, use the

duplicate method (whose arguments are identical to the move method). The following script fragment

shows how it works (for the complete script, see MoveText):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Understanding Text Objects 81

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Rem Set the bounds live area of the page.

myBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myX1 = myBounds(1)

myY1 = myBounds(0)

myX2 = myBounds(3)

myY2 = myBounds(2)

myWidth = myX2 - myX1

myHeight = myY2 - myY1

Rem Create a series of text frames.

Set myTextFrameA = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameA.geometricBounds = Array(myY1, myX1, myY1 + (myHeight / 2), myX1 + (myWidth

/ 2))

myTextFrameA.Contents = "Before." & vbCr

Set myTextFrameB = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameB.geometricBounds = Array(myY1, myX1 + (myWidth / 2), myY1 + (myHeight / 2),

myX2)

myTextFrameB.Contents = "After." & vbCr

Set myTextFrameC = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameC.geometricBounds = Array(myY1 + (myHeight / 2), myX1, myY2, myX1 + (myWidth

/ 2))

myTextFrameC.Contents = "Between words." & vbCr

Set myTextFrameD = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameD.geometricBounds = Array(myY1 + (myHeight / 2), myX1 + (myWidth / 2), myY2,

myX2)

myTextFrameD.Contents = "Text to move:" & vbCr & "WordA" & vbCr & "WordB" & vbCr &

"WordC" & vbCr

Rem Move WordC between the words in TextFrameC.

myTextFrameD.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(-1).Words.Item(1).Move

idLocationOptions.idBefore, myTextFrameC.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).Words.Item(2)

Rem Move WordB after the word in TextFrameB.

myTextFrameD.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(-2).Words.Item(1).Move

idLocationOptions.idAfter, myTextFrameB.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).Words.Item(1)

Rem Move WordA to before the word in TextFrameA.

myTextFrameD.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(-3).Words.Item(1).Move

idLocationOptions.idBefore, myTextFrameA.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).Words.Item(1)

Rem Note that moving text removes it from its original location.

When you want to transfer formatted text from one document to another, you also can use the move

method. Using the move or duplicate method is better than using copy and paste; to use copy and paste,

you must make the document visible and select the text you want to copy. Using move or duplicate is

much faster and more robust. The following script shows how to move text from one document to another

using move and duplicate. (We omitted the myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in

“Creating a text frame” on page 68,” or see the MoveTextBetweenDocuments tutorial script.)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Understanding Text Objects 82

Rem Create the source document

Set mySourceDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set mySourcePage = mySourceDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set mySourceTextFrame = mySourcePage.TextFrames.Add

mySourceTextFrame.geometricBounds = myGetBounds(mySourceDocument, mySourcePage)

mySourceTextFrame.Contents = "This is the source text." & vbCr & "This text is not the

source text."

Set mySourceParagraph = mySourceTextFrame.ParentStory.Paragraphs.Item(1)

mySourceParagraph.PointSize = 24

Rem Create the target document.

Set myTargetDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myTargetPage = myTargetDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTargetTextFrame = myTargetPage.TextFrames.Add

myTargetTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myTargetDocument, myTargetPage)

myTargetTextFrame.Contents = "This is the target text. Insert the source text before

this paragraph." & vbCr

Rem Move the text from the source document to the target document.

Rem This deletes the text from the source document.

mySourceParagraph.Move idLocationOptions.idBefore,

myTargetTextFrame.InsertionPoints.Item(1)

Rem To duplicate (rather than move) the text, use the following:

Rem mySourceParagraph.Duplicate idLocationOptions.idBefore,

myTargetTextFrame.InsertionPoints.Item(1)

When you need to copy and paste text, you can use the copy method of the application. You will need to

select the text before you copy. Again, you should use copy and paste only as a last resort; other

approaches are faster, less fragile, and do not depend on the document being visible. (We omitted the

myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68,” o r s e e th e

CopyPasteText tutorial script.)

Set myDocumentA = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPageA = myDocumentA.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrameA = myPageA.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameA.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocumentA, myPageA)

myTextFrameA.Contents = "Example text." & vbCr

Set myDocumentB = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myPageB = myDocumentB.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrameB = myPageB.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameB.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocumentB, myPageB)

Rem Make document A the active document.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument = myDocumentA

Rem Select the text.

myInDesign.Select myTextFrameA.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1)

myInDesign.Copy

Rem Make document B the active document.

myInDesign.ActiveDocument = myDocumentB

Rem Select the insertion point at which you want to paste the text.

myInDesign.Select myTextFrameB.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(1)

myInDesign.Paste

One way to copy unformatted text from one text object to another is to get the contents property of a

text object, then use that string to set the contents property of another text object. The following script

shows how to do this (for the complete script, see CopyUnformattedText):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Understanding Text Objects 83

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrameA = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameA.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 288)

myTextFrameA.Contents = "This is a formatted string."

myTextFrameA.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1).FontStyle = "Bold"

Set myTextFrameB = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameB.geometricBounds = Array(228, 72, 300, 288)

myTextFrameB.Contents = "This is the destination text frame. Text pasted here will

retain its formatting."

myTextFrameB.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1).FontStyle = "Italic"

Rem Copy from one frame to another using a simple copy.

myInDesign.Select myTextFrameA.Texts.Item(1)

myInDesign.Copy

myInDesign.Select myTextFrameB.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1)

myInDesign.Paste

Rem Create another text frame on the active page.

Set myTextFrameC = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameC.geometricBounds = Array(312, 72, 444, 288)

myTextFrameC.Contents = "Text copied here will take on the formatting of the existing

text."

myTextFrameC.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1).FontStyle = "Italic"

Rem Copy the unformatted string from text frame A to the end of text frame C (note

Rem that this doesn't really copy the text it replicates the text string from one

Rem text frame in another text frame):

myTextFrameC.ParentStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents =

myTextFrameA.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1).Contents

Text objects and iteration

When your script moves, deletes, or adds text while iterating through a series of text objects, you can

easily end up with invalid text references. The following script demonstrates this problem. (We omitted the

myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68,” o r s e e th e

TextIterationWrong tutorial script.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Rem The following for loop cause an error.

For myParagraphCounter = 1 to myStory.Paragraphs.Count

If myStory.Paragraphs.Item(myParagraphCounter).Words.Item(1).contents = "Delete"

Then

myStory.Paragraphs.Item(myParagraphCounter).Delete

Else

myStory.Paragraphs.Item(myParagraphCounter).PointSize = 24

End If

In the preceding example, some of the paragraphs are left unformatted. How does this happen? The loop

in the script iterates through the paragraphs from the first paragraph in the story to the last. As it does so,

it deletes paragraphs that begin with the word “Delete.” When the script deletes the second paragraph,

the third paragraph moves up to take its place. When the loop counter reaches 3, the script processes the

paragraph that had been the fourth paragraph in the story; the original third paragraph is now the second

paragraph and is skipped.

To avoid this problem, iterate backward through the text objects, as shown in the following script. (We

omitted the myGetBounds function from this listing; you can find it in “Creating a text frame” on page 68,”

or see the TextIterationRight tutorial script.)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Text Frames 84

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Rem The following for loop will format all of the paragraphs by iterating

Rem backwards through the paragraphs in the story.

For myCounter = myStory.Paragraphs.Count To 1 Step -1

If myStory.Paragraphs.Item(myCounter).Words.Item(1).contents = "Delete" Then

myStory.Paragraphs.Item(myCounter).Delete

Else

myStory.Paragraphs.Item(myCounter).PointSize = 24

End If

Working with Text Frames

In the previous sections of this chapter, we concentrated on working with text stream objects; in this

section, we focus on text frames, the page-layout items that contain text in an InDesign document.

Linking text frames

The nextTextFrame and previousTextFrame properties of a text frame are the keys to linking (or

“threading”) text frames in InDesign scripting. These properties correspond to the in port and out port on

InDesign text frames, as shown in the following script fragment (for the complete script, see

LinkTextFrames):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrameA = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameA.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Set myTextFrameB = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameB.geometricBounds = Array(228, 72, 300, 144)

Rem Add a page.

Set myNewPage = myDocument.Pages.Add

Rem Create another text frame on the new page.

Set myTextFrameC = myNewPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrameC.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Rem Link TextFrameA to TextFrameB using the nextTextFrame property.

myTextFrameA.NextTextFrame = myTextFrameB

Rem Link TextFrameC to TextFrameB using the previousTextFrame property.

myTextFrameC.PreviousTextFrame = myTextFrameB

Rem Fill the text frames with placeholder text.

myTextFrameA.Contents = idTextFrameContents.idPlaceholderText

Unlinking text frames

The following example script shows how to unlink text frames (for the complete script, see

UnlinkTextFrames):

Rem Given two linked text frames on page 1...

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrameA = myPage.TextFrames.Item(-1)

Rem Unlink text frame A.

myTextFrameA.NextTextFrame = Nothing

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Text Frames 85

Removing a frame from a story

In InDesign, deleting a frame from a story does not delete the text in the frame, unless the frame is the only

frame in the story. The following script fragment shows how to delete a frame and the text it contains from

a story without disturbing the other frames in the story (for the complete script, see BreakFrame):

ReDim myObjectList(0)

Rem Script does nothing if no documents are open or if no objects are selected.

If myInDesign.Documents.Count <> 0 Then

If myInDesign.Selection.Count <> 0 Then

Rem Process the objects in the selection to create a list of

Rem qualifying objects (text frames).

For myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.Selection.Count

Select Case TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter))

Case "TextFrame":

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

ReDim Preserve myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList) + 1)

End If

Set myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList)) =

myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter)

Case "InsertionPoint", "Character", "Word", "TextStyleRange", "Line",

"Paragraph", "TextColumn", "Text":

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

ReDim Preserve myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList) + 1)

End If

Set myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList)) =

myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter).ParentTextFrames.Item(1)

End Select

Rem If the object list is not empty, pass it on to the function

Rem that does the real work.

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

myBreakFrames myObjectList

End If

Here is the myBreakFrames function referred to in the preceding script.

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Text Frames 86

Function myBreakFrames(myObjectList)

For myCounter = UBound(myObjectList) To 0 Step -1

myBreakOutFrame myObjectList(myCounter)

End Function

Function myBreakFrame(myTextFrame)

myProcessFrame = vbYes

If (TypeName(myTextFrame.NextTextFrame) <> "Nothing") Or

(TypeName(myTextFrame.PreviousTextFrame) <> "Nothing") Then

If myTextFrame.ParentStory.Tables.Count <> 0 Then

myProcessFrame = MsgBox("This story contains tables. If the text frame you

are trying to remove from the story contains a table, the results might not be

what you expect. Do you want to continue?", vbYesNo)

End If

If myProcessFrame = vbYes Then

Set myNewFrame = myTextFrame.Duplicate

If myTextFrame.Contents <> "" Then

myTextFrame.Texts.Item(1).Delete

End If

myTextFrame.Delete

End If

End Function

Splitting all frames in a story

The following script fragment shows how to split all frames in a story into separate, independent stories,

each containing one unlinked text frame (for the complete script, see SplitStory):

Rem Get the first item in the selection.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Set myStory = myTextFrame.ParentStory

Rem If the text frame is the only text frame in the story, do nothing.

If myStory.TextContainers.Count > 1 Then

Rem Splitting the story is a two-step process: first, duplicate

Rem the text frames, second, delete the original text frames.

mySplitStory myStory

myRemoveFrames myStory

End If

Here is the mySplitStory function referred to in the preceding script:

Function mySplitStory(myStory)

Rem Duplicate each text frame in the story.

For myCounter = myStory.TextContainers.Count To 1 Step -1

Set myTextFrame = myStory.TextContainers.Item(myCounter)

myTextFrame.Duplicate

End Function

Function myRemoveFrames(myStory)

Rem Remove each text frame in the story.

RemIterate backwards to avoid invalid references.

For myCounter = myStory.TextContainers.Count To 1 Step -1

myStory.TextContainers.Item(myCounter).Delete

End Function

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Text Frames 87

Creating an anchored frame

To create an anchored frame (also known as an inline frame), you can create a text frame (or rectangle,

oval, polygon, or graphic line) at a specific location in text (usually an insertion point). The following script

fragment shows an example (for the complete script, see AnchoredFrame):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Set myInsertionPoint = myTextFrame.Paragraphs.Item(1).InsertionPoints.Item(1)

Set myInlineFrame = myInsertionPoint.TextFrames.Add

Rem Recompose the text to make sure that getting the

Rem geometric bounds of the inline graphic will work.

myTextFrame.Texts.Item(1).Recompose

Rem Get the geometric bounds of the inline frame.

myBounds = myInlineFrame.GeometricBounds

Rem Set the width and height of the inline frame. In this example, we'll

Rem make the frame 24 points tall by 72 points wide.

myArray = Array(myBounds(0), myBounds(1), myBounds(0) + 24, myBounds(1) + 72)

myInlineFrame.GeometricBounds = myArray

myInlineFrame.Contents = "This is an inline frame."

Set myInsertionPoint = myTextFrame.Paragraphs.Item(2).InsertionPoints.Item(1)

Set myAnchoredFrame = myInsertionPoint.TextFrames.Add

Rem Recompose the text to make sure that getting the

Rem geometric bounds of the inline graphic will work.

myTextFrame.Texts.Item(1).Recompose

Rem Get the geometric bounds of the inline frame.

myBounds = myAnchoredFrame.GeometricBounds

Rem Set the width and height of the inline frame. In this example, we'll

Rem make the frame 24 points tall by 72 points wide.

myArray = Array(myBounds(0), myBounds(1), myBounds(0) + 24, myBounds(1) + 72)

myAnchoredFrame.GeometricBounds = myArray

myAnchoredFrame.Contents = "This is an anchored frame."

With myAnchoredFrame.AnchoredObjectSettings

.AnchoredPosition = idAnchorPosition.idAnchored

.AnchorPoint = idAnchorPoint.idTopLeftAnchor

.HorizontalReferencePoint = idAnchoredRelativeTo.idAnchorLocation

.HorizontalAlignment = idHorizontalAlignment.idLeftAlign

.AnchorXoffset = 72

.VerticalReferencePoint = idVerticallyRelativeTo.idLineBaseline

.AnchorYoffset = 24

.AnchorSpaceAbove = 24

End With

Fitting text frames to content

The following example script shows how to set rules on a text frame to determine how it grows when the

user inputs text (for the complete script, see PersistedTextFrameFill):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 88

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.Pages.item(1).TextFrames.item(4)

REM Now add text at the end of the text frame.

myTextFrame.InsertionPoints.item(-1).Contents = vbCr&"This is some overset text"

MsgBox("The last paragraph in this alert should be ""This is some overset text"". Is

it?" & _

vbCr&myTextFrame.Contents)

MsgBox("The last paragraph in this alert should be ""This is some overset text"". Is

it?" & _

vbCr&myTextFrame.ParentStory.Contents)

Set myTextFrame2 = myDocument.Pages.item(1).TextFrames.item(3)

REM Set auto size dimension of the text frame

with myTextFrame2.TextFramePreferences

.AutoSizingDimension=idAutoSizingDimension.idHEIGHTANDWIDTHPROPORTIONALLY

End With

REM Now add text at the end of the text frame.

myTextFrame2.InsertionPoints.item(-1).Contents = vbCr&"This is some overset text"

Set myTextFrame3 = myDocument.Pages.item(1).TextFrames.item(2)

REM Set auto size dimension of the text frame

REM useMinimumHeightForAutoSizing and useNoLineBreaksForAutoSizing

with myTextFrame3.TextFramePreferences

.AutoSizingDimension=idAutoSizingDimension.idHEIGHTONLY

.UseMinimumHeightForAutoSizing=true

.UseNoLineBreaksForAutoSizing=true

End With

REM Now add text at the end of the text frame.

myTextFrame3.InsertionPoints.item(-1).Contents = vbCr&"This is some overset text"

Set myTextFrame4 = myDocument.Pages.item(1).TextFrames.item(1)

REM Set auto size dimension of the text frame and autoSizingReferencePoint

with myTextFrame4.TextFramePreferences

.AutoSizingDimension=idAutoSizingDimension.idWIDTHONLY

.AutoSizingReferencePoint=idAutoSizingReferencePoint.idTOPLEFTPOSITION

End With

REM Now add text at the end of the text frame.

myTextFrame4.InsertionPoints.item(-1).Contents = vbCr&"This is some overset text"

Formatting Text

In the previous sections of this chapter, we added text to a document, linked text frames, and worked with

stories and text objects. In this section, we apply formatting to text. All the typesetting capabilities of

InDesign are available to scripting.

Setting text defaults

You can set text defaults for both the application and each document. Text defaults for the application

determine the text defaults in all new documents; text defaults for a document set the formatting of all

new text objects in that document. (For the complete script, see TextDefaults.)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 89

With myInDesign.TextDefaults

.AlignToBaseline = True

Rem Because the font might not be available, it's usually best

Rem to trap errors using "On Error Resume Next" error handling.

Rem Fill in the name of a font on your system.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

.AppliedFont = myInDesign.Fonts.Item("Minion Pro")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Because the font style might not be available, it's usually best

Rem to trap errors using "On Error Resume Next" error handling.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

.FontStyle = "Regular"

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

Rem Because the language might not be available, it's usually best

Rem to trap errors using "On Error Resume Next" error handling.

Err.Clear

On Error Resume Next

.AppliedLanguage = "English: USA"

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.AutoLeading = 100

.BalanceRaggedLines = False

.BaselineShift = 0

.Capitalization = idCapitalization.idNormal

.Composer = "Adobe Paragraph Composer"

.DesiredGlyphScaling = 100

.DesiredLetterSpacing = 0

.DesiredWordSpacing = 100

.DropCapCharacters = 0

If .DropCapCharacters <> 0 Then

.DropCapLines = 3

On Error Resume Next

.DropCapStyle = myInDesign.CharacterStyles.Item("myDropCap")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

End If

On Error Resume Next

.FillColor = myInDesign.Colors.Item("Black")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.FillTint = 100

.FirstLineIndent = 14

.GridAlignFirstLineOnly = False

.HorizontalScale = 100

.HyphenateAfterFirst = 3

.HyphenateBeforeLast = 4

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 90

.HyphenateCapitalizedWords = False

.HyphenateLadderLimit = 1

.HyphenateWordsLongerThan = 5

.Hyphenation = True

.HyphenationZone = 36

.HyphenWeight = 9

.Justification = idJustification.idLeftAlign

.KeepAllLinesTogether = False

.KeepLinesTogether = True

.KeepFirstLines = 2

.KeepLastLines = 2

.KeepWithNext = 0

.KerningMethod = "Optical"

.Leading = 14

.LeftIndent = 0

.Ligatures = True

.MaximumGlyphScaling = 100

.MaximumLetterSpacing = 0

.MaximumWordSpacing = 160

.MinimumGlyphScaling = 100

.MinimumLetterSpacing = 0

.MinimumWordSpacing = 80

.NoBreak = False

.OTFContextualAlternate = True

.OTFDiscretionaryLigature = True

.OTFFigureStyle = idOTFFigureStyle.idProportionalOldstyle

.OTFFraction = True

.OTFHistorical = True

.OTFOrdinal = False

.OTFSlashedZero = True

.OTFSwash = False

.OTFTitling = False

.OverprintFill = False

.OverprintStroke = False

.PointSize = 11

.Position = idPosition.idNormal

.RightIndent = 0

.RuleAbove = False

If .RuleAbove = True Then

On Error Resume Next

.RuleAboveColor = myInDesign.Colors.Item("Black")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

On Error Resume Next

.RuleAboveGapColor = myInDesign.Swatches.Item("None")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.RuleAboveGapOverprint = False

.RuleAboveGapTint = 100

.RuleAboveLeftIndent = 0

.RuleAboveLineWeight = 0.25

.RuleAboveOffset = 14

.RuleAboveOverprint = False

.RuleAboveRightIndent = 0

.RuleAboveTint = 100

On Error Resume Next

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 91

.RuleAboveType = myInDesign.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.RuleAboveWidth = idRuleWidth.idColumnWidth

End If

.RuleBelow = False

If .RuleBelow = True Then

On Error Resume Next

.RuleBelowColor = myInDesign.Colors.Item("Black")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

On Error Resume Next

.RuleBelowGapColor = myInDesign.Swatches.Item("None")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.RuleBelowGapOverPrint = False

.RuleBelowGapTint = 100

.RuleBelowLeftIndent = 0

.RuleBelowLineWeight = 0.25

.RuleBelowOffset = 0

.RuleBelowOverPrint = False

.RuleBelowRightIndent = 0

.RuleBelowTint = 100

On Error Resume Next

.RuleBelowType = myInDesign.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.RuleBelowWidth = idRuleWidth.idColumnWidth

End If

.SingleWordJustification = idSingleWordJustification.idLeftAlign

.Skew = 0

.SpaceAfter = 0

.SpaceBefore = 0

.StartParagraph = idStartParagraph.idAnywhere

.StrikeThru = False

If .StrikeThru = True Then

On Error Resume Next

.StrikeThroughColor = myInDesign.Colors.Item("Black")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

On Error Resume Next

.StrikeThroughGapColor = myInDesign.Swatches.Item("None")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.StrikeThroughGapOverprint = False

.StrikeThroughGapTint = 100

.StrikeThroughOffset = 3

.StrikeThroughOverprint = False

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 92

.StrikeThroughTint = 100

On Error Resume Next

.StrikeThroughType = myInDesign.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.StrikeThroughWeight = 0.25

End If

On Error Resume Next

.StrokeColor = myInDesign.Swatches.Item("None")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.StrokeTint = 100

.StrokeWeight = 0

.Tracking = 0

.Underline = False

If .Underline = True Then

On Error Resume Next

.UnderlineColor = myInDesign.Colors.Item("Black")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

On Error Resume Next

.UnderlineGapColor = myInDesign.Swatches.Item("None")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.UnderlineGapOverprint = False

.UnderlineGapTint = 100

.UnderlineOffset = 3

.UnderlineOverprint = False

.UnderlineTint = 100

On Error Resume Next

.UnderlineType = myInDesign.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

.UnderlineWeight = 0.25

End If

.VerticalScale = 100

End With

Working with fonts

The fonts collection of the InDesign application object contains all fonts accessible to InDesign. The fonts

collection of a document, by contrast, contains only those fonts used in the document. The fonts

collection of a document also contains any missing fonts—fonts used in the document that are not

accessible to InDesign. The following script shows the difference between application fonts and document

fonts. (We omitted the myGetBounds function here; for the complete script, see FontCollections.)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 93

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myApplicationFonts = myInDesign.Fonts

myString = "Document Fonts:" & vbCr

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.Fonts.Count

myString = myString & myDocument.Fonts.Item(myCounter).Name & vbCr

myString = myString & vbCr & "Application Fonts:" & vbCr

For myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.Fonts.Count

myString = myString & myInDesign.Fonts.Item(myCounter) & vbCr

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Set myStory = myTextFrame.ParentStory

myStory.Contents = myString

NOTE: Font names typically are of the form familyName<tab>fontStyle, where familyName is the name

of the font family, <tab> is a tab character, and fontStyle is the name of the font style. For example:

"Adobe Caslon Pro<tab>Semibold Italic"

Applying a font

To apply a local font change to a range of text, use the appliedFont property, as shown in the following

script fragment (from the ApplyFont tutorial script):

Rem Given a font name "myFontName" and a text object "myText"...

myText.AppliedFont = myInDesign.Fonts.Item(myFontName)

You also can apply a font by specifying the font family name and font style, as shown in the following script

fragment:

myText.AppliedFont = myInDesign.Fonts.Item("Adobe Caslon Pro")

myText.FontStyle = "Semibold Italic"

Changing text properties

Text objects in InDesign have literally dozens of properties corresponding to their formatting attributes.

Even one insertion point features properties that affect the formatting of text—up to and including

properties of the paragraph containing the insertion point. The SetTextProperties tutorial script shows

how to set every property of a text object. A fragment of the script is shown below:

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Set myTextObject = myStory.Characters.Item(1)

myFontName = "Minion Pro" & vbTab & "Regular"

With myTextObject

.AlignToBaseline = False

.AppliedCharacterStyle = myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("[None]")

On Error Resume Next

.AppliedFont = myInDesign.Fonts.Item(myFontName)

.FontStyle = "Regular"

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Err.Clear

End If

On Error Goto 0

.AppliedLanguage = myInDesign.LanguagesWithVendors.Item("English: USA")

.AppliedNumberingList = myDocument.NumberingLists.Item("[Default]")

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 94

.AppliedParagraphStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("[No Paragraph Style]")

.AutoLeading = 120

.BalanceRaggedLines = idBalanceLinesStyle.idNoBalancing

.BaselineShift = 0

.BulletsAlignment = idListAlignment.idLeftAlign

.BulletsAndNumberingListType = idListType.idNoList

.BulletsCharacterStyle = myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("[None]")

.BulletsTextAfter = "^t"

.Capitalization = idCapitalization.idNormal

.Composer = "Adobe Paragraph Composer"

.DesiredGlyphScaling = 100

.DesiredLetterSpacing = 0

.DesiredWordSpacing = 100

.DropCapCharacters = 0

.DropCapLines = 0

.DropCapStyle = myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("[None]")

.DropcapDetail = 0

.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Black")

.FillTint = -1

.FirstLineIndent = 0

.GradientFillAngle = 0

.GradientFillLength = -1

.GradientFillStart = Array(0, 0)

.GradientStrokeAngle = 0

.GradientStrokeLength = -1

.GradientStrokeStart = Array(0, 0)

.GridAlignFirstLineOnly = False

.HorizontalScale = 100

.HyphenWeight = 5

.HyphenateAcrossColumns = True

.HyphenateAfterFirst = 2

.HyphenateBeforeLast = 2

.HyphenateCapitalizedWords = True

.HyphenateLadderLimit = 3

.HyphenateLastWord = True

.HyphenateWordsLongerThan = 5

.Hyphenation = True

.HyphenationZone = 3

.IgnoreEdgeAlignment = False

.Justification = idJustification.idLeftAlign

.KeepAllLinesTogether = False

.KeepFirstLines = 2

.KeepLastLines = 2

.KeepLinesTogether = False

.KeepRuleAboveInFrame = False

.KeepWithNext = 0

.KerningMethod = "Optical"

.LastLineIndent = 0

.Leading = 12

.LeftIndent = 0

.Ligatures = True

.MaximumGlyphScaling = 100

.MaximumLetterSpacing = 0

.MaximumWordSpacing = 133

.MinimumGlyphScaling = 100

.MinimumLetterSpacing = 0

.MinimumWordSpacing = 80

.NoBreak = False

.NumberingAlignment = idListAlignment.idLeftAlign

.NumberingApplyRestartPolicy = True

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 95

.NumberingCharacterStyle = myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("[None]")

.NumberingContinue = True

.NumberingExpression = "^#.^t"

.NumberingFormat = "1, 2, 3, 4..."

.NumberingLevel = 1

.NumberingStartAt = 1

.OTFContextualAlternate = True

.OTFDiscretionaryLigature = False

.OTFFigureStyle = idOTFFigureStyle.idProportionalLining

.OTFFraction = False

.OTFHistorical = False

.OTFLocale = True

.OTFMark = True

.OTFOrdinal = False

.OTFSlashedZero = False

.OTFStylisticSets = 0

.OTFSwash = False

.OTFTitling = False

.OverprintFill = False

.OverprintStroke = False

.PointSize = 12

.Position = idPosition.idNormal

.PositionalForm = idPositionalForms.idNone

.RightIndent = 0

.RuleAbove = False

.RuleAboveColor = "Text Color"

.RuleAboveGapColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

.RuleAboveGapOverprint = False

.RuleAboveGapTint = -1

.RuleAboveLeftIndent = 0

.RuleAboveLineWeight = 1

.RuleAboveOffset = 0

.RuleAboveOverprint = False

.RuleAboveRightIndent = 0

.RuleAboveTint = -1

.RuleAboveType = myDocument.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

.RuleAboveWidth = idRuleWidth.idColumnWidth

.RuleBelow = False

.RuleBelowColor = "Text Color"

.RuleBelowGapColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

.RuleBelowGapOverprint = False

.RuleBelowGapTint = -1

.RuleBelowLeftIndent = 0

.RuleBelowLineWeight = 1

.RuleBelowOffset = 0

.RuleBelowOverprint = False

.RuleBelowRightIndent = 0

.RuleBelowTint = -1

.RuleBelowType = myDocument.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

.RuleBelowWidth = idRuleWidth.idColumnWidth

.SingleWordJustification = idSingleWordJustification.idLeftAlign

.Skew = 0

.SpaceAfter = 0

.SpaceBefore = 0

.StartParagraph = idStartParagraph.idAnywhere

.StrikeThroughColor = "Text Color"

.StrikeThroughGapColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

.StrikeThroughGapOverprint = False

.StrikeThroughGapTint = -1

.StrikeThroughOffset = -9999

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 96

.StrikeThroughOverprint = False

.StrikeThroughTint = -1

.StrikeThroughType = myDocument.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

.StrikeThroughWeight = -9999

.StrikeThru = False

.StrokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

.StrokeTint = -1

.StrokeWeight = 1

.Tracking = 0

.Underline = False

.UnderlineColor = "Text Color"

.UnderlineGapColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

.UnderlineGapOverprint = False

.UnderlineGapTint = -1

.UnderlineOffset = -9999

.UnderlineOverprint = False

.UnderlineTint = -1

.UnderlineType = myDocument.StrokeStyles.Item("Solid")

.UnderlineWeight = -9999

.VerticalScale = 100

End With

Changing text color

You can apply colors to the fill and stroke of text characters, as shown in the following script fragment

(from the TextColors tutorial script):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Rem Apply a color to the fill of the text.

Set myText = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(1)

myText.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("DGC1_446a")

Rem Use the itemByRange method to apply the color to the stroke of the text.

myText.StrokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446b")

Set myText = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(2)

myText.FillColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446b")

myText.StrokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446a")

myText.StrokeWeight = 3

Creating and applying styles

While you can use scripting to apply local formatting—as in some of the examples earlier in this

chapter—you probably will want to use character and paragraph styles to format your text. Using styles

creates a link between the formatted text and the style, which makes it easier to redefine the style, collect

the text formatted with a given style, or find and/or change the text. Paragraph and character styles are

the keys to text formatting productivity and should be a central part of any script that applies text

formatting.

The following example script fragment shows how to create and apply paragraph and character styles (for

the complete script, see CreateStyles):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Formatting Text 97

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Create a color for use by one of the paragraph styles we'll create.

Set myColor = myAddColor(myDocument, "Red", idColorModel.idProcess,

Array(0, 100, 100, 0))

Rem Create a character style named "myCharacterStyle" if

Rem no style by that name already exists.

Set myCharacterStyle = myAddStyle(myDocument, "myCharacterStyle", 1)

Rem At this point, the variable myCharacterStyle contains a reference to a character

Rem style object, which you can now use to specify formatting.

myCharacterStyle.FillColor = myColor

Rem Create a paragraph style named "myParagraphStyle" if

Rem no style by that name already exists.

Set myParagraphStyle = myAddStyle(myDocument, "myParagraphStyle", 2)

Rem At this point, the variable myParagraphStyle contains a reference to a paragraph

Rem style object, which you can now use to specify formatting.

myTextFrame.ParentStory.Texts.Item(1).ApplyParagraphStyle myParagraphStyle, True

Set myStartCharacter = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Characters.Item(14)

Set myEndCharacter = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Characters.Item(55)

Set myText = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Texts.ItemByRange(myStartCharacter,

myEndCharacter)

myText.Item(1).ApplyCharacterStyle myCharacterStyle, True

Why use the applyParagraphStyle method instead of setting the appliedParagraphStyle property of

the text object? The applyParagraphStyle method gives the ability to override existing formatting;

setting the property to a style retains local formatting.

Why check for the existence of a style when creating a new document? It always is possible that the style

exists as an application default style. If it does, trying to create a new style with the same name results in an

error.

Nested styles apply character-style formatting to a paragraph according to a pattern. The following script

fragment shows how to create a paragraph style containing nested styles (for the complete script, see

NestedStyles):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myParagraphStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("myParagraphStyle")

Rem At this point, the variable myParagraphStyle contains a reference to a paragraph

Rem style object, which you can now use to specify formatting.

Set myNestedStyle = myParagraphStyle.NestedStyles.Add

myNestedStyle.AppliedCharacterStyle =

myDocument.CharacterStyles.Item("myCharacterStyle")

myNestedStyle.Delimiter = "."

myNestedStyle.Inclusive = True

myNestedStyle.Repetition = 1

Rem Note that the story object does not have the ApplyParagraphStyle method.)

Set myText = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1).ParentStory.Texts.Item(1)

myText.ApplyParagraphStyle myParagraphStyle, True

Deleting a style

When you delete a style using the user interface, you can choose the way you want to format any text

tagged with that style. InDesign scripting works the same way, as shown in the following script fragment

(from the RemoveStyle tutorial script):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Finding and Changing Text 98

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myParagraphStyleA = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("myParagraphStyleA")

Rem Delete the paragraph style myParagraphStyleA and replace with myParagraphStyleB.

myParagraphStyleA.Delete myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("myParagraphStyleB")

Importing paragraph and character styles

You can import character and paragraph styles from other InDesign documents, as shown in the following

script fragment (from the ImportTextStyles tutorial script):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myNewDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Import the styles from the saved document.

Rem ImportStyles parameters:

Rem Format as idImportFormat enumeration. Options for text styles are:

Rem idImportFormat.idParagraphStylesFormat

Rem idImportFormat.idCharacterStylesFormat

Rem idImportFormat.idTextStylesFormat

Rem From as string (file path)

Rem GlobalStrategy as idGlobalClashResolutionStrategy enumeration. Options are:

Rem idGlobalClashResolutionStrategy.idDoNotLoadTheStyle

Rem idGlobalClashResolutionStrategy.idLoadAllWithOverwrite

Rem idGlobalClashResolutionStrategy.idLoadAllWithRename

myNewDocument.ImportStyles idImportFormat.idTextStylesFormat, "c:\styles.indd",

idGlobalClashResolutionStrategy.idLoadAllWithOverwrite

Finding and Changing Text

The find/change feature is one of the most powerful InDesign tools for working with text. It is fully

supported by scripting, and scripts can use find/change to go far beyond what can be done using the

InDesign user interface. InDesign has three ways of searching for text:

You can find text and/or text formatting and change it to other text and/or text formatting. This type

of find/change operation uses the findTextPreferences and changeTextPreferences objects to

specify parameters for the findText and changeText methods.

You can find text using regular expressions, or “grep.” This type of find/change operation uses the

findGrepPreferences and changeGrepPreferences objects to specify parameters for the findGrep

and changeGrep methods.

You can find specific glyphs (and their formatting) and replace them with other glyphs and formatting.

This type of find/change operation uses the findGlyphPreferences and changeGlyphPreferences

objects to specify parameters for the findGlyph and changeGlyph methods.

All the find/change methods take one optional parameter, ReverseOrder, which specifies the order in

which the results of the search are returned. If you are processing the results of a find or change operation

in a way that adds or removes text from a story, you might face the problem of invalid text references, as

discussed earlier in this chapter. In this case, you can either construct your loops to iterate backward

through the collection of returned text objects, or you can have the search operation return the results in

reverse order and then iterate through the collection normally.

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Finding and Changing Text 99

About find/change preferences

Before you search for text, you probably will want to clear find and change preferences, to make sure the

settings from previous searches have no effect on your search. You also need to set some find/change

preferences to specify the text, formatting, regular expression, or glyph you want to find and/or change. A

typical find/change operation involves the following steps:

1. Clear the find/change preferences. Depending on the type of find/change operation, this can take one

of the following three forms:

Rem Find/Change text preferences

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Find/Change grep preferences

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Find/Change glyph preferences

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myInDesign.FindGlyphPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGlyphPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

2. Set up search parameters.

3. Execute the find/change operation.

4. Clear find/change preferences again.

Finding and changing text

The following script fragment shows how to find a specified string of text. While the following script

fragment searches the entire document, you also can search stories, text frames, paragraphs, text columns,

or any other text object. The findText method and its parameters are the same for all text objects. (For

the complete script, see FindText.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Clear the find/change text preferences.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Search the document for the string "text".

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences.FindWhat = "text"

Rem Set the find options.

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.CaseSensitive = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeFootnotes = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeHiddenLayers = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedLayersForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedStoriesForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeMasterPages = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.WholeWord = False

Set myFoundItems = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).FindText

MsgBox ("Found " & CStr(myFoundItems.Count) & " instances of the search string.")

Rem Clear the find/change text preferences after the search.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Finding and Changing Text 100

The following script fragment shows how to find a specified string of text and replace it with a different

string (for the complete script, see ChangeText):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Clear the find/change text preferences.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Search the document for the string "copy" and replace with "text".

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences.FindWhat = "copy"

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences.ChangeTo = "text"

Rem Set the find options.

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.CaseSensitive = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeFootnotes = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeHiddenLayers = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedLayersForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedStoriesForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeMasterPages = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.WholeWord = False

Set myFoundItems = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).ChangeText

MsgBox ("Changed " & CStr(myFoundItems.Count) & " instances of the search string.")

Rem Clear the find/change text preferences.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Finding and changing text formatting

To find and change text formatting, you set other properties of the findTextPreferences and

changeTextPreferences objects, as shown in the script fragment below (from the

FindChangeFormatting tutorial script):

Rem Clear the find/change preferences.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Set the find options.

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.CaseSensitive = false

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeFootnotes = false

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeHiddenLayers = false

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedLayersForFind = false

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedStoriesForFind = false

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeMasterPages = false

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.WholeWord = false

Rem Search the document for the 24 point text and change it to 10 point text.

myInDesign.findTextPreferences.pointSize = 24

myInDesign.changeTextPreferences.pointSize = 10

myInDesign.documents.item(1).changeText

Rem Clear the find/change preferences after the search.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Using grep

InDesign supports regular expression find/change through the findGrep and changeGrep methods.

Regular-expression find/change also can find text with a specified format or replace the formatting of the

text with formatting specified in the properties of the changeGrepPreferences object. The following

script fragment shows how to use these methods and the related preferences objects (for the complete

script, see FindGrep):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Finding and Changing Text 101

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Clear the find/change grep preferences.

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Set the find options.

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeFootnotes = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeHiddenLayers = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeLockedLayersForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeLockedStoriesForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeMasterPages = False

Rem Regular expression for finding an email address.

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences.FindWhat = "(?i)[A-Z]*?@[A-Z]*?[.]..."

Rem Apply the change to 24-point text only.

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences.PointSize = 24

myInDesign.ChangeGrepPreferences.Underline = True

myDocument.ChangeGrep

Rem Clear the find/change grep preferences after the search.

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

NOTE: The findChangeGrepOptions object lacks two properties of the findChangeTextOptions object:

wholeWord and caseSensitive. This is because you can set these options using the regular expression

string itself. Use (?i) to turn case sensitivity on and (?-i) to turn case sensitivity off. Use \> to match the

beginning of a word and \< to match the end of a word, or use \b to match a word boundary.

One handy use for grep find/change is to convert text mark-up (i.e., some form of tagging plain text with

formatting instructions) into InDesign formatted text. PageMaker paragraph tags (which are not the same

as PageMaker tagged-text format files) are an example of a simplified text mark-up scheme. In a text file

marked up using this scheme, paragraph style names appear at the start of a paragraph, as shown below:

<heading1>This is a heading.

<body_text>This is body text.

We can create a script that uses grep find in conjunction with text find/change operations to apply

formatting to the text and remove the mark-up tags, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

ReadPMTags tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Access the active document.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

myReadPMTags myInDesign, myStory

Here is the myReadPMTags function referred to in the above script.

Function myReadPMTags(myInDesign, myStory)

Set myDocument = myStory.Parent

Rem Reset the findGrepPreferences to ensure that previous settings

Rem do not affect the search.

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Find the tags.

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences.findWhat = "(?i)^<\s*\w+\s*>"

Set myFoundItems = myStory.findGrep

If myFoundItems.Count <> 0 Then

Set myFoundTags = CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")

For myCounter = 1 To myFoundItems.Count

If Not (myFoundTags.Exists(myFoundItems.Item(myCounter).Contents)) Then

myFoundTags.Add myFoundItems.Item(myCounter).Contents,

myFoundItems.Item(myCounter).Contents

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Finding and Changing Text 102

End If

Rem At this point, we have a list of tags to search for.

For Each myFoundTag In myFoundTags

myString = myFoundTag

Rem Find the tag using findWhat.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences.findWhat = myString

Rem Extract the style name from the tag.

myStyleName = Mid(myString, 2, Len(myString) - 2)

Rem Create the style if it does not already exist.

Set myStyle = myAddStyle(myDocument, myStyleName)

Rem Apply the style to each instance of the tag.

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences.AppliedParagraphStyle = myStyle

myStory.ChangeText

Rem Reset the changeTextPreferences.

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Set the changeTo to an empty string.

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences.ChangeTo = ""

Rem Search to remove the tags.

myStory.ChangeText

Rem Reset the find/change preferences again.

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

End If

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGrepPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

End Function

Using glyph search

You can find and change individual characters in a specific font using the findGlyph and changeGlyph

methods and the associated findGlyphPreferences and changeGlyphPreferences objects. The

following scripts fragment shows how to find and change a glyph in an example document (for the

complete script, see FindChangeGlyph):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Tables 103

Rem Clear the find/change glyph preferences.

myInDesign.FindGlyphPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGlyphPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Rem Set the find options.

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeFootnotes = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeHiddenLayers = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeLockedLayersForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeLockedStoriesForFind = False

myInDesign.FindChangeGrepOptions.IncludeMasterPages = False

Rem You must provide a font that is used in the document for the

Rem AppliedFont property of the FindGlyphPreferences object.

myInDesign.FindGlyphPreferences.AppliedFont = myInDesign.Fonts.Item("Minion Pro" &

vbTab & "Regular")

Rem Provide the glyph ID, not the glyph Unicode value.

myInDesign.FindGlyphPreferences.GlyphID = 374

Rem The appliedFont of the changeGlyphPreferences object can be

Rem any font available to the application.

myInDesign.changeGlyphPreferences.AppliedFont = myInDesign.Fonts.Item("Times New

Roman" & vbTab & "Bold")

myInDesign.changeGlyphPreferences.GlyphID = 85

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).ChangeGlyph

Rem Clear the find/change glyph preferences after the search.

myInDesign.FindGlyphPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeGlyphPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

Working with Tables

Tables can be created from existing text using the convertTextToTable method, or an empty table can

be created at any insertion point in a story. The following script fragment shows three different ways to

create a table (for the complete script, see MakeTable):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

Rem Set the bounds of the text frame.

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

Rem Fill the text frame with placeholder text.

myString = "Table 1" & vbCr

myString = myString & "Column 1" & vbTab & "Column 2" & vbTab & "Column 3" & vbCr & "1a"

& vbTab & "1b" & vbTab & "1c" & vbCr & "2a" & vbTab & "2b" & vbTab & "2c" & vbCr & "3a" &

vbTab & "3b" & vbTab & "3c" & vbCr

myString = myString & "Table 2" & vbCr

myString = myString & "Column 1,Column 2,Column 3;1a,1b,1c;2a,2b,2c;3a,3b,3c" & vbCr

myString = myString & "Table 3" & vbCr

myTextFrame.Contents = myString

Set myStory = myTextFrame.ParentStory

Set myStartCharacter = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(7).Characters.Item(1)

Set myEndCharacter = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(7).Characters.Item(-2)

Set myText = myStory.Texts.ItemByRange(myStartCharacter, myEndCharacter).Item(1)

Rem The convertToTable method takes three parameters:

Rem [ColumnSeparator as string]

Rem [RowSeparator as string]

Rem [NumberOfColumns as integer] (only used if the ColumnSeparator

Rem and RowSeparator values are the same)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Tables 104

Rem In the last paragraph in the story, columns are separated by commas

Rem and rows are separated by semicolons, so we provide those characters

Rem to the method as parameters.

Set myTable = myText.ConvertToTable(",", ";")

Set myStartCharacter = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(2).Characters.Item(1)

Set myEndCharacter = myStory.Paragraphs.Item(5).Characters.Item(-2)

Set myText = myStory.Texts.ItemByRange(myStartCharacter, myEndCharacter).Item(1)

Rem In the second through the fifth paragraphs, colums are separated by

Rem tabs and rows are separated by returns. These are the default delimiter

Rem parameters, so we don't need to provide them to the method.

Set myTable = myText.ConvertToTable

Rem You can also explicitly add a table--you don't have to convert text to a table.

Set myTable = myStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Tables.Add

myTable.ColumnCount = 3

myTable.BodyRowCount = 3

The following script fragment shows how to merge table cells. (For the complete script, see

MergeTableCells.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Set myTable = myStory.Tables.Item(1)

Rem Merge all of the cells in the first column.

myTable.Cells.Item(1).Merge myTable.Columns.Item(1).Cells.Item(-1)

Rem Convert column 2 into 2 cells (rather than 4).

myTable.Columns.Item(2).Cells.Item(-1).Merge myTable.Columns.Item(2).Cells.Item(-2)

myTable.Columns.Item(2).Cells.Item(1).Merge myTable.Columns.Item(2).Cells.Item(2)

Rem Merge the last two cells in row 1.

myTable.Rows.Item(1).Cells.Item(-1).Merge myTable.Rows.Item(1).Cells.Item(-1)

Rem Merge the last two cells in row 3.

myTable.Rows.Item(3).Cells.Item(-2).Merge myTable.Rows.Item(3).Cells.Item(-1)

The following script fragment shows how to split table cells. (For the complete script, see SplitTableCells.)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Set myTable = myStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Tables.Add

myTable.ColumnCount = 1

myTable.BodyRowCount = 1

myArray = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myWidth = myArray(3) - myArray(1)

myTable.Columns.Item(1).Width = myWidth

myTable.Cells.Item(1).Split idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

myTable.Columns.Item(1).Split idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

myTable.Cells.Item(1).Split idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

myTable.Rows.Item(-1).Split idHorizontalOrVertical.idHorizontal

myTable.Cells.Item(-1).Split idHorizontalOrVertical.idVertical

For myRowCounter = 1 To myTable.Rows.Count

Set myRow = myTable.Rows.Item(myRowCounter)

For myCellCounter = 1 To myRow.Cells.Count

myString = "Row: " & myRowCounter & " Cell: " & myCellCounter

myRow.Cells.Item(myCellCounter).contents = myString

The following script fragment shows how to create header and footer rows in a table (for the complete

script, see HeaderAndFooterRows):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Tables 105

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Rem Create a text frame on page 1.

Set myTable = myDocument.Stories.Item(1).Tables.Item(1)

Rem Convert the first row to a header row.

myTable.Rows.Item(1).RowType = idRowTypes.idHeaderRow

Rem Convert the last row to a footer row.

myTable.Rows.Item(-1).RowType = idRowTypes.idFooterRow

The following script fragment shows how to apply formatting to a table (for the complete script, see

TableFormatting):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Set myTable = myStory.Tables.Item(1)

Rem Convert the first row to a header row.

myTable.Rows.Item(1).RowType = idRowTypes.idHeaderRow

Rem Use a reference to a swatch, rather than to a color.

myTable.Rows.Item(1).FillColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446b")

myTable.Rows.Item(1).FillTint = 40

myTable.Rows.Item(2).FillColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446a")

myTable.Rows.Item(2).FillTint = 40

myTable.Rows.Item(3).FillColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446a")

myTable.Rows.Item(3).FillTint = 20

myTable.Rows.Item(4).FillColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446a")

myTable.Rows.Item(4).FillTint = 40

Rem Iterate through the cells to apply the cell stroke formatting.

For myCounter = 1 To myTable.Cells.Count

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).TopEdgeStrokeColor =

myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446b")

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).TopEdgeStrokeWeight = 1

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).BottomEdgeStrokeColor =

myDocument.Swatches.Item("DGC1_446b")

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).BottomEdgeStrokeWeight = 1

Rem When you set a cell stroke to a swatch, make certain that

Remyou also set the stroke weight.

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).LeftEdgeStrokeColor =

myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).LeftEdgeStrokeWeight = 0

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).RightEdgeStrokeColor =

myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myTable.Cells.Item(myCounter).RightEdgeStrokeWeight = 0

The following script fragment shows how to add alternating row formatting to a table (for the complete

script, see AlternatingRows):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myTable = myDocument.stories.Item(1).tables.Item(1)

Rem Apply alternating fills to the table.

myTable.alternatingFills = idAlternatingFillsTypes.idAlternatingRows

myTable.startRowFillColor = myDocument.swatches.Item("DGC1_446a")

myTable.startRowFillTint = 60

myTable.endRowFillColor = myDocument.swatches.Item("DGC1_446b")

myTable.endRowFillTint = 50

The following script fragment shows how to process the selection when text or table cells are selected. In

this example, the script displays an alert for each selection condition, but a real production script would

then do something with the selected item(s). (For the complete script, see TableSelection.)

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Adding Path Text 106

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count <> 0 Then

If myInDesign.Selection.Count <> 0 Then

Select Case TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(1))

Rem When a row, a column, or a range of cells is selected,

Rem the type returned is "Cell"

Case "Cell"

MsgBox ("A cell is selected.")

Case "Table"

MsgBox ("A table is selected.")

Case "InsertionPoint", "Character", "Word", "TextStyleRange",

"Line", "Paragraph", "TextColumn", "Text"

If TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(1).Parent) = "Cell" Then

MsgBox ("The selection is inside a table cell.")

End If

Case "Rectangle", "Oval", "Polygon", "GraphicLine"

If TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(1).Parent.Parent) = "Cell" Then

MsgBox ("The selection is inside a table cell.")

End If

Case "Image", "PDF", "EPS"

If TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(1).Parent.Parent.Parent) =

"Cell" Then

MsgBox ("The selection is inside a table cell.")

End If

Case Else

MsgBox ("The selection is not inside a table.")

End Select

End If

Adding Path Text

You can add path text to any rectangle, oval, polygon, graphic line, or text frame. The following script

fragment shows how to add path text to a page item (for the complete script, see PathText):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Rem Create a rectangle on the first page.

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 288, 288)

Set myTextPath = myTextFrame.TextPaths.Add

myTextPath.Contents = "This is path text."

To link text paths to another text path or text frame, use the nextTextFrame and previousTextFrame

properties, just as you would for a text frame (see “Working with Text Frames” on page 84).

Using Autocorrect

The autocorrect feature can correct text as you type. The following script shows how to use it (for the

complete script, see Autocorrect):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Adding Footnotes 107

ReDim myNewWordPairList(0)

Rem Add a word pair to the autocorrect list. Each

Rem AutoCorrectTable is linked to a specific language.

Set myAutoCorrectTable = myInDesign.AutoCorrectTables.Item("English: USA")

Rem To safely add a word pair to the auto correct table, get the current

Rem word pair list, then add the new word pair to that array, and then

Rem set the autocorrect word pair list to the array.

myWordPairList = myAutoCorrectTable.AutoCorrectWordPairList

ReDim myNewWordPairList(UBound(myWordPairList)+1)

For myCounter = 0 To UBound(myWordPairList)

myNewWordPairList(myCounter) = myWordPairList(myCounter)

Rem Add a new word pair to the array.

myNewWordPairList(UBound(myNewWordPairList)) = (Array("paragarph", "paragraph"))

Rem Update the word pair list.

myAutoCorrectTable.AutoCorrectWordPairList = myNewWordPairList

Rem To clear all autocorrect word pairs in the current dictionary:

Rem myAutoCorrectTable.autoCorrectWordPairList = array(())

Rem Turn autocorrect on if it's not on already.

If myInDesign.AutoCorrectPreferences.AutoCorrect = False Then

myInDesign.AutoCorrectPreferences.AutoCorrect = True

End If

myInDesign.AutoCorrectPreferences.AutoCorrectCapitalizationErrors = True

Adding Footnotes

The following script fragment shows how to add footnotes to a story (for the complete script, including

the myGetRandom function, see Footnotes):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

With myDocument.FootnoteOptions

.SeparatorText = vbTab

.MarkerPositioning = idFootnoteMarkerPositioning.idSuperscriptMarker

End With

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Item(1)

Rem Add four footnotes at random locations in the story.

For myCounter = 1 To 4

myRandomNumber = CLng(myGetRandom(1, myTextFrame.ParentStory.Words.Count))

Set myWord = myTextFrame.ParentStory.Words.Item(myRandomNumber)

Set myFootnote = myWord.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Footnotes.Add

Rem Note: when you create a footnote, it contains text--the footnote marker

Rem and the separator text (if any). If you try to set the text of the footnote

Rem by setting the footnote contents, you will delete the marker. Instead, append

Rem the footnote text, as shown below.

myFootnote.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents = "This is a footnote."

Spanning Columns

A paragraph layout can span multiple columns or split into subcolumns with the Span Columns attribute

or Split Column attribute applied. The following script fragment shows how to set the Span Columns and

Split Column style for a paragraph (for the complete script, see SpanColumns):

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Setting Text Preferences 108

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.ActiveDocument

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myTextFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Item(1)

myTextFrame.TextFramePreferences.TextColumnCount = 3

Set myStory = myTextFrame.ParentStory

Rem Split Column

With myStory.Paragraphs.Item(1)

.SpanColumnType = idSpanColumnTypeOptions.idSplitColumns

.SpanSplitColumnCount = 2

.SplitColumnOutsideGutter = 0

.SplitColumnInsideGutter = 1

End With

Rem Span Columns

mySpanIndex = myStory.Paragraphs.Count \ 2 + 1

With myStory.Paragraphs.Item(mySpanIndex)

.SpanColumnType = idSpanColumnTypeOptions.idSpanColumns

.SpanSplitColumnCount = idSpanColumnCountOptions.idAll

End With

Setting Text Preferences

The following script shows how to set general text preferences (for the complete script, see

TextPreferences):

With myInDesign.TextPreferences

.AbutTextToTextWrap = True

.AddPages = idAddPageOptions.idEndOfDocument

Rem baseline shift key increment can range from .001 to 200 points.

.BaselineShiftKeyIncrement = 1

.DeleteEmptyPages = False

.EnableStylePreviewMode = False

.HighlightCustomSpacing = False

.HighlightHjViolations = True

.HighlightKeeps = True

.HighlightSubstitutedFonts = True

.HighlightSubstitutedGlyphs = True

.JustifyTextWraps = True

Rem kerning key increment value is 1/1000 of an em.

.KerningKeyIncrement = 10

Rem leading key increment value can range from .001 to 200 points.

.LeadingKeyIncrement = 1

.LimitToMasterTextFrames = False

.LinkTextFilesWhenImporting = False

.PreserveFacingPageSpreads = False

.ShowInvisibles = True

.SmallCap = 60

.SmartTextReflow = False

.SubscriptPosition = 30

.SubscriptSize = 60

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Linked Stories 109

.SuperscriptPosition = 30

.SuperscriptSize = 60

.TypographersQuotes = False

.UseOpticalSize = False

.UseParagraphLeading = False

.ZOrderTextWrap = False

End With

Rem Text editing preferences are application-wide.

With myInDesign.TextEditingPreferences

.AllowDragAndDropTextInStory = True

.DragAndDropTextInLayout = True

.SingleClickConvertsFramesToTextFrames = True

.SmartCutAndPaste = True

.TripleClickSelectsLine = False

End With

Working with Linked Stories

Linked stories make it easier to manager multiple versions of the same story or text content in the same

document; it makes it easier to support emerging digital publishing workflows, where, for example, you

need to design for vertical and horizontal layouts. Linked stories behave similarly to traditional links. You

can designate a story as a parent, and then place the same story at other places in the document as child

stories. Whenever the parent story is updated, the child stories are flagged in the Links panel and can be

updated to synchronize with the parent story.

Creating linked stories

There are several ways to create a linked story. It can be created by linking existing text frames with the

parent story, or by telling the Page, Spread, Master or Document object to create the text frame at the

specified location and link it with the parent story.

To link an existing text frame with the parent story, use the following script (for the complete script, see

CreateLinkedStories).

childTextFrame1.PlaceAndLink myTextFrame.ParentStory, False

If you specify true for the second parameter, which is optional, the linked story options dialog opens;

otherwise, the default options are used.

To tell the Page object to create a linked story for the parent story, the PlaceAndLink method includes two

additional parameters that you can use to specify the layer and point at which to place the linked story, as

shown in the following script fragment (for the complete script, see CreateLinkedStories).

Set newPage = myDocument.Pages.Add

newPage.PlaceAndLink myTextFrame.ParentStory, Array(originY, originX),

myDocument.ActiveLayer, False

To tell the Spread object to create linked story for the parent story, the PlaceAndLink method takes the

same parameters as the PlaceAndLink method for Page object, as shown in the following script fragment

(for the complete script, see CreateLinkedStories).

Set newSpread = myDocument.Spreads.Add

newSpread.PlaceAndLink myTextFrame.ParentStory, Array(originY, originX),

myDocument.ActiveLayer, False

CHAPTER 5: Text and Type Working with Linked Stories 110

You can also call the PlaceAndLink method for the Document object. The method takes the parent story as

the only parameter. This method does not create the linked story; instead, it loads the place gun and lets

the user decide where to place the linked story.

Changing linked story options

To change the linked story options, use the following script fragment (for the complete script, see

CreateLinkedStories).

With myDocument.LinkedStoryOptions

.RemoveForcedLineBreaks = True

.UpdateWhileSaving = True

.WarnOnUpdateOfEditedStory = True

End With

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell whether a given link is a link for a linked story?

Use Link.FilePath. If it is empty, then it is a link for a linked story.

Given a link for linked story, how can I get its link source?

Use this to select the link source:

Link.EditOriginal

Then use this to find the active selection, which is the link source:

Application.Selection

111

6Working with Page Items

This chapter covers scripting techniques related to the page items (rectangles, ellipses, graphic lines,

polygons, text frames, buttons, and groups) that can appear in an InDesign layout.

This document discusses the following:

Creating page items.

Page item geometry.

Working with paths and path points.

Creating groups.

Duplicating and moving page items.

Transforming page items.

Working with articles.

Creating Page Items

Page items in an InDesign layout are arranged in a hierarchy, and appear within a container object of some

sort. Spreads, pages, other page items, groups, and text characters are all examples of objects that can

contain page items. This hierarchy of containers in the InDesign scripting object model is the same as in

the InDesign user interface--when you create a rectangle by dragging the Rectangle tool on a page, you

are specifying that the page is the container, or parent, of the rectangle. When you paste an ellipse into a

polygon, you are specifying that the polygon is the parent of the ellipse, which, in turn, is a child object of

its parent, a page.

In general, creating a new page item is as simple as telling the object you want to contain the page item to

create the page item, as shown in the MakeRectangle script.

Rem Given a page "myPage", create a new rectangle at the default size and location

myPage.Rectangles.Add

In the above script, a new rectangle is created on the first page of a new document. The rectangle appears

at the default location (near the upper left corner of the page) and has a default size (around ten points

square). Moving the rectangle and changing its dimensions are both accomplished by filling its geometric

bounds property with new values, as shown in the MakeRectangleWithProperties script.

Rem Given a page "myPage", create a new rectangle and specify its size and location...

Set myRectangle = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myRectangle.GeometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Creating Page Items 112

Page item types

It is important to note that you cannot create a “generic” page item--you have to create a page item of a

specific type (a rectangle, oval, graphic line, polygon, text frame, or button). You will also notice that

InDesign changes the type of a page item as the geometry of the page item changes. A rectangle, for

example, is always made up of a single, closed path containing four path points and having 90 degree

interior angles. Change the location of a single point, however, or add another path, and the type of the

page item changes to a polygon. Open the path and remove two of the four points, and InDesign will

change the type to a graphic line. The only things that define the type of a rectangle, ellipse, graphic line,

or polygon are:

The number of paths in the object. Any page item with more than one path is a polygon.

The number and location of points on the first path in the object.

To determine the type of a page item, use this example:

myPageItemType = TypeName(myPageItem)

The result of the above will be a string containing the type of the page item.

Getting the type of a page item

When you have a reference to a generic page item, and want to find out what type of a page item it is, use

TypeName to get the specific type.

Rem Given a generic page item "myPageItem"...

myType = TypeName(myPageItem)

MsgBox myType

Referring to page items

When you refer to page items inside a given container (a document, layer, page, spread, group, text frame,

or page item), you use the PageItems collection of the container object. This gives you a collection of the

top level page items inside the object. For example:

Rem Given a reference to InDesign "myInDesign"...

SSet myPageItems = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).PageItems

The resulting collection (myPageItems) does not include objects inside groups (though it does include the

group), objects inside other page items (thought it does contain the parent page item), or page items in

text frames. To get a reference to all of the items in a given container, including items nested inside other

page items, use the AllPageItems property.

Rem Given a reference to InDesign "myInDesign"...

Set myAllPageItems = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).AllPageItems

The resulting collection (myAllPageItems) includes all objects on the page, regardless of their position in

the hierarchy.

Another way to refer to page items is to use their label property, much as you can use the name property

of other objects (such as paragraph styles or layers). In the following examples, we will get an array of page

items whose label has been set to myLabel.

Rem Given a reference to InDesign "myInDesign"...

Set myPageItems = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).PageItems.Item("myLabel")

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Creating Page Items 113

If no page items on the page have the specified label, InDesign returns an empty array.

Page-item geometry

If you are working with page items, it is almost impossible to do anything without understanding the way

that rulers and measurements work together to specify the location and shape of an InDesign page item. If

you use the Control panel in InDesign’s user interface, you probably are already familiar with InDesign’s

geometry, but here is a quick summary:

Object are constructed relative to the coordinates shown on the rulers.

Changing the zero point location by either dragging the zero point or by changing the ruler origin

changes the coordinates on the rulers.

Page items are made up of one or more paths, which, in turn, are made up of two or more path points.

Paths can be open or closed.

Path points contain an anchor point (the location of the point itself) and two control handles (left

direction, which controls the curve of the line segment preceding the point on the path; and right

direction, which controls the curve of the segment following the point). Each of these properties

contains an array in the form (x, y) (where x is the horizontal location of the point, and y is the vertical

location). This array holds the location, in current ruler coordinates, of the point or control handle.

All of the above means that if your scripts need to construct page items, you also need to control the

location of the zero point, and you may want to set the measurement units in use.

Working with paths and path points

For most simple page items, you do not need to worry about the paths and path points that define the

shape of the object. Rectangles, ellipses, and text frames can be created by specifying their geometric

bounds, as we did in the earlier example in this chapter.

In some cases, however, you may want to construct or change the shape of a path by specifying path point

locations, you can either set the anchor point, left direction, and right direction of each path point on the

path individually (as shown in the DrawRegularPolygon_Slow script), or you can use the EntirePath

property of the path to set all of the path point locations at once (as shown in the

DrawRegularPolygon_Fast script). The latter approach is much faster.

The items in the array you use for the EntirePath property can contain anchor points only, or a anchor

points and control handles. Here is an example array containing only anchor point locations:

Array(Array(x1, y1), Array(x2, y2), ...)

Where x and y specify the location of the anchor.

Here is an example containing fully-specified path points (i.e., arrays containing the left direction, anchor,

and right direction, in that order):

Array(Array(Array(xL1, YL1), Array(x1, y1), Array(xR1, yR1)), Array(Array(xL2, YL2),

Array(x2, y2), Array(xR2, yR2)), ...)

Where xL and yL specify the left direction, x and y specify the anchor point, and xR and yR specify the right

direction.

You can also mix the two approaches, as shown in the following example:

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Grouping Page Items 114

Array(Array(Array(xL1, YL1), Array(x1, y1), Array(xR1, yR1)), Array(x2, y2), ...)

Note that the original path does not have to have the same number of points as you specify in the

array—InDesign will add or subtract points from the path as it applies the array to the EntirePath property.

The AddPathPoint script shows how to add path points to a path without using the EntirePath property.

Rem Given a graphic line "myGraphicLine"...

Set myPathPoint = myGraphicLine.Paths.Item(1).PathPoints.Add

Rem Move the path point to a specific location.

myPathPoint.Anchor = Array(144, 144)

The DeletePathPoint script shows how to delete a path point from a path.

Rem Given a polygon "myPolygon", remove the

Rem last path point in the first path.

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).PathPoints.Item(-1).Delete

Grouping Page Items

In the InDesign user interface, you create groups of page items by selecting them and then choosing

Group from the Object menu (or by pressing the corresponding keyboard shortcut). In InDesign scripting,

you tell the object containing the page items you want to group (usually a page or spread) to group the

page items, as shown in the Group script.

Rem Given a page "myPage" containing at least two ovals and two rectangles...

ReDim myArray(0)

Rem Add the items to the array.

myPush myArray, myPage.Rectangles.Item(1), True

myPush myArray, myPage.Rectangles.Item(2), True

myPush myArray, myPage.Ovals.Item(1), True

Rem Group the items.

myPage.Groups.Add myArray

To ungroup, you tell the group itself to ungroup, as shown in the Ungroup script.

Rem Given a group "myGroup"...

Set myPageItems = myGroup.Ungroup

There is no need to ungroup a group to change the shape, formatting, or content of the page items in the

group. Instead, simply get a reference to the page item you want to change, just as you would with any

other page item.

Duplicating and Moving Page Items

In the InDesign user interface, you can move page items by selecting them and dragging them to a new

location. You can also create copies of page items by copying and pasting, by holding down Option/Alt as

you drag an object, or by choosing Duplicate, Paste In Place, or Step and Repeat from the Edit menu. In

InDesign scripting, you can use the move method to change the location of page items, and the duplicate

method to create a copy of a page item (and, optionally, move it to another location).

The move method can take one of two optional parameters: MoveTo and MoveBy. Both parameters consist

of an array of two measurement units, consisting of a horizontal value and a vertical value. MoveTo

specifies an absolute move to the location specified by the array, relative to the current location of the zero

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Duplicating and Moving Page Items 115

point. MoveBy specifies how far to move the page item relative to the current location of the page item

itself. The Move script shows the difference between these two approaches.

Rem Given a reference to a rectangle "myRectangle"...

Rem Move the rectangle to the location (12, 12).

Rem Absolute move:

myRectangle.Move Array(12, 12)

Rem Move the rectangle *by* 12 points horizontally, 12 points vertically.

Rem Relative move (note empty first parameter):

myRectangle.Move , Array(12, 12)

Rem Move the rectangle to another page (rectangle appears at (0,0).

Set myPage = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Add

myRectangle.Move myPage

Rem To move a page item to another document, use the Duplicate method.

Note that the move method truly moves the object—when you move a page item to another document, it

is deleted from the original document. To move the object to another while retaining the original, use the

duplicate method (see below).

Use the duplicate method to create a copy of a page item. By default, the duplicate method creates a

“clone” of an object in the same location as the original object. Optional parameters can be used with the

duplicate method to move the duplicated object to a new location (including other pages in the same

document, or to another document entirely).

Rem Given a reference to a rectangle "myRectangle"...

Rem Duplicate the rectangle and move the

Rem duplicate to the location (12, 12).

Rem Absolute move:

Set myDuplicate = myRectangle.Duplicate(Array(12, 12))

Rem Duplicate the rectangle and move the duplicate *by* 12

Rem points horizontally, 12 points vertically.

Rem Relative move (note empty first parameter):

Set myDuplicate = myRectangle.Duplicate (, Array(12, 12))

Rem Duplicate the rectangle to another page (rectangle appears at (0,0).

Set myPage = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Add

Set myDuplicate = myRectangle.Duplicate(myPage)

Rem Duplicate the rectangle to another document.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myDuplicate = myRectangle.Duplicate(myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

You can also use copy and paste in InDesign scripting, but scripts using on these methods require that you

select objects (to copy) and rely on the current view to set the location of the pasted elements (when you

paste). This means that scripts that use copy and paste tend to be more fragile (i.e., more likely to fail) than

scripts that use duplicate and move. Whenever possible, try to write scripts that do not depend on the

current view or selection state.

Creating compound paths

InDesign can combine the paths of two or more page items into a single page item containing multiple

paths using the Object > Paths > Make Compound Path menu option. You can do this in InDesign scripting

using the MakeCompoundPath method of a page item, as shown in the following script fragment (for the

complete script, refer to the MakeCompoundPath script).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and an Oval "myOval"...

myRectangle.MakeCompoundPath myOval

When you create a compound path, regardless of the types of the objects used to create the compound

path, the type of the resulting object is polygon.

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Duplicating and Moving Page Items 116

To release a compound path and convert each path in the compound path into a separate page item, use

the ReleaseCompoundPath method of a page item, as shown in the following script fragment (for the

complete script, refer to the ReleaseCompoundPath script).

Rem Given a polygon "myPolygon" (all compound paths are type Polygon)...

Set mPageItems = myPolygon.ReleaseCompoundPath

Using Pathfinder operations

The InDesign Pathfinder features offer ways to work with relationships between page items on an

InDesign page. You can merge the paths of page items, or subtract the area of one page item from another

page item, or create a new page item from the area of intersection of two or more page items. Every page

item supports the following methods related to the Pathfinder features: AddPath, ExcludeOverlapPath,

IntersectPath, MinusBack, and SubtractPath.

All of the Pathfinder methods work the same way--you provide an array of page items to use as the basis

for the operation (just as you select a series of page items before choosing the Pathfinder operation in the

user interface).

Note that it is very likely that the type of the object will change after you apply one of the Pathfinder

operations. Which object type it will change to depends on the number and location of the points in the

path or paths resulting from the operation.

To merge two page items into a single page item, for example, you would use something like the approach

shown in the following fragment (for the complete script, refer to AddPath).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and an Oval "myOval"...

myRectangle.AddPath myOval

The ExcludeOverlapPath method creates a new path based on the non-intersecting areas of two or more

overlapping page items, as shown in the following script fragment (for the complete script, refer to

ExcludeOverlapPath).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and an Oval "myOval"...

myRectangle.ExcludeOverlapPath myOval

The IntersectPath method creates a new page item from the area of intersection of two or more page

items, as shown in the following script fragment (for the complete script, refer to IntersectPath).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and an Oval "myOval"...

myRectangle.IntersectPath myOval

The MinusBack method removes the area of intersection of the back-most object from the page item or

page items in front of it, as shown in the following script fragment (for the complete script, refer to

MinusBack).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and an Oval "myOval"...

myRectangle.MinusBack myOval

The SubtractPath method removes the area of intersection of the frontmost object from the page item or

page items behind it, as shown in the following script fragment (for the complete script, refer to

SubtractPath).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and an Oval "myOval"...

myOval.SubtractPath myRectangle

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 117

Converting page-item shapes

InDesign page items can be converted to other shapes using the options in the Object > Convert Shape

menu or the Pathfinder panel (Window > Object and Layout > Pathfinder). In InDesign scripting, page

items support the ConvertShape method, as demonstrated in the following script fragment (for the

complete script, refer to ConvertShape).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle"...

myRectangle.ConvertShape idConvertShapeOptions.idConvertToRoundedRectangle

The ConvertShape method also provides a way to open or close reverse paths, as shown in the following

script fragment (for the complete script, refer to OpenPath).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle"...

myRectangle.ConvertShape idConvertShapeOptions.idConvertToOpenPath

Arranging page items

Page items in an InDesign layout can be arranged in front of or behind each other by adjusting their

stacking order within a layer, or can be placed on different layers. The following script fragment shows how

to bring objects to the front or back of their layer, and how to control the stacking order of objects relative

to each other (for the complete script, refer to StackingOrder).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and an oval "myOval",

Rem where "myOval" is in front of "myRectangle", bring

Rem the rectangle to the front...

myRectangle.BringToFront

When you create a page item, you can specify its layer, but you can also move a page item from one layer

to another. The item layeritemLayerItemLayer property of the page item is the key to doing this, as shown

in the following script fragment (for the complete script, refer to ItemLayer).

Rem Given a rectangle "myRectangle" and a layer "myLayer",

Rem send the rectangle to the layer...

myRectangle.ItemLayer = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Layers.Item("myLayer")

The stacking order of layers in a document can also be changed using the Move method of the layer itself,

as shown in the following script fragment (for the complete script, refer to MoveLayer).

Rem Given a layer "myLayer", move the layer behind

Rem the default layer (the lowest layer in the document

Rem is Layers.Item(-1).

myLayer.Move idLocationOptions.idAfter, myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Layers.Item(-1)

Transforming Page Items

Transformations include scaling, rotation, shearing (skewing), and movement (or translation). In scripting,

you apply transformations using the transform method. This one method replaces the resize, rotate,

and shear methods used in versions of InDesign prior to InDesign CS3 (5.0).

Using the transform method

The transform method requires a transformation matrix (TransformationMatrix) object that defines

the transformation or series of transformations to apply to the object. A transformation matrix can contain

any combination of scale, rotate, shear, or translate operations.

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 118

The order in which transformations are applied to an object is important. Applying transformations in

differing orders can produce very different results.

To transform an object, you follow two steps:

1. Create a transformation matrix.

2. Apply the transformation matrix to the object using the transform method. When you do this, you

also specify the coordinate system in which the transformation is to take place. For more on

coordinate systems, see “Coordinate spaces” on page 120. In addition, you specify the center of

transformation, or transformation origin. For more on specifying the transformation origin, see

“Transformation origin” on page 122.

The following scripting example demonstrates the basic process of transforming a page item. (For the

complete script, see TransformExamples.)

Rem Rotate a rectangle "myRectangle" around its center point.

set myRotateMatrix = myInDesign.transformationMatrices.add(, , , 27)

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myRotateMatrix

Rem Scale a rectangle "myRectangle" around its center point.

set myScaleMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(.5, .5)

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myScaleMatrix

Rem Shear a rectangle "myRectangle" around its center point.

set myShearMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , 30)

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myShearMatrix

Rem Rotate a rectangle "myRectangle" around a specified ruler point ([72, 72]).

Set myRotateMatrix = myInDesign.transformationMatrices.add(, , , 27)

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates, Array(Array(72, 72),

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor), myRotateMatrix, , True

Rem Scale a rectangle "myRectangle" around a specified ruler point ([72, 72]).

Set myScaleMatrix = myInDesign.transformationMatrices.add(.5, .5)

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates, Array(Array(72, 72),

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor), myScaleMatrix, , True

For a script that “wraps” transformation routines in a series of easy-to-use functions, refer to the Transform

script.

Working with transformation matrices

A transformation matrix cannot be changed once it has been created, but a variety of methods can

interact with the transformation matrix to create a new transformation matrix based on the existing

transformation matrix. In the following examples, we show how to apply transformations to a

transformation matrix and replace the original matrix. (For the complete script, see TransformMatrix.)

Rem Scale a transformation matrix by 50% in

Rem both horizontal and vertical dimensions.

var myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.scaleMatrix(.5, .5);

//Rotate a transformation matrix by 45 degrees.

myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.rotateMatrix(45);

//Shear a transformation matrix by 15 degrees.

myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.shearMatrix(15);

When you use the RotateMatrix method, you can use a sine or cosine value to transform the matrix,

rather than an angle in degrees, as shown in the RotateMatrix script.

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 119

Rem The following statements are equivalent

Rem (0.25881904510252 is the sine of 15 degrees; 0.96592582628907, the cosine).

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.RotateMatrix(15)

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.RotateMatrix(, 0.96592582628907);

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.RotateMatrix(, ,

0.25881904510252);

When you use the shearMatrixmethod, you can provide a slope, rather than an angle in degrees, as

shown in the ShearMatrix script.

Set myRectangle = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).Rectangles.Item(1)

Set myTransformationMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , 0)

Rem ShearMatrix can take the following parameters: byAngle, bySlope

Rem Replace the current matrix with the sheared matrix.

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.ShearMatrix(45)

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

Rem The following statements are equivalent.

Rem slope = rise/run--so a 45 degree slope is 1.

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.shearMatrix(45)

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.shearMatrix(, 1)

You can get the inverse of a transformation matrix using the InvertMatrix method, as shown in the

following example. (For the complete script, see InvertMatrix.) You can use the inverted transformation

matrix to undo the effect of the matrix.

Set myRectangle = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).Rectangles.Item(1)

Set myTransformationMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , 30, 12, 12)

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

Set myNewRectangle = myRectangle.Duplicate

Rem Move the duplicated rectangle to the location of the original

Rem rectangle by inverting, then applying the transformation matrix.

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformationMatrix.InvertMatrix

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

You can add transformation matrices using the CatenateMatrix method, as shown in the following

example. (For the complete script, see CatenateMatrix.)

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 120

Rem Transformation matrix with counterclockwise rotation angle = 30.

Set myTransformationMatrixA = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , 30)

Rem Transformation matrix with horizontal translation = 12,

Rem vertical translation = 12.

Set myTransformationMatrixB = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , , 12, 12)

Set myRectangle = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).Rectangles.Item(1)

Set myNewRectangle = myRectangle.Duplicate

Rem Rotate the duplicated rectangle.

myNewRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrixA

Set myNewRectangle = myRectangle.Duplicate

Rem Move the duplicate (unrotated) rectangle.

myNewRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrixB)

Rem Merge the two transformation matrices.

Set myTransformationMatrix =

myTransformationMatrixA.CatenateMatrix(myTransformationMatrixB)

Set myNewRectangle = myRectangle.Duplicate

Rem The duplicated rectangle will be both moved and rotated.

myNewRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

When an object is transformed, you can get the transformation matrix that was applied to it, using the

TransformValuesOf method, as shown in the following script fragment. (For the complete script, see

TransformValuesOf.)

Set myRectangle = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).Rectangles.Item(1)

Rem Note that transformValuesOf() always returns an array containing a single

transformationMatrix.

Set myTransformArray =

myRectangle.TransformValuesOf(idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates)

Set myTransformationMatrix = myTransformArray.Item(1)

myRotationAngle = myTransformationMatrix.CounterclockwiseRotationAngle

myShearAngle = myTransformationMatrix.ClockwiseShearAngle

myXScale = myTransformationMatrix.HorizontalScaleFactor

myYScale = myTransformationMatrix.VerticalScaleFactor

myXTranslate = myTransformationMatrix.HorizontalTranslation

myYTranslate = myTransformationMatrix.VerticalTranslation

myString = "Rotation Angle: " & myRotationAngle & vbCr

myString = myString & "Shear Angle: " & myShearAngle & vbCr

myString = myString & "Horizontal Scale Factor: " & myXScale & vbCr

myString = myString & "Vertical Scale Factor: " & myYScale & vbCr

myString = myString & "Horizontal Translation: " & myXTranslate & vbCr

myString = myString & "Vertical Translation: " & myYTranslate & vbCr & vbCr

myString = myString & "Note that the Horizontal Translation and" & vbCr

myString = myString & "Vertical Translation values are the location" & vbCr

myString = myString & "of the center anchor in pasteboard coordinates."

MsgBox myString

NOTE: The values in the horizontal- and vertical-translation fields of the transformation matrix returned by

this method are the location of the upper-left anchor of the object, in pasteboard coordinates.

Coordinate spaces

In the transformation scripts we presented earlier, you might have noticed the

CoordinateSpaces.pasteboardCoordinates enumeration provided as a parameter for the transform

method. This parameter determines the system of coordinates, or coordinate space, in which the transform

operation occurs. The coordinate space can be one of the following values:

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 121

idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates is the coordinate space of the entire InDesign

document. This coordinate space extends behind all spreads in a document. It does not correspond to

InDesign’s rulers or zero point, nor does it have anything to do with the pasteboard area you can see

around pages in the InDesign user interface. Transformations applied to objects have no effect on this

coordinate space (e.g., the angle of the horizontal and vertical axes do not change).

idCoordinateSpaces.idParentCoordinates is the coordinate space of the parent of the object.

Any transformations applied to the parent affect the parent coordinates; for example, rotating the

parent object changes the angle of the horizontal and vertical axes of this coordinate space. In this

case, the parent object refers to the group or page item containing the object; if the parent of the

object is a page or spread, parent coordinates are the same as spread coordinates.

idCoordinateSpaces.idInnerCoordinates is the coordinate space in which the object itself was

created.

idCoordinateSpaces.idSpreadCoordinates is the coordinate space of the spread. The origin of this

space is at the center of the spread, and does not correspond to the rulers you see in the user interface.

The following script shows the differences between the coordinate spaces. (For the complete script, see

CoordinateSpaces.)

Set myRectangle =

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1).Groups.Item(1).Rectangles.Item(1)'

myString = "The page contains a group which has been" & vbCr

myString = myString & "rotated 45 degrees (counterclockwise)." & vbCr

myString = myString & "The rectangle inside the group was" & vbCr

myString = myString & "rotated 45 degrees counterclockwise" & vbCr

myString = myString & "before it was added to the group." & vbCr & vbcr

myString = myString & "Watch as we apply a series of scaling" & vbCr

myString = myString & "operations in different coordinate spaces." & vbCr & vbCr

myString = myString & "(You might need to move the alert aside" & vbCr

myString = myString & "to see the effect of the transformations.)" & vbCr

MsgBox myString

Rem Create a transformation matrix with horizontal scale factor = 2.

Set myTransformationMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(2)

Rem Transform the rectangle using inner coordinates.

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idInnerCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

Rem Select the rectangle and display an alert.

myInDesign.Select myRectangle

MsgBox "Transformed by inner coordinates."

Rem Undo the transformation.

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Undo

Rem Transform using parent coordinates.

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idParentCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

myInDesign.Select myRectangle

MsgBox "Transformed by parent coordinates."

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Undo

Rem Transform using pasteboard coordinates.

myRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

myInDesign.Select myRectangle

MsgBox "Transformed by pasteboard coordinates."

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Undo

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 122

Transformation origin

The transformation origin is the center point of the transformation. The transformation origin can be

specified in several ways:

Bounds space:

anchor — An anchor point on the object itself.

AnchorPoint.CenterAnchor

anchor, bounds type — An anchor point specified relative to the geometric bounds of the object

(BoundingBoxLimits.GeometricPathBounds) or the visible bounds of the object

(BoundingBoxLimits.OuterStrokeBounds).

Array(idAnchorPoint.idBottomLeftAnchor,

idBoundingBoxLimits.idOuterStrokeBounds)

anchor, bounds type, coordinate system — An anchor point specified as the geometric bounds of

the object (BoundingBoxLimits.GeometricPathBounds) or the visible bounds of the object

(BoundingBoxLimits.OuterStrokeBounds) in a given coordinate space.

Array(idAnchorPoint.idBottomLeftAnchor,

idBoundingBoxLimits.idOuterStrokeBounds,

idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates)

(x,y), bounds type — A point specified relative to the geometric bounds of the object

(BoundingBoxLimits.GeometricPathBounds) or the visible bounds of the object

(BoundingBoxLimits.OuterStrokeBounds). In this case, the top-left corner of the bounding box

is (0, 0); the bottom-right corner, (1, 1). The center anchor is located at (.5, .5).

Array(Array(.5, .5), idBoundingBoxLimits.idOuterStrokeBounds)

(x, y), bounds type, coordinate space — A point specified relative to the geometric bounds of the

object (BoundingBoxLimits.GeometricPathBounds) or the visible bounds of the object

(BoundingBoxLimits.OuterStrokeBounds) in a given coordinate space. In this case, the top-left

corner of the bounding box is (0, 0); the bottom-right corner, (1, 1). The center anchor is located at

(.5, .5).

Array(Array(.5, .5), idBoundingBoxLimits.idOuterStrokeBounds,

idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates)

Ruler space:

(x, y), page index — A point, relative to the ruler origin on a specified page of a spread.

Array(Array(72, 144), 1)

(x, y), location — A point, relative to the parent page of the specified location of the object.

Location can be specified as an anchor point or a coordinate pair. It can be specified relative to the

object’s geometric or visible bounds, and it can be specified in a given coordinate space.

Array(Array(72, 144), idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor)

Transform space:

(x, y) — A point in the pasteboard coordinate space.

Array(72, 72)

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 123

(x, y), coordinate system — A point in the specified coordinate space.

Array(Array(72, 72), idCoordinateSpaces.idParentCoordinates

((x, y)) — A point in the coordinate space given as the in parameter of the transform method.

Array(Array(72, 72))

The following script example shows how to use some of the transformation origin options. (For the

complete script, see TransformationOrigin.)

Set myPage = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1)

Set myRectangle = myPage.Rectangles.Item(1)

myString = "Watch as we rotate the rectangle using different anchor points," & vbCr

myString = myString & "bounds types, and coordinate spaces." & vbCr & vbCr

myString = myString & "(You might need to move the alert aside" & vbCr

myString = myString & "to see the effect of the transformations.)"

MsgBox myString

Set myNewRectangle = myRectangle.Duplicate

Rem Create a transformation matrix with counterclockwise rotation angle = 30.

Set myTransformationMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , 30)

Rem Rotate around the duplicated rectangle's center point.

myNewRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

Rem Select the rectangle and display an alert.

myInDesign.Select myNewRectangle

MsgBox "Transformed around center anchor."

Rem Undo the transformation.

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Undo

Rem Rotate the rectangle around the ruler location [-100, -100].

Rem Note that the anchor point specified here specifes the page

Rem containing the point--*not* that transformation point itself.

Rem The transformation gets the ruler coordinate [-100, -100] based

Rem on that page. Setting the considerRulerUnits parameter to true

Rem makes certain that the transformation uses the current

Rem ruler units.

myNewRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

Array(Array(-100, -100), idAnchorPoint.idTopLeftAnchor), myTransformationMatrix, ,

True

Rem Move the page guides to reflect the transformation point.

myPage.Guides.Item(1).Location = -100

myPage.Guides.Item(2).Location = -100

Rem Select the rectangle and display an alert.

myInDesign.Select myNewRectangle

MsgBox "Rotated around -100x, -100y."

Rem Undo the transformation and the guide moves.

myInDesign. Documents.Item(1).Undo

myNewRectangle.StrokeWeight = 12

myBounds = myNewRectangle.visibleBounds

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 124

Rem Move the page guides to reflect the transformation point.

myPage.Guides.Item(1).Location = myBounds(1)

myPage.Guides.Item(2).Location = myBounds(2)

Rem Rotate the rectangle around the outer edge of the lower left corner.

myNewRectangle.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

Array(idAnchorPoint.idBottomLeftAnchor, idBoundingBoxLimits.idOuterStrokeBounds),

myTransformationMatrix, idMatrixContent.idRotationValue, True

Rem Select the rectangle and display an alert.

myInDesign.Select myNewRectangle

MsgBox "Rotated around the outside edge of the bottom left corner."

Rem Undo the transformation and the guide moves.

myInDesign. Documents.Item(1).Undo

Resolving locations

Sometimes, you need to get the location of a point specified in one coordinate space in the context of

another coordinate space. To do this, use the resolve method, as shown in the following script example.

(For the complete script, see ResolveLocation.)

Set myPage = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Item(1)

Set myRectangle = myPage.Groups.Item(1).Rectangles.Item(1)

Rem Template for resolve():

Rem PageItem.resolve (Location:any, in: CoordinateSpaces,

Rem ConsideringRulerUnits:boolean)

Rem Get a ruler coordinate in pasteboard coordinates.

Rem The following should work, but, due to a bug in InDesign CS5,

Rem it does not work in VBScript. It does work in VB6.

'myPageLocation = myRectangle.Resolve(Array(Array(72, 72),

idAnchorPoint.idTopRightAnchor),idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates, True)

Rem resolve() returns an array (in this case, the array containins a single item).

'myPageLocation = myPageLocation(0)

'myPageLocationX = myPageLocation(0)

'myPageLocationY = myPageLocation(1)

'MsgBox "X: " & CStr(myPageLocation(0)) & vbCr & "Y: " & CStr(myPageLocation(1))

Rem Because of the above bug, here's a workaround using JavaScript.

myString = "var myRectangle =

app.documents.item(0).pages.item(0).groups.item(0).rectangles.item(0);" & vbCr

myString = myString & "var myPageLocation = myRectangle.resolve([[72, 72],

AnchorPoint.topRightAnchor], CoordinateSpaces.pasteboardCoordinates, true);" & vbCr

myString = myString & "alert(""X: "" + myPageLocation[0][0] + ""\rY: "" +

myPageLocation[0][1])"

myInDesign.DoScript myString, idScriptLanguage.idJavaScript

Transforming points

You can transform points as well as objects, which means scripts can perform a variety of mathematical

operations without having to include the calculations in the script itself. The ChangeCoordinates sample

script shows how to draw a series of regular polygons using this approach:

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Transforming Page Items 125

Rem General purpose routine for drawing regular polygons from their center point.

Function myDrawPolygon(myInDesign, myParent, myCenterPoint, myNumberOfPoints,

myRadius, myStarPolygon, myStarInset)

ReDim myPathPoints(0)

myPoint = Array(0, 0)

If myStarPolygon = True Then

myNumberOfPoints = myNumberOfPoints * 2

End If

myInnerRadius = myRadius * myStarInset

myAngle = 360 / myNumberOfPoints

Set myRotateMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add(, , , myAngle)

Set myOuterTranslateMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add

(, , , , myRadius)

Set myInnerTranslateMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add

(, , , , myInnerRadius)

For myPointCounter = 0 To myNumberOfPoints

Rem Translate the point to the inner/outer radius.

If ((myStarInset = 1) Or (myIsEven(myPointCounter) = True)) Then

myTransformedPoint = myOuterTranslateMatrix.ChangeCoordinates(myPoint)

Else

myTransformedPoint = myInnerTranslateMatrix.ChangeCoordinates(myPoint)

End If

myTransformedPoint = myRotateMatrix.ChangeCoordinates(myTransformedPoint)

myPathPoints = myPush(myPathPoints, myTransformedPoint)

Set myRotateMatrix = myRotateMatrix.RotateMatrix(myAngle)

Rem Create a new polygon.

Set myPolygon = myParent.Polygons.Add

Rem Set the entire path of the polygon to the array we've created.

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = myPathPoints

Rem If the center point is somewhere other than [0,0],

Rem translate the polygon to the center point.

If (myCenterPoint(0) <> 0) Or (myCenterPoint(1) <> 0) Then

Set myTranslateMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.Add

(, , , , myCenterPoint(0), myCenterPoint(1))

myPolygon.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTranslateMatrix

End If

Set myDrawPolygon = myPolygon

End Function

Rem Generic function for adding a value to an array.

Function myPush(myArray, myValue)

If Not (IsEmpty(myArray(0))) Then

ReDim Preserve myArray(UBound(myArray) + 1)

End If

Set myArray(UBound(myArray)) = myValue

myPush = myArray

End Function

Rem This function returns true if myNumber is even, false if it is not.

Function myIsEven(myNumber)

myResult = myNumber Mod 2

If myResult = 0 Then

myResult = True

Else

myResult = False

End If

myIsEven = myResult

End Function

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Resize and Reframe 126

You also can use the ChangeCoordinate method to change the positions of curve control points, as

shown in the FunWithTransformations sample script.

Transforming again

Just as you can apply a transformation or sequence of transformations again in the user interface, you can

do so using scripting. There are four methods for applying transformations again:

TransformAgain

TransformAgainIndividually

TransformSequenceAgain

TransformSequenceAgainIndividually

The following script fragment shows how to use TransformAgain. (For the complete script, see

TransformAgain.)

set myRectangle = myPage.Rectangles.Item(1)

myBounds = myRectangle.GeometricBounds

myX1 = myBounds(1)

myY1 = myBounds(0)

Set myRectangleA = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myRectangleA.GeometricBounds = Array(myY1-12, myX1-12, myY1+12, myX1+12)

Set myTransformationMatrix = myInDesign.TransformationMatrices.add(, , , 45)

myRectangleA.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

Set myRectangleB = myRectangleA.Duplicate

myRectangleB.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates, Array(Array(0,0),

idAnchorPoint.idTopLeftAnchor), myTransformationMatrix, , True

Set myRectangleC = myRectangleB.Duplicate

myRectangleC.TransformAgain

Set myRectangleD = myRectangleC.Duplicate

myRectangleD.transformAgain

Set myRectangleE = myRectangleD.Duplicate

myRectangleE.TransformAgain

set myRectangleF = myRectangleE.Duplicate

myRectangleF.TransformAgain

set myRectangleG = myRectangleF.Duplicate

myRectangleG.TransformAgain

set myRectangleH = myRectangleG.Duplicate

myRectangleH.TransformAgain

myRectangleA.Transform idCoordinateSpaces.idPasteboardCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, myTransformationMatrix

myRectangleD.TransformAgain

myRectangleF.TransformAgain

myRectangleH.TransformAgain

Resize and Reframe

In addition to scaling page items using the TransformMethod, you can also change the size of the shape

using two other methods: Resize and Reframe. These methods change the location of the path points of

the page item without scaling the content or stroke weight of the page item. The following script

fragment shows how to use the Resize method. For the complete script, see Resize.

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Working with Articles 127

Rem Given a reference to a rectangle "myRectangle"...

Set myDuplicate = myRectangle.Duplicate

myDuplicate.Resize idCoordinateSpaces.idInnerCoordinates,

idAnchorPoint.idCenterAnchor, idResizeMethods.idMultiplyingCurrentDimensionsBy,

Array(2, 2)

The following script fragment shows how to use the Reframe method. For the complete script, see

Reframe.

Rem Given a reference to a rectangle "myRectangle"...

myBounds = myRectangle.GeometricBounds

myX1 = myBounds(1)-72

myY1 = myBounds(0)-72

myX2 = myBounds(3)+72

myY2 = myBounds(2)+72

Set myDuplicate = myRectangle.Duplicate

myDuplicate.Reframe idCoordinateSpaces.idInnerCoordinates, Array(Array(myY1, myX1),

Array(myY2, myX2))

Working with Articles

Articles provide designers and production artists an easy way to create relationships among page items.

These relationships can be used to define the content to be used while exporting to ePub, HTML or

Accessible PDFs; and to define the order of the content. You can create articles from a combination of

existing page items within a layout, including images, graphics, or text. Once an article has been created,

page items can be added, removed, or re-ordered.

Retrieving an article list

To get the articles in a document, use the following script (for the complete script, see CreateArticle).

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set articles = myDocument.Articles

Adding new articles

To add a new article to a document, use the following script (for the complete script, see CreateArticle).

Set article1 = myDocument.Articles.Add("Article1", True)

Removing an article

To remove an article, tell the article to remove itself as shown in the following script (for the complete

script, see RemoveArticle).

article.Delete

Reordering articles

To reorder articles, tell the article to move the reference article and the location relative to the reference

article as shown in the following script (for the complete script, see ReorderArticles).

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Working with Articles 128

Set article1 = myDocument.Articles.Add("Article1", True)

Set article2 = myDocument.Articles.Add("Article2", True)

Set article3 = myDocument.Articles.Add("Article3", True)

Set article4 = myDocument.Articles.Add("Article4", True)

Rem Reverse the order of articles.

Rem Move article4 to the first.

article4.Move idLocationOptions.idAtBeginning

Rem Move article1 to the end.

article1.Move idLocationOptions.idAtEnd

Rem Move article3 to the second place.

article3.Move idLocationOptions.idAfter, article4

Rem Move article2 to the third place.

article2.Move idLocationOptions.idBefore, article1

Adding new members to an article

To add new members to an article, use the following script (for the complete script, see

AddRemoveArticleMember).

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set articles = myDocument.Articles

Rem Create new articles.

Set article1 = articles.Add("Article1", True)

Set article2 = articles.Add("Article2", True)

Set article3 = articles.Add("Article3", True)

Set myPage = myDocument.pages.item(1)

Set article1Members = article1.ArticleMembers

article1Members.Add myPage.Rectangles.item(1)

article1Members.Add myPage.Ovals.item(1)

Set article2Members = article2.ArticleMembers

article2Members.Add myPage.Rectangles.item(2)

article2Members.Add myPage.Ovals.item(2)

Set article3Members = article3.ArticleMembers

Rem Add group as article member.

article3Members.Add myPage.Groups.item(1)

Reordering members of an article

To reorder members of an article, tell the member to move the reference object and the location relative to

the reference object as shown in the following script (for the complete script, see ReorderArticleMembers).

Rem Assume there are four members in the article in the following order:

Rem rectangle, oval, text frame, group

Set articleMembers = article.ArticleMembers

articleMembers.Add myPage.Rectangles.item(1)

articleMembers.Add myPage.Ovals.item(1)

articleMembers.Add myPage.TextFrames.item(1)

articleMembers.Add myPage.Groups.item(1)

articleMembers.item(1).Move idLocationOptions.idAtEnd

articleMembers.item(3).Move idLocationOptions.idAtBeginning

articleMembers.item(2).Move idLocationOptions.idAfter, articleMembers.item(3)

CHAPTER 6: Working with Page Items Working with Articles 129

Removing members from an article

To remove a member from an article, tell the article member to remove itself, as shown in the following

script (for the complete script, see AddRemoveArticleMember).

Set articleMember = article1Members.item(1)

articleMember.Delete

130

7User Interfaces

VBScript can create dialogs for simple yes/no questions and text entry, but you probably will need to

create more complex dialogs for your scripts. InDesign scripting can add dialogs and populate them with

common user-interface controls, like pop-up lists, text-entry fields, and numeric-entry fields. If you want

your script to collect and act on information entered by you or any other user of your script, use the

dialog object.

This chapter shows how to work with InDesign dialog scripting. The sample scripts in this chapter are

presented in order of complexity, starting with very simple scripts and building toward more complex

operations.

NOTE: InDesign scripts written in JavaScript also can include user interfaces created using the Adobe

ScriptUI component. This chapter includes some ScriptUI scripting tutorials; for more information, see

Adobe JavaScript Tools Guide.

NOTE: Although Visual Basic applications can create complete user interfaces, they run from a separate

Visual Basic executable file. InDesign scripting includes the ability to create complex dialogs that appear

inside InDesign and look very much like the program’s standard user interface. VBScripts run from the

Scripts palette are much faster than scripts run from an external application.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create and run a

script.

Dialog Overview

An InDesign dialog box is an object like any other InDesign scripting object. The dialog box can contain

several different types of elements (known collectively as “widgets”), as shown in the following figure. The

elements of the figure are described in the table following the figure.

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

CHAPTER 7: User Interfaces Dialog Overview 131

The dialog object itself does not directly contain the controls; that is the purpose of the DialogColumn

object. DialogColumns give you a way to control the positioning of controls within a dialog box. Inside

DialogColumns, you can further subdivide the dialog box into other DialogColumns or BorderPanels

(both of which can, if necessary, contain more DialogColumns and BorderPanels).

Like any other InDesign scripting object, each part of a dialog box has its own properties. A

CheckboxControl, for example, has a property for its text (StaticLabel) and another property for its

state (CheckedState). The Dropdown control has a property (StringList) for setting the list of options

that appears on the control’s menu.

To use a dialog box in your script, create the dialog object, populate it with various controls, display the

dialog box, and then gather values from the dialog-box controls to use in your script. Dialog boxes remain

in InDesign’s memory until they are destroyed. This means you can keep a dialog box in memory and have

data stored in its properties used by multiple scripts, but it also means the dialog boxes take up memory

and should be disposed of when they are not in use. In general, you should destroy a dialog-box object

before your script finishes executing.

Dialog box element InDesign name

Text-edit fields Text editbox control

Numeric-entry fields Real editbox, integer editbox, measurement

editbox, percent editbox, angle editbox

Pop-up menus Drop-down control

Control that combines a text-edit field with a

pop-up menu

Combo-box control

Check box Check-box control

Radio buttons Radio-button control

dialog dialog column

border panel

checkbox control

radiobutton group

radiobutton control

static text

measurement editbox

dropdown

CHAPTER 7: User Interfaces Your First InDesign Dialog 132

Your First InDesign Dialog

The process of creating an InDesign dialog is very simple: add a dialog, add a dialog column to the dialog,

and add controls to the dialog column. The following script demonstrates the process (for the complete

script, see SimpleDialog):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDialog = myInDesign.Dialogs.Add

Rem Add a dialog column.

With myDialog.DialogColumns.Add

With .StaticTexts.Add

.StaticLabel = "This is a very simple dialog box."

End With

Rem Show the dialog box.

myResult = myDialog.Show

Rem If the user clicked OK, display one message;

Rem if they clicked Cancel, display a different message.

If myResult = True Then

MsgBox("You clicked the OK button!")

Else

MsgBox("You clicked the Cancel button!")

End If

Rem Remove the dialog from memory.

myDialog.Destroy

Adding a User Interface to “Hello World”

In this example, we add a simple user interface to the Hello World tutorial script presented in Adobe

InDesign Scripting Tutorial. The options in the dialog box provide a way for you to specify the sample text

and change the point size of the text:

Function myDisplayDialog(myInDesign)

Set myDialog = myInDesign.Dialogs.Add

myDialog.CanCancel = True

myDialog.Name = "Simple User Interface Example Script"

Set myDialogColumn = myDialog.DialogColumns.Add

Set myTextEditField = myDialogColumn.TextEditboxes.Add

myTextEditField.EditContents = "Hello World!"

myTextEditField.MinWidth = 180

Rem Create a number (real) entry field.

Set myPointSizeField = myDialogColumn.measurementEditboxes.Add

myPointSizeField.EditValue = 72

myResult = myDialog.Show

If myResult = True Then

Rem Get the values from the dialog box controls.

myString = myTextEditField.EditContents

myPointSize = myPointSizeField.EditValue

Rem Remove the dialog box from memory.

myDialog.Destroy

myMakeDocument(myInDesign, myString, myPointSize)

Else

myDialog.Destroy

End If

End Function

Here is the myMakeDocument function referred to in the above fragment:

CHAPTER 7: User Interfaces Creating a More Complex User Interface 133

Function myMakeDocument(myInDesign, myString, myPointSize)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Add

Rem Resize the text frame to the "live" area of the page

Rem (using the function "myGetBounds").

myBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myBounds

Rem Enter the text from the dialog box in the text frame.

myTextFrame.Contents = myString

Rem Set the size of the text to the size you entered in the dialog box.

myTextFrame.Texts.Item(1).PointSize = myPointSize

End Function

Creating a More Complex User Interface

In the next example, we add more controls and different types of controls to the sample dialog box. The

example creates a dialog box that resembles the following:

For the complete script, see ComplexUI.

Set myDialog = myInDesign.Dialogs.Add

myDialog.CanCancel = True

myDialog.Name = "User Interface Example Script"

Rem Create a dialog column.

Set myDialogColumn = myDialog.DialogColumns.Add

Rem Create a border panel.

Set myBorderPanel = myDialogColumn.BorderPanels.Add

Rem Create a dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myStaticText = myTempDialogColumn.StaticTexts.Add

myStaticText.StaticLabel = "Message:"

Rem Create another dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myTextEditField = myTempDialogColumn.TextEditboxes.Add

myTextEditField.EditContents = "Hello World!"

myTextEditField.MinWidth = 180

Rem Create another border panel.

Set myBorderPanel = myDialogColumn.BorderPanels.Add

Rem Create a dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myStaticText = myTempDialogColumn.StaticTexts.Add

myStaticText.StaticLabel = "Point Size:"

Rem Create another dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myPointSizeField = myTempDialogColumn.RealEditboxes.Add

myPointSizeField.EditValue = 72

Rem Create another border panel.

CHAPTER 7: User Interfaces Creating a More Complex User Interface 134

Set myBorderPanel = myDialogColumn.BorderPanels.Add

Rem Create a dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myStaticText = myTempDialogColumn.StaticTexts.Add

myStaticText.StaticLabel = "Vertical Justification:"

Rem Create another dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myVerticalJustificationMenu = myTempDialogColumn.Dropdowns.Add

myVerticalJustificationMenu.StringList = Array("Top", "Center", "Bottom")

myVerticalJustificationMenu.SelectedIndex = 0

Rem Create another border panel.

Set myBorderPanel = myDialogColumn.BorderPanels.Add

Rem Create a dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myStaticText = myTempDialogColumn.StaticTexts.Add

myStaticText.StaticLabel = "Paragraph Alignment:"

Rem Create another dialog column inside the border panel.

Set myTempDialogColumn = myBorderPanel.DialogColumns.Add

Set myRadioButtonGroup = myTempDialogColumn.RadiobuttonGroups.Add

Set myLeftRadioButton = myRadioButtonGroup.RadiobuttonControls.Add

myLeftRadioButton.StaticLabel = "Left"

myLeftRadioButton.CheckedState = True

Set myCenterRadioButton = myRadioButtonGroup.RadiobuttonControls.Add

myCenterRadioButton.StaticLabel = "Center"

Set myRightRadioButton = myRadioButtonGroup.RadiobuttonControls.Add

myRightRadioButton.StaticLabel = "Right"

Rem If the user clicked OK, then create the example document.

If myDialog.Show = True Then

Rem Get the values from the dialog box controls.

myString = myTextEditField.EditContents

myPointSize = myPointSizeField.EditValue

Select Case myVerticalJustificationMenu.SelectedIndex

Case 0

myVerticalJustification = idVerticalJustification.idTopAlign

Case 1

myVerticalJustification = idVerticalJustification.idCenterAlign

Case Else

myVerticalJustification = idTopAlign.idBottomAlign

End Select

Rem set the paragraph alignment of the text to the dialog radio button choice.

Select Case myRadioButtonGroup.SelectedButton

Case 0

myAlignment = idJustification.idLeftAlign

Case 1

myAlignment = idJustification.idCenterAlign

Case Else

myAlignment = idJustification.idRightAlign

End Select

Rem Remove the dialog box from memory.

myDialog.Destroy

Rem Create a new document.

myMakeDocument myInDesign, myString, myPointSize, myParagraphAlignment,

myVerticalJustification

Else

myDialog.Destroy

End If

Here is the myMakeDocument function referred to in the above fragment:

CHAPTER 7: User Interfaces Working with ScriptUI 135

Function myMakeDocument(myInDesign, myString, myPointSize, myAlignment,

myVerticalJustification)

Rem Create a new document.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Add

Rem Resize the text frame to the "live" area of the

Rem page (using the function "myGetBounds").

myBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myBounds

Rem Enter the text from the dialog box in the text frame.

myTextFrame.Contents = myString

Rem Set the size of the text to the size you entered

Rem in the dialog box.

myTextFrame.Texts.Item(1).PointSize = myPointSize

Rem Set the paragraph alignment to the alignment you

Rem selected in the dialog box.

myTextFrame.Texts.Item(1).Justification = myAlignment

Rem Set the text frame vertical justification to the vertical justification

Rem you selected in the dialog box.

myTextFrame.TextFramePreferences.VerticalJustification = myVerticalJustification

End Function

Working with ScriptUI

JavaScripts can make create and define user-interface elements using an Adobe scripting component

named ScriptUI. ScriptUI gives scripters a way to create floating palettes, progress bars, and interactive

dialog boxes that are far more complex than InDesign’s built-in dialog object.

This does not mean, however, that user-interface elements written using Script UI are not accessible to

VBScript users. InDesign scripts can execute scripts written in other scripting languages using the DoScript

method.

Creating a progress bar with ScriptUI

The following sample script shows how to create a progress bar using JavaScript and ScriptUI, then use the

progress bar from a VBScript (for the complete script, see ProgressBar):

#targetengine "session"

//Because these terms are defined in the "session" engine,

//they will be available to any other JavaScript running

//in that instance of the engine.

var myMaximumValue = 300;

var myProgressBarWidth = 300;

var myIncrement = myMaximumValue/myProgressBarWidth;

myCreateProgressPanel(myMaximumValue, myProgressBarWidth);

function myCreateProgressPanel(myMaximumValue, myProgressBarWidth){

myProgressPanel = new Window('window', 'Progress');

with(myProgressPanel){

myProgressPanel.myProgressBar = add('progressbar', [12, 12,

myProgressBarWidth, 24], 0, myMaximumValue);

}

The following script fragment shows how to call the progress bar created in the above script using a

VBScript (for the complete script, see CallProgressBar):

CHAPTER 7: User Interfaces Working with ScriptUI 136

Rem Create a document and add pages to it--

Rem if you do not do this, the progress bar

Rem will go by too quickly.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Rem Note that the JavaScripts must use the "session"

Rem engine for this to work.

myString = "#targetengine ""session""" & vbCr

myString = myString & "myCreateProgressPanel(100, 400);" & vbcr

myString = myString & "myProgressPanel.show();" & vbcr

myInDesign.DoScript myString, idScriptLanguage.idJavascript

For myCounter = 1 to 100

Rem Add a page to the document.

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Pages.Add

myString = "#targetengine ""session""" & vbCr

myString = myString & "myProgressPanel.myProgressBar.value = "

myString = myString & cstr(myCounter) & "/myIncrement;" & vbcr

myInDesign.DoScript myString, idScriptLanguage.idJavascript

If(myCounter = 100) Then

myString = "#targetengine ""session""" & vbCr

myString = myString & "myProgressPanel.myProgressBar.value = 0;" & vbcr

myString = myString & "myProgressPanel.hide();" & vbcr

myInDesign.DoScript myString, idScriptLanguage.idJavascript

myDocument.Close idSaveOptions.idNo

End If

137

8Events

InDesign scripting can respond to common application and document events, such as opening a file,

creating a new file, printing, and importing text and graphic files from disk. In InDesign scripting, the

event object responds to an event that occurs in the application. Scripts can be attached to events using

the EventListener scripting object. Scripts that use events are the same as other scripts—the only

difference is that they run automatically when the corresponding event occurs, rather than being run by

the user (from the Scripts palette).

This chapter shows how to work with InDesign event scripting. The sample scripts in this chapter are

presented in order of complexity, starting with very simple scripts and building toward more complex

operations.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create, install,

and run a script.

For a discussion of events related to menus, see Chapter 9, “Menus.”

The InDesign event scripting model is similar to the Worldwide Web Consortium (W3C) recommendation

for Document Object Model Events. For more information, see http://www.w3c.org.

Understanding the Event Scripting Model

The InDesign event scripting model consists of a series of objects that correspond to the events that occur

as you work with the application. The first object is the event, which corresponds to one of a limited series

of actions in the InDesign user interface (or corresponding actions triggered by scripts).

To respond to an event, you register an EventListener with an object capable of receiving the event.

When the specified event reaches the object, the EventListener executes the script function defined in

its handler function (a reference to a script file on disk).

You can view the available events using the Object Browser in your VBScript editor by looking at the

EventEvents module.

About event properties and event propagation

When an action—whether initiated by a user or by a script—triggers an event, the event can spread, or

propagate, through the scripting objects capable of responding to the event. When an event reaches an

object that has an EventListener registered for that event, the EventListener is triggered by the event.

An event can be handled by more than one object as it propagates.

There are two types of event propagation:

None — Only the EventListeners registered to the event target are triggered by the event. The

beforeDisplay event is an example of an event that does not propagate.

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

CHAPTER 8: Events Working with Event Listeners 138

Bubbling — The event starts propagation at its target and triggers any qualifying EventListeners

registered to the target. The event then proceeds upward through the scripting object model,

triggering any qualifying EventListeners registered to objects above the target in the scripting

object model hierarchy.

The following table provides more detail on the properties of an event and the ways in which they relate

to event propagation through the scripting object model.

Working with Event Listeners

When you create an EventListener, you specify the event type and the event handler (as a function or file

reference). The following script fragment shows how to add an EventListener for a specific event (for the

complete script, see AddEventListener).

Rem Given a reference to InDesign "myInDesign"...

myInDesign.AddEventListener "afterNew", GetRef("myDisplayEventType")

The preceding script fragment refers to the following function:

Function myDisplayEventType(en)

Rem "en" is the event passed to this script by the event listener.

MsgBox ("This event is the " & en.EventType & " event.")

End Function

To remove the EventListener created by the preceding script, run the following script (from the

RemoveEventListener tutorial script):

Rem Given a reference to InDesign "myInDesign"...

myInDesign.RemoveEventListener "afterNew", myDisplayEventType

Property Description

Bubbles If true, the event propagates to scripting objects above the object initiating

the event.

Cancelable If true, the default behavior of the event on its target can be canceled. To do

this, use the PreventDefault method.

CurrentTarget The current scripting object processing the event. See target in this table.

DefaultPrevented If true, the default behavior of the event on the current target was

prevented, thereby canceling the action. See target in this table.

EventPhase The current stage of the event propagation process.

EventType The type of the event, as a string (for example, "beforeNew").

PropagationStopped If true, the event has stopped propagating beyond the current target (see

target in this table). To stop event propagation, use the StopPropagation

method.

Target The object from which the event originates. For example, the target of a

beforeImport event is a document; of a beforeNew event, the application.

TimeStamp The time and date when the event occurred.

CHAPTER 8: Events Working with Event Listeners 139

When an EventListener responds to an event, the event may still be processed by other

EventListeners that might be monitoring the event (depending on the propagation of the event). For

example, the afterOpen event can be observed by EventListeners associated with both the application

and the document.

EventListeners do not persist beyond the current InDesign session. To make an EventListener

available in every InDesign session, add the script to the startup scripts folder. (For more on installing

scripts, see "Installing Scripts" in Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial.) When you add an EventListener

script to a document, it is not saved with the document or exported to IDML.

NOTE: If you are having trouble with a script that defines an EventListener, you can either run a script

that removes the EventListener or quit and restart InDesign.

An event can trigger multiple EventListeners as it propagates through the scripting object model. The

following sample script demonstrates an event triggering EventListeners registered to different objects

(for the full script, see MultipleEventListeners):

Rem Given a reference to InDesign Application object "myInDesign"...

myInDesign.AddEventListener DocumentEvents.idBeforeImport, GetRef("myEventInfo")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).AddEventListener DocumentEvents.idBeforeImport,

GetRef("myEventInfo")

The myEventInfo function referred to in the preceding script contains the following script code:

Function myEventInfo(en)

myString = "Current Target: " & en.currentTarget.name

MsgBox(myString)

End Function

When you run the preceding script and place a file, InDesign displays alerts showing, in sequence, the

name of the document, then the name of the application. To remove the event listeners added by the

preceding script, run the RemoveMultipleEventListeners script.

The following sample script creates an EventListener for each document event and displays information

about the event in a simple dialog box. For the complete script, see EventListenersOn.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myEventNames = Array("beforeQuit", "afterQuit", "beforeNew", "afterNew", "beforeOpen",

"afterOpen", "beforeClose", "afterClose", "beforeSave", "afterSave", "beforeSaveAs",

"afterSaveAs", "beforeSaveACopy", "afterSaveACopy", "beforeRevert", "afterRevert",

"beforePrint", "afterPrint", "beforeExport", "afterExport", "beforeImport",

"afterImport", "beforePlace", "afterPlace")

For myCounter = 0 To UBound(myEventNames)

myInDesign.AddEventListener myEventNames(myCounter), "c:\GetEventInfo.vbs", False

If myCounter < UBound(myEventNames) Then

myInDesign.EventListeners.Add myEventNames(myCounter), "c:\GetEventInfo.vbs",

False

End If

The preceding script refers to the following script. The file reference in the preceding script must match

the location of this script on your disk. For the complete script, see GetEventInfo.vbs.

CHAPTER 8: Events Sample afterNew Event Listener 140

main evt

Function main(myEvent)

myString = "Handling Event: " & myEvent.EventType

myString = myString & vbCr & vbCr & "Target: " & myEvent.Target & " " &

myEvent.Target.Name

myString = myString & vbCr & "Current: " & myEvent.CurrentTarget & " " &

myEvent.CurrentTarget.Name

myString = myString & vbCr & vbCr & "Phase: " &

myGetPhaseName(myEvent.EventPhase)

myString = myString & vbCr & "Bubbles: " & myEvent.Bubbles

myString = myString & vbCr & vbCr & "Cancelable: " & myEvent.Cancelable

myString = myString & vbCr & "Stopped: " & myEvent.PropagationStopped

myString = myString & vbCr & "Canceled: " & myEvent.DefaultPrevented

myString = myString & vbCr & vbCr & "Time: " & myEvent.TimeStamp

MsgBox myString, vbOKOnly, "Event Details"

end function

Rem Function returns a string corresponding to the event phase enumeration.

Function myGetPhaseName(myEventPhase)

Select Case myEventPhase

Case idEventPhases.idAtTarget

myPhaseName = "At Target"

Case idEventPhases.idBubblingPhase

myPhaseName = "Bubbling"

Case idEventPhases.idDone

myPhaseName = "Done"

Case idEventPhases.idNotDispatching

myPhaseName = "Not Dispatching"

end select

myGetPhaseName = myPhaseName

End Function

The following sample script shows how to turn off all EventListeners on the application object. For the

complete script, see EventListenersOff.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

For myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.EventListeners.Count

myInDesign.EventListeners.Item(1).Delete

Sample afterNew Event Listener

The afterNew event provides a convenient place to add information to the document, such as the user

name, the date the document was created, copyright information, and other job-tracking information. The

following tutorial script shows how to add this kind of information to a text frame in the slug area of the

first master spread in the document (for the complete script, see AfterNew). This script also adds

document metadata (also known as file info or XMP information).

Rem Adds an event listener to the afterNew event. Calls

Rem a script on disk to set up basic document parameters

Rem and XMP metadata.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myEventListener = myInDesign.EventListeners.Add("afterNew",

"c:\IDEventHandlers\AfterNewHandler.vbs")

The preceding script refers to the following script. The file reference in the preceding script must match

the location of this script on your disk. For the complete script, see AfterNewHandler.vbs.

CHAPTER 8: Events Sample beforePrint Event Listener 141

Rem AfterNewHandler.vbs

Rem An InDesign CS6 VBScript

Rem

Rem This script is called by the AfterNew.vbs tutorial script. It

Rem Sets up a basic document layout and adds XMP information

Rem to the document.

AfterNewHandler(evt)

Function AfterNewHandler(myEvent)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myEvent.Parent

Set myViewPreferences = myDocument.ViewPreferences

myViewPreferences.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myViewPreferences.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myViewPreferences.RulerOrigin = idRulerOrigin.idPageOrigin

Rem mySlugOffset is the distance from the bottom of the

Rem page to the top of the slug.

mySlugOffset = 24

Rem mySlugHeight is the height of the slug text frame.

mySlugHeight = 72

With myDocument.DocumentPreferences

.documentSlugUniformSize = false

.SlugBottomOffset = mySlugOffset + mySlugHeight

.SlugTopOffset = 0

.SlugInsideOrLeftOffset = 0

.SlugRightOrOutsideOffset = 0

End With

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.MasterSpreads.Count

Set myMasterSpread = myDocument.MasterSpreads.Item(myCounter)

For myMasterPageCounter = 1 To myMasterSpread.Pages.Count

Set myPage = myMasterSpread.Pages.Item(myMasterPageCounter)

mySlugBounds = myGetSlugBounds(myDocument, myPage, mySlugOffset,

mySlugHeight)

Set mySlugFrame = myPage.TextFrames.Add

mySlugFrame.GeometricBounds = mySlugBounds

mySlugFrame.Contents = "Created: " & myEvent.TimeStamp & vbCr & "by: "

& myInDesign.UserName

With myDocument.MetadataPreferences

.Author = "Adobe Systems"

.Description = "This is a sample document with XMP metadata."

End With

End Function

Function myGetSlugBounds(myDocument, myPage, mySlugOffset, mySlugHeight)

myPageWidth = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageWidth

myPageHeight = myDocument.DocumentPreferences.PageHeight

myX1 = myPage.MarginPreferences.Left

myY1 = myPageHeight + mySlugOffset

myX2 = myPageWidth - myPage.MarginPreferences.Right

myY2 = myY1 + mySlugHeight

myGetSlugBounds = Array(myY1, myX1, myY2, myX2)

End Function

Sample beforePrint Event Listener

The beforePrint event provides a perfect place to execute a script that performs various preflight checks

on a document. The following script shows how to add an event listener that checks a document for

certain attributes before printing (for the complete script, see BeforePrint):

CHAPTER 8: Events Sample beforePrint Event Listener 142

Rem Adds an event listener that performs a preflight check on

Rem a document before printing. If the preflight check fails,

Rem the script gives the user the opportunity to cancel the print job.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myEventListener = myInDesign.EventListeners.Add("beforePrint",

"c:\IDEventHandlers\BeforePrintHandler.vbs")

The preceding script refers to the following script. The file reference in the preceding script must match

the location of this script on your disk. For the complete script, see BeforePrintHandler.vbs.

Rem BeforePrintHandler.vbs

Rem An InDesign CS6 VBScript

Rem

Rem Peforms a preflight check on a document. Called by the

Rem BeforePrint.applescript event listener example.

Rem "evt" is the event passed to this script by the event listener.

myBeforePrintHandler(evt)

Function myBeforePrintHandler(myEvent)

Rem The parent of the event is the document.

Set myDocument = myEvent.parent

If myPreflight(myDocument) = False Then

myEvent.stopPropagation

myEvent.preventDefault

myString = "Document did not pass preflight check." & vbCr

myString = myString & "Please fix the problems and try again."

msgbox(myString)

Else

msgbox("Document passed preflight check. Ready to print.")

myDocument.print(true)

End If

End Function

Function myPreflight(myDocument)

myPreflightCheck = True

myFontCheck = myCheckFonts(myDocument)

myGraphicsCheck = myCheckGraphics(myDocument)

If ((myFontCheck = false)Or(myGraphicsCheck = false)) Then

myPreflightCheck = false

End If

myPreflight = myPreflightCheck

End function

Function myCheckFonts(myDocument)

myFontCheck = true

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.fonts.count

Set myFont = myDocument.fonts.item(myCounter)

if myFont.status <> idFontStatus.idinstalled Then

myFontCheck = false

End If

myCheckFonts = myFontCheck

End function

function myCheckGraphics(myDocument)

myGraphicsCheck = true

for myCounter = 1 To myDocument.allGraphics.count

set myGraphic = myDocument.allGraphics.item(myCounter)

If myGraphic.itemLink.status <> idLinkStatus.idnormal Then

myGraphicsCheck = false

End If

myCheckGraphics = myGraphicsCheck

End function

CHAPTER 8: Events Sample Selection Event Listeners 143

Sample Selection Event Listeners

InDesign can respond to events related to selection. When you select or deselect objects in an InDesign

document, InDesign generates the afterSelectionChanged event. When you change an attribute (the

formatting or position) of the selected object or objects, InDesign generates the

afterSelectionAttributeChanged event. These two events are useful when you want to create a script

that responds to user actions.

The following script fragment shows how to get and display the type of an object when the selection

changes. For the complete script, see AfterSelectionChanged.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myDocument.AddEventListener "afterSelectionChanged", GetRef("myDisplaySelectionType")

The event handler referred to in the preceding script fragment looks like this:

Function myDisplaySelectionType(en)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

if myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Selection.Count > 0 Then

Set mySelection = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Selection

myString = "Selection Contents:" & vbCr

for myCounter = 1 To mySelection.Count

myString = myString & TypeName(mySelection.Item(myCounter)) & vbCr

MsgBox(myString)

End If

End Function

To remove the event listener added by the preceding script, run the RemoveAfterSelectionChanged script.

The following script fragment shows how to respond to a change in the attributes of a selection. In this

example, the event handler checks the selection to see whether the Registration swatch has been applied.

(Accidental application of the Registration swatch can cause problems at your commercial printer.) If the

Registration swatch has been applied, the script asks whether the change was intentional. For the

complete script, see AfterSelectionAttributeChanged.

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myDocument.AddEventListener "afterSelectionAttributeChanged",

GetRef("myCheckForRegistration")

The event handler referred to in the preceding script fragment looks like this:

CHAPTER 8: Events Sample onIdle Event Listener 144

Function myCheckForRegistration(en)

myRegistrationSwatchUsed = false

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

If myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Selection.Count > 0 Then

Set mySelection = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Selection

For myCounter = 1 To mySelection.Count

Set myFillColor = mySelection.Item(myCounter).FillColor

Set myStrokeColor = mySelection.Item(myCounter).StrokeColor

If myFillColor.Name = "Registration" Or myStrokeColor.Name =

"Registration" Then

myRegistrationSwatchUsed = True

End If

If myRegistrationSwatchUsed = True Then

MsgBox("The Registration swatch is applied to some of the" & vbCr & _

"objects in the selection. Did you really intend to apply this swatch?")

End If

End Function

To remove the event listener added by the preceding script, run the

RemoveAfterSelectionAttributeChanged script.

Sample onIdle Event Listener

InDesign’s idle tasks execute when there are no events in the event queue for the application to process. It

is easy to run idle tasks by scripting. The onIdle event provides a way to run scripting-based idle tasks. It

can be used to automatically execute a script when InDesign/InCopy is idle. Its event target is IdleTask,

and its event object is IdleEvent.

The Sleep property of the idle task is the amount of time that elapses before InDesign calls the task again.

It should be obvious that you need to set the sleep time to a value high enough that it does not interfere

with your work, though this value will vary depending on what tasks the script performs.

Setting the sleep time to zero deletes the task (though it does not remove the event listener). This is the

most convenient way to stop an idle task.

The following script shows how to add an eventListener and show a message box from the idle task (for

the complete script, see Reminder):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myIdleTask = myInDesign.IdleTasks.Add()

myIdleTask.Name = "my_idle_task"

myIdleTask.Sleep = 10000

Rem You need to fill in your own file path.

fileName = "C:\scripting\OnIdleEventHandler.vbs"

Set onIdleEventListener = myIdleTask.AddEventListener("onIdle", fileName, False)

MsgBox("Created idle task " & myIdleTask.Name & "; added event listener on " &

onIdleEventListener.EventType)

The event handler is a script file, OnIdleEventHandler.vbs.

CHAPTER 8: Events Sample onIdle Event Listener 145

Rem "evt" is the event passed to this script by the event listener.

onIdleEventtHandler(evt)

Function onIdleEventtHandler(myIdleEvent)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count = 0 Then

Set myDoc = myInDesign.Documents.Add()

MsgBox("Created document " + myDoc.Name + " in idle task.")

Exit Function

End If

Set myTextFrames = myInDesign.ActiveDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames

If myTextFrames.Count = 0 Then

Set myTextFrame = myTextFrames.Add()

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = Array("72pt", "72pt", "288pt", "288pt")

myTextFrame.Contents = "Text frame created in idle task"

MsgBox("Created a text frame in idle task.")

Exit Function

End If

Rem Delete idle task by setting its sleep time to zero.

myIdleEvent.Parent.Sleep = 0

MsgBox("Nothing to do. Delete idle task.")

End Function

To remove the idle task created by preceding script, run the following script (for the complete script, see

RemoveIdleTask):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

taskCount = myInDesign.IdleTasks.Count

If taskCount = 0 Then

MsgBox("There is no idle task.")

Else

myIdleTaskName = "my_idle_task"

For Each myIdleTask In myInDesign.IdleTasks

If myIdleTask.Name = myIdleTaskName Then

myIdleTask.Delete()

End If

MsgBox("Idle task " & myIdleTaskName & " removed.")

End If

To remove all idle tasks, run the following script (for the complete script, see RemoveAllIdleTasks):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

taskCount = myInDesign.IdleTasks.Count

If taskCount = 0 Then

MsgBox("There is no idle task.")

Else

For Each myIdleTask In myInDesign.IdleTasks

myIdleTask.Delete()

MsgBox(taskCount & " idle task(s) removed.")

End If

To list existing idle tasks, run the following script (for the complete script, see ListIdleTasks):

CHAPTER 8: Events Sample onIdle Event Listener 146

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

taskCount = myInDesign.IdleTasks.Count

If taskCount = 0 Then

MsgBox("There is no idle task.")

Else

str = ""

For i = 1 To taskCount

Set myIdleTask = myInDesign.IdleTasks.Item(i)

str = str & "idle task " & myIdleTask.id & ": " & myIdleTask.name & VbCrLf

MsgBox(str)

End If

147

9Menus

InDesign scripting can add menu items, remove menu items, perform any menu command, and attach

scripts to menu items.

This chapter shows how to work with InDesign menu scripting. The sample scripts in this chapter are

presented in order of complexity, starting with very simple scripts and building toward more complex

operations.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create, install,

and run a script.

Understanding the Menu Model

The InDesign menu-scripting model is made up of a series of objects that correspond to the menus you

see in the application’s user interface, including menus associated with panels as well as those displayed

on the main menu bar. A menu object contains the following objects:

MenuItems — The menu options shown on a menu. This does not include submenus.

MenuSeparators — Lines used to separate menu options on a menu.

Submenus — Menu options that contain further menu choices.

MenuElements — All MenuItems, MenuSeparators and Submenus shown on a menu.

EventListeners — These respond to user (or script) actions related to a menu.

Events — The events triggered by a menu.

Every MenuItem is connected to a MenuAction through the AssociatedMenuAction property. The

properties of the MenuAction define what happens when the menu item is chosen. In addition to the

MenuActions defined by the user interface, InDesign scripters can create their own, ScriptMenuActions,

which associate a script with a menu selection.

A MenuAction or ScriptMenuAction can be connected to zero, one, or more MenuItems.

The following diagram shows how the different menu objects relate to each other:

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

CHAPTER 9: Menus Understanding the Menu Model 148

To create a list (as a text file) of all menu actions, run the following script fragment (from the

GetMenuActions tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Rem You'll need to fill in a valid file path on your system.

Set myTextFile = myFileSystemObject.CreateTextFile("c:\menuactions.txt", True, False)

For myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.MenuActions.Count

Set myMenuAction = myInDesign.MenuActions.Item(myCounter)

myTextFile.WriteLine myMenuAction.name

myTextFile.Close

MsgBox "done!"

To create a list (as a text file) of all available menus, run the following script fragment (for the complete

script, see GetMenuNames). These scripts can be very slow, as there are many menu names in InDesign.

application

menuActions

scriptMenuAction

area

enabled

checked

eventListeners

events

index

label

name

parent

title

same as menuAction

menuAction

scriptMenuActions

eventListener

event

...

event

CHAPTER 9: Menus Understanding the Menu Model 149

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set myTextFile = myFileSystemObject.CreateTextFile("c:\menunames.txt", True, False)

For myMenuCounter = 1 To myInDesign.Menus.Count

Set myMenu = myInDesign.Menus.Item(myMenuCounter)

myTextFile.WriteLine myMenu.Name

myProcessMenu myMenu, myTextFile

myTextFile.Close

MsgBox "done!"

Function myProcessMenu(myMenuItem, myTextFile)

myString = ""

myMenuName = myMenuItem.Name

For myCounter = 1 To myMenuItem.MenuElements.Count

If TypeName(myMenuItem.MenuElements.Item(myCounter)) <>

"MenuSeparator" Then

myString = myGetIndent(myMenuItem.MenuElements.Item(myCounter),

myString, False)

myTextFile.WriteLine myString &

myMenuItem.MenuElements.Item(myCounter).Name

myMenuElementName = myMenuItem.MenuElements.Item(myCounter).Name

myString = ""

If TypeName(myMenuItem.MenuElements.Item(myCounter)) = "Submenu" Then

If myMenuItem.MenuElements.Count > 0 Then

myProcessMenu myMenuItem.MenuElements.Item(myCounter),

myTextFile

End If

End Function

Function myGetIndent(myMenuItem, myString, myDone)

Do While myDone = False

If TypeName(myMenuItem.Parent) = "Application" Then

myDone = True

Else

myString = myString & vbTab

myGetIndent myMenuItem.Parent, myString, myDone

End If

Loop

myGetIndent = myString

End Function

Localization and menu names

in InDesign scripting, MenuItems, Menus, MenuActions, and Submenus are all referred to by name. Because

of this, scripts need a method of locating these objects that is independent of the installed locale of the

application. To do this, you can use an internal database of strings that refer to a specific item, regardless of

locale. For example, to get the locale-independent name of a menu action, you can use the following

script fragment (for the complete script, see GetKeyStrings):

CHAPTER 9: Menus Running a Menu Action from a Script 150

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Fill in the name of the menu action you want.

Set myMenuAction = myInDesign.MenuActions.Item("Convert to Note")

myKeyStrings = myInDesign.FindKeyStrings(myMenuAction.Name)

myString = ""

For Each myKeyString In myKeyStrings

myString = myString & myKeyString & vbCr

MsgBox myString

NOTE: It is much better to get the locale-independent name of a MenuAction than of a Menus, MenuItem, or

Submenu, because the title of a MenuAction is more likely to be a single string. Many of the other menu

objects return multiple strings when you use the FindKeyStrings method.

Once you have the locale-independent string you want to use, you can include it in your scripts. Scripts

that use these strings will function properly in locales other than that of your version of InDesign.

To translate a locale-independent string into the current locale, use the following script fragment (from the

TranslateKeyString tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Fill in the appropriate key string in the following line.

myString = myInDesign.TranslateKeyString("$ID/NotesMenu.ConvertToNote")

MsgBox myString

Running a Menu Action from a Script

Any of InDesign’s built-in MenuActions can be run from a script. The MenuAction does not need to be

attached to a MenuItem; however, in every other way, running a MenuItem from a script is exactly the same

as choosing a menu option in the user interface. For example, If selecting the menu option displays a

dialog box, running the corresponding MenuAction from a script also displays a dialog box.

The following script shows how to run a MenuAction from a script (for the complete script, see

InvokeMenuAction):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem Get a reference to a menu action.

Set myMenuAction = myInDesign.MenuActions.Item("$ID/NotesMenu.ConvertToNote")

Rem Run the menu action. The example action will fail if you do not

Rem have text selected.

myMenuAction.Invoke

NOTE: In general, you should not try to automate InDesign processes by scripting menu actions and

user-interface selections; InDesign’s scripting object model provides a much more robust and powerful

way to work. Menu actions depend on a variety of user-interface conditions, like the selection and the

state of the window. Scripts using the object model work with the objects in an InDesign document

directly, which means they do not depend on the user interface; this, in turn, makes them faster and more

consistent.

Adding Menus and Menu Items

Scripts also can create new menus and menu items or remove menus and menu items, just as you can in

the InDesign user interface. The following sample script shows how to duplicate the contents of a

submenu to a new menu in another menu location (for the complete script, see CustomizeMenu):

CHAPTER 9: Menus Menus and Events 151

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myMainMenu = myInDesign.Menus.Item("Main")

Set myTypeMenu = myMainMenu.MenuElements.Item("Type")

Set myFontMenu = myTypeMenu.MenuElements.Item("Font")

Set myKozukaMenu = myFontMenu.Submenus.Item("Kozuka Mincho Pro ")

Set mySpecialFontMenu = myMainMenu.Submenus.Add("Kozuka Mincho Pro")

For myCounter = 1 To myKozukaMenu.MenuItems.Count

Set myAssociatedMenuAction =

myKozukaMenu.MenuItems.Item(myCounter).AssociatedMenuAction

mySpecialFontMenu.MenuItems.Add myAssociatedMenuAction

To remove the custom menu item created by the above script, use RemoveCustomMenu.

Set myMainMenu = myInDesign.menus.item("$ID/Main")

On Error Resume Next

Set mySpecialFontMenu = myMainMenu.Submenus.Item("Kozuka Mincho Pro")

mySpecialFontMenu.Delete

On Error Goto 0

Menus and Events

Menus and submenus generate events as they are chosen in the user interface, and MenuActions and

ScriptMenuActions generate events as they are used. Scripts can install EventListeners to respond to

these events. The following table shows the events for the different menu scripting components:

For more about Events and EventListeners, see Chapter 8, “Events.”

Object Event Description

Menu beforeDisplay Runs the attached script before the contents of the menu is

shown.

MenuAction afterInvoke Runs the attached script when the associated MenuItem is

selected, but after the onInvoke event.

beforeInvoke Runs the attached script when the associated MenuItem is

selected, but before the onInvoke event.

ScriptMenuAction afterInvoke Runs the attached script when the associated MenuItem is

selected, but after the onInvoke event.

beforeInvoke Runs the attached script when the associated MenuItem is

selected, but before the onInvoke event.

beforeDisplay Runs the attached script before an internal request for the

enabled/checked status of the

ScriptMenuActionScriptMenuAction.

onInvoke Runs the attached script when the ScriptMenuAction is

invoked.

Submenu beforeDisplay Runs the attached script before the contents of the Submenu

are shown.

CHAPTER 9: Menus Working with scriptMenuActions 152

To change the items displayed in a menu, add an EventListener for the beforeDisplay Event. When the

menu is selected, the EventListener can then run a script that enables or disables menu items, changes

the wording of menu item, or performs other tasks related to the menu. This mechanism is used internally

to change the menu listing of available fonts, recent documents, or open windows.

Working with scriptMenuActions

You can use ScriptMenuAction to create a new MenuAction whose behavior is implemented through the

script registered to run when the onInvoke Event is triggered.

The following script shows how to create a ScriptMenuAction and attach it to a menu item (for the

complete script, see MakeScriptMenuAction). This script simply displays an alert when the menu item is

selected.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set mySampleScriptAction = myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Add("Display Message")

Set myEventListener = mySampleScriptAction.EventListeners.Add("onInvoke",

"c:\message.vbs")

Set mySampleScriptMenu = myInDesign.Menus.Item("$ID/Main").Submenus.Add("Script Menu

Action")

Set mySampleScriptMenuItem = mySampleScriptMenu.MenuItems.Add(mySampleScriptAction)

The message.vbs script file contains the following code:

MsgBox("You selected an example script menu action.")

To remove the Menu, Submenu, MenuItem, and ScriptMenuAction created by the above script, run the

following script fragment (from the RemoveScriptMenuAction tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set mySampleScriptAction = myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Item("Display Message")

mySampleScriptAction.Delete

Set mySampleScriptMenu = myInDesign.Menus.Item("$ID/Main").Submenus.Item("Script Menu

Action")

mySampleScriptMenu.Delete

You also can remove all ScriptMenuAction, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

RemoveAllScriptMenuActions tutorial script). This script also removes the menu listings of the

ScriptMenuAction, but it does not delete any menus or submenus you might have created.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

For myCounter = myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Count To 1 Step -1

myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Item(myCounter).Delete

You can create a list of all current ScriptMenuActions, as shown in the following script fragment (from

the ListScriptMenuActions tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Rem You'll need to fill in a valid file path for your system.

Set myTextFile = myFileSystemObject.CreateTextFile("c:\scriptmenuactionnames.txt",

True, False)

For myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Count

Set myScriptMenuAction = myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Item(myMenuCounter)

myTextFile.WriteLine myScriptMenuAction.Name

myTextFile.Close

CHAPTER 9: Menus A More Complex Menu-scripting Example 153

ScriptMenuAction also can run scripts during their beforeDisplay Event, in which case they are

executed before an internal request for the state of the ScriptMenuAction (e.g., when the menu item is

about to be displayed). Among other things, the script can then change the menu names and/or set the

enabled/checked status.

In the following sample script, we add an EventListener to the beforeDisplay Event that checks the

current selection. If there is no selection, the script in the EventListener disables the menu item. If an

item is selected, the menu item is enabled, and choosing the menu item displays the type of the first item

in the selection. (For the complete script, see BeforeDisplay.)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set mySampleScriptAction = myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Add("Display Message")

Set myEventListener = mySampleScriptAction.EventListeners.Add("onInvoke",

"c:\WhatIsSelected.vbs ")

Set mySampleScriptMenu = myInDesign.Menus.Item("$ID/Main").Submenus.Add("Script Menu

Action")

Set mySampleScriptMenuItem = mySampleScriptMenu.MenuItems.Add(mySampleScriptAction)

mySampleScriptMenu.EventListeners.Add "beforeDisplay", "c:\BeforeDisplayHandler.vbs"

The BeforeDisplayHander tutorial script file contains the following script:

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set mySampleScriptAction = myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.Item("Display Message")

If myInDesign.Selection.Count > 0 Then

mySampleScriptAction.Enabled = True

Else

mySampleScriptAction.Enabled = False

End If

The WhatIsSelected tutorial script file contains the following script:

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

myString = TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(1))

MsgBox "The first item in the selection is a " & myString & "."

A More Complex Menu-scripting Example

You have probably noticed that selecting different items in the InDesign user interface changes the

contents of the context menus. The following sample script shows how to modify the context menu based

on the properties of the object you select. Fragments of the script are shown below; for the complete

script, see LayoutContextMenu.

The following snippet shows how to create a new menu item on the Layout context menu (the context

menu that appears when you have a page item selected). The following snippet adds a beforeDisplay

EventListener which checks for the existence of a MenuItem and removes it if it already exists. We do this

to ensure the MenuItem does not appear on the context menu when the selection does not contain a

graphic, and to avoid adding multiple menu choices to the context menu. The EventListener then

checks the selection to see if it contains a graphic; if so, it creates a new ScriptMenuItem.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Rem The locale-independent name (aka "key string") for the

Rem Layout context menu is "$ID/RtMouseLayout".

Set myLayoutContextMenu = myInDesign.Menus.Item("$ID/RtMouseLayout")

Rem Create the event handler for the "beforeDisplay" event

Rem of the Layout context menu.

Set myBeforeDisplayListener = myLayoutContextMenu.addEventListener("beforeDisplay",

"c:\IDEventHandlers\LabelGraphicBeforeDisplay.vbs", false)

CHAPTER 9: Menus A More Complex Menu-scripting Example 154

The LabelGraphicBeforeDisplay.vbs file referred to in the above example contains the following:

myBeforeDisplayHandler evt

function myBeforeDisplayHandler(myEvent)

ReDim myObjectList(0)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myLayoutContextMenu = myInDesign.Menus.Item("$ID/RtMouseLayout")

Rem Check for open documents is a basic sanity check--

Rem it should never be needed, as this menu won't be

Rem displayed unless an item is selected. But it's best

Rem to err on the side of safety.

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

If myInDesign.Selection.Count > 0 Then

Rem Does the selection contain any graphics?

for myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.Selection.Count

Select Case TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter))

Case "PDF","EPS", "Image":

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

ReDim Preserve myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList) + 1)

End If

Set myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList)) =

myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter)

Case "Rectangle", "Oval", "Polygon":

If myInDesign.selection.Item(myCounter).

Graphics.Count > 0 Then

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

ReDim Preserve myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList) + 1)

End If

Set myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList)) =

myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter).Graphics.Item(1)

End If

End Select

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

Rem Add the menu item if it does not already exist.

If myCheckForMenuItem(myLayoutContextMenu,

"Create Graphic Label") = False Then

myMakeLabelGraphicMenuItem myInDesign

End If

Else

Rem Remove the menu item, if it exists.

If myCheckForMenuItem(myLayoutContextMenu,

"Create Graphic Label") = True Then

myLayoutContextMenu.MenuItems.Item("Create Graphic

Label").delete

End If

CHAPTER 9: Menus A More Complex Menu-scripting Example 155

End Function

Function myMakeLabelGraphicMenuItem(myInDesign)

Rem alert("Got to the myMakeLabelGraphicMenuItem function!")

If myCheckForScriptMenuItem(myInDesign, "Create Graphic Label") =

False Then

msgbox "Making a new script menu action!"

Set myLabelGraphicMenuAction = myInDesign.ScriptMenuActions.add("Create

Graphic Label")

Set myLabelGraphicEventListener = myLabelGraphicMenuAction.

EventListeners.Add("onInvoke", "c:\IDEventHandlers\

LabelGraphicOnInvoke.vbs", false)

End If

Set myLabelGraphicMenuItem = myInDesign.Menus.Item("$ID/RtMouseLayout").

menuItems.add(myInDesign.scriptMenuActions.item("Create Graphic Label"))

End Function

The LabelGraphicOnInvoke.vbs referred to in the above example defines the script menu action that

is activated when the menu item is selected (onInvoke event):

myLabelGraphicEventHandler evt

Function myLabelGraphicEventHandler(myEvent)

ReDim myObjectList(0)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Selection.Count > 0 Then

Rem Does the selection contain any graphics?

for myCounter = 1 To myInDesign.Selection.Count

Select Case TypeName(myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter))

Case "PDF","EPS", "Image":

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

ReDim Preserve myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList) + 1)

End If

Set myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList)) =

myInDesign.Selection.Item(myCounter)

Case "Rectangle", "Oval", "Polygon":

If myInDesign.selection.Item(myCounter).Graphics.Count > 0

Then

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

ReDim Preserve myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList) + 1)

End If

Set myObjectList(UBound(myObjectList)) = myInDesign.

Selection.Item(myCounter).Graphics.Item(1)

End If

End Select

If Not (IsEmpty(myObjectList(0))) Then

myDisplayDialog myInDesign, myObjectList

End If

End Function

Rem Function that adds the label.

Function myAddLabel(myInDesign, myGraphic, myLabelType, myLabelHeight, myLabelOffset,

myLabelStyleName, myLayerName)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.documents.Item(1)

myLabelStyle = myDocument.paragraphStyles.item(myLabelStyleName)

Set myLink = myGraphic.ItemLink

Rem Create the label layer if it does not already exist.

On Error Resume Next

Set myLabelLayer = myDocument.layers.item(myLayerName)

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myLabelLayer = myDocument.Layers.Add

CHAPTER 9: Menus A More Complex Menu-scripting Example 156

myLabelLayer.Name = myLayerName

Err.Clear

End If

On Error Goto 0

Rem Label type defines the text that goes in the label.

Select Case myLabelType

Rem File name

case 0:

myLabel = myLink.Name

Rem File path

case 1:

myLabel = myLink.FilePath

Rem XMP description

case 2:

On Error Resume Next

myLabel = myLink.LinkXmp.Description

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

myLabel = "No description available."

Err.Clear

End If

On Error Goto 0

Rem XMP author

case 3:

On Error Resume Next

myLabel = myLink.LinkXmp.Author

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

myLabel = "No author available."

Err.Clear

End If

On Error Goto 0

End Select

Set myFrame = myGraphic.Parent

myBounds = myFrame.GeometricBounds

myX1 = myBounds(1)

myY1 = myBounds(2) + myLabelOffset

myX2 = myBounds(3)

myY2 = myY1 + myLabelHeight

Set myTextFrame = myFrame.Parent.TextFrames.Add(myLabelLayer)

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = Array(myY1, myX1, myY2, myX2)

myTextFrame.Contents = myLabel

myTextFrame.TextFramePreferences.FirstBaselineOffset =

idFirstBaseline.idLeadingOffset

myTextFrame.Paragraphs.Item(1).AppliedParagraphStyle =

myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).ParagraphStyles.Item(myLabelStyle)

End Function

Function myDisplayDialog(myInDesign, myObjectList)

myLabelWidth = 100

myStyleNames = myGetParagraphStyleNames(myInDesign.Documents.Item(1))

myLayerNames = myGetLayerNames(myInDesign.Documents.Item(1))

Set myDialog = myInDesign.Dialogs.Add

myDialog.Name = "LabelGraphics"

With myDialog.DialogColumns.Add

Rem Label type

With .DialogRows.Add

With .DialogColumns.Add

With .StaticTexts.add

.StaticLabel = "Label Type"

.MinWidth = myLabelWidth

End With

CHAPTER 9: Menus A More Complex Menu-scripting Example 157

With .DialogColumns.Add

Set myLabelTypeDropdown = .Dropdowns.Add

myLabelTypeDropdown.StringList = Array("File name", "File path",

"XMP description", "XMP author")

myLabelTypeDropdown.SelectedIndex = 0

End With

Rem Text frame height

With .DialogRows.Add

With .DialogColumns.Add

With .StaticTexts.add

.StaticLabel="Label Height"

.MinWidth=myLabelWidth

End With

With .DialogColumns.Add

Set myLabelHeightField = .MeasurementEditboxes.Add

myLabelHeightField.EditValue = 24

myLabelHeightField.EditUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

End With

Rem Text frame offset

With .DialogRows.Add

With .DialogColumns.Add

With .staticTexts.add

.staticLabel="Label Offset"

.minWidth=myLabelWidth

End With

With .DialogColumns.Add

Set myLabelOffsetField = .MeasurementEditboxes.Add

myLabelOffsetField.editValue=0

myLabelOffsetField.editUnits=idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

End With

Rem Style to apply

With .DialogRows.Add

With .DialogColumns.Add

With .StaticTexts.Add

.StaticLabel="Label Style"

.MinWidth=myLabelWidth

End With

With .DialogColumns.Add

Set myLabelStyleDropdown = .Dropdowns.Add

myLabelStyleDropdown.StringList=myStyleNames

myLabelStyleDropdown.SelectedIndex=0

End With

Rem Layer

With .DialogRows.Add

With .DialogColumns.Add

With .StaticTexts.Add

.StaticLabel="Layer"

.MinWidth=myLabelWidth

End With

With .DialogColumns.Add

Set myLayerDropdown = .Dropdowns.Add

myLayerDropdown.StringList=myLayerNames

CHAPTER 9: Menus A More Complex Menu-scripting Example 158

myLayerDropdown.SelectedIndex=0

End With

myResult = myDialog.show

If myResult = True Then

myLabelType = myLabelTypeDropdown.selectedIndex

myLabelHeight = myLabelHeightField.editValue

myLabelOffset = myLabelOffsetField.editValue

myLabelStyle = myStyleNames(myLabelStyleDropdown.selectedIndex)

myLayerName = myLayerNames(myLayerDropdown.selectedIndex)

myDialog.Destroy

myOldXUnits = myInDesign.documents.item(1).viewPreferences.

horizontalMeasurementUnits

myOldYUnits = myInDesign.documents.item(1).viewPreferences.

verticalMeasurementUnits

myInDesign.documents.item(1).viewPreferences.horizontalMeasurementUnits

= idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myInDesign.documents.item(1).viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits =

idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

for myCounter = 0 To UBound(myObjectList)

Set myGraphic = myObjectList(myCounter)

myAddLabel myInDesign, myGraphic, myLabelType, myLabelHeight,

myLabelOffset, myLabelStyle, myLayerName

myInDesign.documents.item(1).viewPreferences.horizontalMeasurementUnits

= myOldXUnits

myInDesign.documents.item(1).viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits =

myOldYUnits

Else

myDialog.Destroy

End If

End Function

159

10 Working with Pref light

Preflight is a way to verify that you have all required files, fonts, assets (e.g., placed images and PDF files),

printer settings, trapping styles, etc., before you send a publication to an output device. For example, if you

placed an image as a low-resolution proxy but do not have the high-resolution original image accessible

on your hard disk (or workgroup server), that may result in an error during the printing process. Preflight

checks for this sort of problem. It can be run in the background as you work.

This chapter demonstrates how to interact with the preflight system using scripting. For illustration

purposes, we show how to configure preflight to raise an error if the page size is something other than

letter size (8.5" x 11"). We briefly highlight how it is done in the user interface, then show how to achieve

the same results through scripting.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create, install,

and run a script.

Exploring Preflight Profiles

InDesign’s preflight feature is profile based, rule driven, and parameterized. There might be one or more

preflight profiles. Initially, there is one profile, [Basic], which is read-only; you cannot modify or delete it.

A preflight profile contains many preflight rules. Each rule has a name and multiple data objects. Each data

object has a name, data type, and data value. The data value can be changed. Each rule can be configured

as follows:

Disabled — The preflight rule is disabled.

Return as error — The preflight rule returns error-level feedback.

Return as warning — The preflight rule returns warning-level feedback.

Return as informational — The preflight rule returns informational-level feedback.

To check the profile in InDesign, choose Preflight Panel > Define Profiles. You also can get profile

information by scripting.

Listing preflight profiles

This script fragment shows how to list all preflight profiles. For the complete script, see ListPreflightProfiles.

Chapter Update Status

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CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Exploring Preflight Profiles 160

Set profiles = myInDesign.PreflightProfiles

profileCount = profiles.Count

str = "Preflight profiles: "

For i = 1 To profileCount

If i > 1 Then

str = str & ", "

End If

str = str & profiles.Item(i).Name

MsgBox(str)

Listing preflight rules

This script fragment shows how to list all preflight rules in a profile. For the complete script, see

ListPreflightRules.

Rem Assume the [Basic] profile exists

Set myProfile = myInDesign.PreflightProfiles.Item(1)

Set myRules = myProfile.PreflightProfileRules

ruleCount = myRules.Count

str = "Preflight rules of " & myProfile.Name + ": "

For i = 1 To ruleCount

If i > 1 Then

str = str & ", "

End If

str = str & myRules.Item(i).Name

MsgBox(str)

Listing preflight data objects

This script fragment shows how to list all preflight data objects in a profile rule. For the complete script, see

ListPreflightDataObjects.

Rem Assume the [Basic] profile exists

Set myProfile = myInDesign.PreflightProfiles.Item(1)

Rem rule ADBE_BlankPages

Set myRule = myProfile.PreflightProfileRules.Item(1)

Set dataObjects = myRule.ruleDataObjects

dataObjectCount = dataObjects.Count

str = "Preflight rule data objects of " & myProfile.Name + "." + myRule.Name + ": "

For i = 1 To dataObjectCount

If i > 1 Then

str = str & "; "

End If

Set dataObject = dataObjects.Item(i)

str = str & dataObject.Name & ", "

str = str & getDataObjectDataType(dataObject.dataType) & ", "

str = str & dataObject.dataValue

MsgBox(str)

Function getDataObjectDataType(dataType)

If dataType = idRuleDataType.idBooleanDataType Then

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Importing a Preflight Profile 161

getDataObjectDataType = "Boolean"

Elseif dataType = idRuleDataType.idIntegerDataType Then

getDataObjectDataType = "Integer"

Elseif dataType = idRuleDataType.idListDataType Then

getDataObjectDataType = "List"

Elseif dataType = idRuleDataType.idObjectDataType Then

getDataObjectDataType = "Object"

Elseif dataType = idRuleDataType.idRealDataType Then

getDataObjectDataType = "Real"

Elseif dataType = idRuleDataType.idShortIntegerDataType Then

getDataObjectDataType = "Short Integer"

Elseif dataType = idRuleDataType.idStringDataType Then

getDataObjectDataType = "String"

End If

End Function

Importing a Preflight Profile

To import a preflight profile from the Preflight panel, choose Preflight Panel > Define Profiles, then choose

Load Profile from the drop-down menu in the Preflight Profiles window.

You also can load a profile with scripting. The following script fragment imports a profile called Test. For

the complete script, see ImportPreflightProfile.

Set myProfile = myInDesign.LoadPreflightProfile("c:\Test.idpp")

MsgBox("Preflight profile " & myProfile.Name & " is loaded.")

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Creating a Preflight Profile 162

It is easier to create profiles using the Preflight panel than with scripting. One workflow would be to create

all profiles in the user interface, export them to files, and import them using scripting. This approach

avoids the challenges involved with manually adding rules via scripting.

Creating a Preflight Profile

To create a preflight profile from the Preflight panel, choose Preflight Panel > Define Profiles, then choose

the plus sign (+) to add a new preflight profile. Name the profile and fill in all data values for the available

rules.

You also can create a profile with scripting. The following script fragment adds a single profile called Test.

For the complete script, see CreatePreflightProfile.

Set myProfile = myInDesign.PreflightProfiles.Add()

myProfile.Name = "Test"

myProfile.Description = "Test description"

MsgBox("Preflight profile " & myProfile.Name & " is created.")

Preflight-profile names must be unique. If the script above is executed more than once within the same

InDesign instance, an error is raised, indicating that a profile with that name already exists. To avoid this,

either access the existing profile using app.preflightProfiles.itemByName(), or check to see if a

profile exists and remove it; see the following script fragment. For the complete script, see

DeletePreflightProfile.

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Adding Rules 163

Function removeProfile(myInDesign, profileName)

Set myProfiles= myInDesign.PreflightProfiles

profileCount = myProfiles.Count

For i = 1 To profileCount

If (myProfiles.Item(i).Name = profileName) Then

myProfiles.Item(i).Delete()

End If

End Function

Adding Rules

A preflight profile contains a mutually exclusive set of rules. To add a rule to a profile, follow these steps:

1. Add a rule to a profile by name.

Rules are added by name. For information on rule names, see “Available Rules” on page 165. The

following adds the ADBE_PageSizeOrientation rule to the profile.

Rem Add a rule that requires a specific page size and orientation

Rem (portrait or landscape).

const RULE_NAME = "ADBE_PageSizeOrientation"

Set myRule = myProfile.PreflightProfileRules.Add(RULE_NAME)

2. Set the rule’s data values.

Many, but not all, rules have data properties. For a complete specification of the rules available with

InDesign, see “Available Rules” on page 165. The ADBE_PageSizeOrientation rule contains particular

data properties that allow you to specify a page size. The following sets the acceptable page height

and width, a tolerance (fudge factor), and an option for handling page orientation.

Rem Requires the page size to be 8.5in x 11in (Letter Size)

Rem enters a value for tolerance

myRule.RuleDataObjects.Add "tolerance", idRuleDataType.idRealDataType, 0.01

Rem Sets the width to the point equivalent of 8.5 inches

myRule.RuleDataObjects.Add "width", idRuleDataType.idRealDataType, 612

Rem Sets the width to the point equivalent of 11 inches

myRule.RuleDataObjects.Add "height", idRuleDataType.idRealDataType, 792

Rem true = ignore orientation is checked

myRule.RuleDataObjects.Add "ignore_orientation", idRuleDataType.idBooleanDataType,

true

3. Set the rule’s reporting state.

This is done using the rule’s flag property. There are several choices (disabled, information, warning,

and error), controlled by the PreflightRuleFlag enumeration.

Rem set the rule to return an error

myRule.Flag = idPreflightRuleFlag.idReturnAsError

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Processing a Profile 164

Processing a Profile

In the desktop version of InDesign, preflight errors are reported in the user interface. In scripting

(especially for InDesign Server), the errors are generated on demand. The following script processes an

InDesign document. (For the complete script, see ProcessPreflightProfile.) If there are errors, it writes the

results to a new PDF file. For an example of the output, see the figure below the script.

Rem Assume there is an document.

Set myDoc = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Use the second preflight profile

Set myProfile = myInDesign.PreflightProfiles.Item(2)

Rem Process the doc with the rule

Set myProcess = myInDesign.PreflightProcesses.Add(myDoc, myProfile)

myProcess.WaitForProcess()

results = myProcess.ProcessResults

Rem If Errors were found

If results <> "None" Then

Rem Export the file to PDF. The "true" value selects to open the file after export.

myProcess.SaveReport("c:\PreflightResults.pdf")

End If

Rem Cleanup

myProcess.Delete()

If you would rather produce a text file, simply name your output file with a .txt extension.

Alternately, you may prefer to iterate the errors yourself. The following demonstrates how to access the

errors array. For the complete script, see ProcessPreflightProfileShowErrors.

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Custom Rules 165

Rem If errors were found

If myResults <> "None" Then

Rem array containing detailed results

errors = myProcess.AggregatedResults

Rem Show the errors in a message box.

str = "Document Name: " & errors(0) & ", Profile Name: " & errors(1) & ", Results: ["

errorResults = errors(2)

For i = 0 to UBound(errorResults)

If i > 1 Then

str = str & ", "

End If

str = str & errorResults(i)(1)

str = str & "]"

MsgBox(str)

End If

Custom Rules

It is not possible to create custom rules through the Preflight panel or scripting; however, this can be done

through a C++ plug-in. The InDesign Products SDK contains a sample, PreflightRule, that demonstrates

how to add custom rules with a plug-in.

Available Rules

One of the hardest aspects of scripting rules is discovering rule names and properties. Due to the dynamic

nature of rules (they really are just strings), specific rule names and properties do not appear in the Extend

Script Tool Kit’s Object Model Viewer. To discover this information, see “Exploring Preflight Profiles” on

page 159. For your convenience, the DumpPreflightRules.jsx script is provided in the SDK to produce

the following output as an HTML file (SDK\docs\references\PreflightRules.html). If you use a plug-in that

adds custom rules, you can run the script to extract the new names and properties.

Rule name Rule properties

ADBE_BlankPages “ADBE_BlankPages” on page 166

ADBE_BleedSlug “ADBE_BleedSlug” on page 166

ADBE_BleedTrimHazard “ADBE_BleedTrimHazard” on page 167

ADBE_CMYPlates no

ADBE_Colorspace “ADBE_Colorspace” on page 168

ADBE_ConditionIndicators no

ADBE_CrossReferences “ADBE_CrossReferences” on page 168yes

ADBE_FontUsage “ADBE_FontUsage” on page 168

ADBE_ImageColorManagement “ADBE_ImageColorManagement” on page 169

ADBE_ImageResolution “ADBE_ImageResolution” on page 169

ADBE_InteractiveContent no

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Available Rules 166

ADBE_BlankPages

ADBE_BleedSlug

ADBE_LayerVisibility no

ADBE_MissingFonts no

ADBE_MissingGlyph no

ADBE_MissingModifiedGraphics no

ADBE_OPI no

ADBE_Overprint no

ADBE_OversetText no

ADBE_PageCount “ADBE_PageCount” on page 169

ADBE_PageSizeOrientation “ADBE_PageSizeOrientation” on page 170

ADBE_Registration no

ADBE_ScaledGraphics “ADBE_ScaledGraphics” on page 170

ADBE_ScaledType “ADBE_ScaledType” on page 170

ADBE_SmallText “ADBE_SmallText” on page 170

ADBE_SpellCheck no

ADBE_SpotColorSetup “ADBE_SpotColorSetup” on page 170

ADBE_StrokeRequirements “ADBE_StrokeRequirements” on page 171

ADBE_TextOverrides “ADBE_TextOverrides” on page 171

ADBE_TransparencyBlending “ADBE_TransparencyBlending” on page 171

ADBE_TransparencyUsage no

ADBE_WhiteOverprint no

Rule name Rule properties

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean ignore_master true

Boolean ignore_nonprinting true

Data Type Name Default value

Real bleed_b 9

Real bleed_b_aux 9

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Available Rules 167

ADBE_BleedTrimHazard

Integer bleed_comparison_type 3

Boolean bleed_enabled true

Real bleed_l 9

Real bleed_l_aux 9

Real bleed_r 9

Real bleed_r_aux 9

Real bleed_t 9

Real bleed_t_aux 9

Real slug_b 18

Real slug_b_aux 18

Integer slug_comparison_type 3

Boolean slug_enabled false

Real slug_l 18

Real slug_l_aux 18

Real slug_r 18

Real slug_r_aux 18

Real slug_t 18

Real slug_t_aux 18

Real tolerance 0.01

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean binding_enabled false

Real binding_width 1

Real live_b 18

Real live_l 18

Real live_r 18

Real live_t 18

Real tolerance 0.01

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Available Rules 168

ADBE_Colorspace

ADBE_CrossReferences

ADBE_FontUsage

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean no_cmyk false

Boolean no_gray false

Boolean no_lab false

Boolean no_rgb false

Boolean no_spot false

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean xrefs_out_of_date true

Boolean xrefs_unresolved true

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean no_ATC false

Boolean no_Bitmap false

Boolean no_CID false

Boolean no_MultipleMaster false

Boolean no_OpenTypeCFF false

Boolean no_OpenTypeCID false

Boolean no_OpenTypeTT false

Boolean no_TrueType false

Boolean no_Type1 false

Boolean no_protected true

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Available Rules 169

ADBE_ImageColorManagement

ADBE_ImageResolution

ADBE_PageCount

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean no_cmyk_profiles true

Boolean no_image_overrides true

Boolean overrides_exclude_uncal true

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean bw_max_enabled false

Real bw_max_res 2400

Boolean bw_min_enabled true

Real bw_min_res 800

Boolean color_max_enabled false

Real color_max_res 1200

Boolean color_min_enabled true

Real color_min_res 250

Boolean gray_max_enabled false

Real gray_max_res 1200

Boolean gray_min_enabled true

Real gray_min_res 250

Real tolerance 0.5

Data Type Name Default value

Integer comparison_type 2

Integer comparison_value 1

Integer comparison_value_aux 1

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Available Rules 170

ADBE_PageSizeOrientation

ADBE_ScaledGraphics

ADBE_ScaledType

ADBE_SmallText

ADBE_SpotColorSetup

Data Type Name Default value

Real height 792

Boolean ignore_orientation false

Real tolerance 0.01

Real width 612

Data Type Name Default value

Real max_scale 100.5

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean ignore_justification true

Real max_scale 100.5

Data Type Name Default value

Real minSize 4

Boolean minSize_trap_safe_only false

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean lab_spots true

Boolean lab_spots_enabled false

Integer max_spots 1

Boolean max_spots_enabled true

CHAPTER 10: Working with Preflight Available Rules 171

ADBE_StrokeRequirements

ADBE_TextOverrides

ADBE_TransparencyBlending

Data Type Name Default value

Real min_width 0.125

Boolean min_width_trap_safe_only false

Data Type Name Default value

Boolean ignore_color_overrides false

Boolean ignore_font_overrides false

Boolean ignore_kerning_tracking_overrides false

Boolean ignore_language_overrides false

Data Type Name Default value

Integer space 3

172

11 Creating Dynamic Documents

InDesign can create documents for web and online use, also known as Rich Interactive Documents (RID).

Dynamic documents contain sounds, animations, hyperlinks, and other interactive content. InDesign

documents can be exported to SWF, XFL, or PDF. For SWF and XFL files, documents can include animations,

buttons, multistate objects, movies, and sound clips. You can use the Preview panel in InDesign to test

some types of dynamic content before exporting.

This chapter shows how to create dynamic documents using scripting. For more on exporting as PDF, SWF,

and XFL, refer to the “Working with Documents” chapter.

Importing Movies and Sounds

InDesign can import movie and sound files that can then be viewed or listened to in exported PDF, SWF, or

XFL documents. Movies and sounds in an InDesign document are very similar to graphics in that they exist

inside container objects on an InDesign page. Unlike graphics, however, you cannot see (or hear) the

content of the imported multimedia files on an InDesign page. For that, you'll need to either view the page

in the Preview panel, or export the file, then open the file in a viewer capable of displaying the content

(such as Acrobat Reader or a web browser).

Scripts can control the playback properties of a sound or movie in an exported dynamic document. You

can also add a preview, or “poster,” image to the page item containing the sound or movie.

The following script fragment shows how to import a movie and control the way that the movie is shown

and played in an exported document (for the complete script, refer to PlaceMovie).

Rem Given a page "myPage"...

Set myFrame = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myFrame.GeometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 288, 288)

Rem Import a movie file (you'll have to provide a valid file path on your system)

Set myMovie = myFrame.Place("c:\movie.avi").item(1)

Rem Set movie properties.

myMovie.EmbedInPDF = True

myMovie.ShowControls = True

Rem Add a preview image. You'll have to provide a valid path on your system.

myMovie.PosterFile = "c:\movie poster.jpg"

The following script fragment shows how to import a sound file and control the playback and display of

the sound in an exported document (for the complete script, refer to PlaceSound).

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CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Creating Buttons 173

Rem Given a page "myPage"...

Rem Import a sound file (you'll have to provide a valid file path on your system)

Set mySound = myPage.Place("c:\sound.mp3", Array(72, 72)).Item(1)

Rem Set sound properties.

mySound.EmbedInPDF = True

mySound.DoNotPrintPoster = True

mySound.SoundLoop = True

mySound.StopOnPageTurn = True

Rem Add a preview image. You'll have to provide a valid path on your system.

mySound.PosterFile = "c:\sound poster.jpg"

Buttons can be used to control the playback of sounds and movies. For information on how to script

buttons, see the next section.

Creating Buttons

Buttons are often used for navigation in dynamic documents. Buttons contain three states, known as

“Normal,” “Rollover,” and “Click,” which, in turn, can contain page items such as rectangles, ovals, text

frames, or images. The button can display only one state at a time; the other states are displayed when

triggered by mouse actions.

Behaviors control what the button does when you perform a specific mouse action. Behaviors correspond

to the Actions shown in the Buttons panel in InDesign’s user interface. Buttons can contain multiple

behaviors.

The following script fragment shows how to create a simple button that displays the next page in an

exported PDF or SWF (for the complete script, refer to SimpleButton). This button makes use of only the

Normal state.

Rem Given a page "myPage" and a document containing the color "Red"...

Rem Make a button by converting a page item.

Set myRightArrow = myPage.Polygons.Add

myRightArrow.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Red")

myRightArrow.name = "GoToNextPageButton"

myRightArrow.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(144, 108),

Array(72, 144))

Set myButton = myPage.Buttons.Add

myButton.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

myButton.States.Item(1).AddItemsToState myRightArrow

Set myGoToNextPageBehavior = myButton.GotoNextPageBehaviors.Add

myGoToNextPageBehavior.behaviorEvent = idBehaviorEvents.idMouseUp

The following script fragment shows how to create a somewhat more complicated button, containing

page items that change the appearance of each of the three button states. For the complete script, refer to

ButtonStates.

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Creating Buttons 174

Rem Given a page "myPage" in a document "myDocument," containing the colors

Rem "Blue" and "Red"...

Rem Make a button "from scratch."

Set myButton = myPage.Buttons.Add

myButton.GeometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

myButton.Name = "GoToNextPageButton"

Set myRightArrow = myButton.States.Item(1).Polygons.Add

myRightArrow.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Red")

myRightArrow.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(144, 108),

Array(72, 144))

Rem Add the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverState = myButton.States.Add

Rem Add a shadow to the polygon in the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverArrow = myRolloverState.Polygons.Add

myRolloverArrow.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Red")

myRolloverArrow.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(144, 108),

Array(72, 144))

Set myFillTransparencySettings = myRolloverArrow.FillTransparencySettings

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Mode = idShadowMode.idDrop

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Angle = 90

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.XOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.YOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Size = 6

Rem Add a shadow to the polygon in the Click state.

Set myClickState = myButton.States.Add

Set myClickArrow = myClickState.Polygons.Add

myClickArrow.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Blue")

myClickArrow.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(144, 108),

Array(72, 144))

Rem Set the behavior for the button.

Set myGoToNextPageBehavior = myButton.GotoNextPageBehaviors.Add

myGoToNextPageBehavior.BehaviorEvent = idBehaviorEvents.idMouseUp

Buttons can be used to control the playback of movie and sound files. The following script fragment shows

an example of using a set of buttons to control the playback of a moving file (for the complete script, refer

to MovieControl).

Rem Given a page "myPage" in a document "myDocument,"

Rem containing the colors "Gray" and "Red"...

Set myFrame = myPage.Rectangles.Add

myFrame.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 288, 288)

Rem Import a movie file (you'll have to provide a valid file path on your system)

myFrame.Place "c:\movie.avi"

Rem Create the movie "Start" button.

Set myPlayButton = myPage.Buttons.Add

myPlayButton.geometricBounds = Array(294, 186, 354, 282)

myPlayButton.name = "PlayMovieButton"

Set myRightArrow = myPlayButton.States.Item(1).Polygons.Add

myRightArrow.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Gray")

myRightArrow.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(186, 294), Array(186, 354),

Array(282, 324))

Rem Add the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverState = myPlayButton.States.Add

Rem Add a shadow to the polygon in the Rollover state.

Set myRolloverArrow = myRolloverState.Polygons.Add

myRolloverArrow.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Gray")

myRolloverArrow.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(186, 294), Array(186, 354),

Array(282, 324))

Set myFillTransparencySettings = myRolloverArrow.FillTransparencySettings

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Mode = idShadowMode.idDrop

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Creating Multistate Objects 175

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Angle = 90

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.XOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.YOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Size = 6

Rem Add a shadow to the polygon in the Click state.

set myClickState = myPlayButton.States.Add()

Set myClickArrow = myClickState.Polygons.Add

myClickArrow.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Red")

myClickArrow.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(186, 294), Array(186, 354),

Array(282, 324))

Rem Set the behavior for the button.

Set myMovieStartBehavior = myPlayButton.MovieBehaviors.Add

myMovieStartBehavior.MovieItem = myFrame.Movies.Item(1)

myMovieStartBehavior.behaviorEvent = idBehaviorEvents.idMouseUp

myMovieStartBehavior.operation = idMoviePlayOperations.idPlay

Rem Create the movie "Stop" button.

Set myStopButton = myPage.Buttons.Add

myStopButton.geometricBounds = Array(294, 78, 354, 174)

myStopButton.name = "StopMovieButton"

Set myNormalRectangle = myStopButton.States.Item(1).Rectangles.Add

myNormalRectangle.geometricBounds = Array(294, 78, 354, 174)

myNormalRectangle.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Gray")

Set myRolloverState = myStopButton.States.Add

Set myRolloverRectangle = myRolloverState.Rectangles.Add

myRolloverRectangle.geometricBounds = Array(294, 78, 354, 174)

myRolloverRectangle.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Gray")

Set myFillTransparencySettings = myRolloverRectangle.FillTransparencySettings

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Mode = idShadowMode.idDrop

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Angle = 90

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.XOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.YOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Size = 6

Set myClickState = myStopButton.States.Add

Set myClickRectangle = myClickState.Rectangles.Add

myClickRectangle.geometricBounds = Array(294, 78, 354, 174)

myClickRectangle.fillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Red")

Set myMovieStopBehavior = myStopButton.MovieBehaviors.Add

myMovieStopBehavior.MovieItem = myFrame.Movies.Item(1)

myMovieStopBehavior.behaviorEvent = idBehaviorEvents.idMouseUp

myMovieStopBehavior.operation = idMoviePlayOperations.idStop

Buttons are also important in controlling the appearance of multistate objects, as we’ll demonstrate in the

next section.

Creating Multistate Objects

Multistate objects (or MSOs) are similar to buttons in that they contains states, and that only one state can

be visible at a time. They are unlike buttons in that they can contain any number of states; buttons can

contain three states, at most. Multistate objects rely on buttons to change the way they display their

states.

The following script fragment shows how to create a simple multistate object and add a button to control

the display of the states in the object (for the complete script, refer to MakeMultiStateObject).

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Creating Multistate Objects 176

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" and

Rem four colors "myColorA," "myColorB," "myColorC," and "myColorD"...

Set myMSO = myPage.MultiStateObjects.Add

myMSO.name = "Spinner"

myMSO.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Rem New multistate objects contain two states when they're created. Add two more.

myMSO.States.Item(1).name = "Up"

myMSO.States.Item(2).name = "Right"

Rem Add two more states.

Set myDownState = myMSO.States.Add

myDownState.name = "Down"

Set myLeftState = myMSO.States.Add

myLeftState.name = "Left"

Rem Add page items to the states.

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(1).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorA

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 144), Array(144, 144), Array(108,

72))

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(2).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorB

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144), Array(144,

108))

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(3).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorC

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(108, 144), Array(144,

72))

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(4).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorD

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

Typically, you’ll control the display of the states in a multistate object using a button. The following script

fragment shows how to do this (for the complete script, refer to MultiStateObjectControl).

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" and

Rem four colors "myColorA," "myColorB," "myColorC," and "myColorD"...

Set myMSO = myPage.MultiStateObjects.Add

myMSO.name = "Spinner"

myMSO.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Rem New multistate objects contain two states when they're created. Add two more.

myMSO.States.Item(1).name = "Up"

myMSO.States.Item(2).name = "Right"

Rem Add two more states.

Set myDownState = myMSO.States.Add

myDownState.name = "Down"

Set myLeftState = myMSO.States.Add

myLeftState.name = "Left"

Rem Add page items to the states.

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(1).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorA

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 144), Array(144, 144),

Array(108, 72))

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(2).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorB

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Working with Animation 177

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(3).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorC

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(108, 144),

Array(144, 72))

Set myPolygon = myMSO.States.Item(4).Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorD

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(144, 72), Array(72, 108),

Array(144, 144))

Set myButton = myPage.Buttons.Add

myButton.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Rem var myNormalState = myButton.states.item(0)

Rem myNormalState.rectangles.add({geometricBounds:Array(72, 72, 144, 144)})

Set myRolloverState = myButton.States.Add

Set myRolloverRectangle = myRolloverState.Rectangles.Add

myRolloverRectangle.geometricBounds = Array(72, 72, 144, 144)

Set myFillTransparencySettings = myRolloverRectangle.StrokeTransparencySettings

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Mode = idShadowMode.idDrop

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Angle = 90

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.XOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.YOffset = 0

myFillTransparencySettings.DropShadowSettings.Size = 6

Set myClickState = myButton.States.Add

Set myNextStateBehavior = myButton.GotoNextStateBehaviors.Add

myNextStateBehavior.associatedMultiStateObject = myMSO

myNextStateBehavior.behaviorEvent = idBehaviorEvents.idMouseDown

myNextStateBehavior.enableBehavior = True

myNextStateBehavior.loopsToNextOrPrevious = True

Working with Animation

Page items can be animated, adding motion to the dynamic documents you create using InDesign. You

apply animation to objects using motion presets, define the movement of animated objects using motion

paths, and control the duration of the animation using timing settings, timing lists, and timing groups.

The AnimationSettings of an object control the animation that will be applied to the object. When

animation settings have been applied to an object, InDesign sets the HasCustomSettings property of the

object to true; if the object is not to be animated, this property is false.

The point at which an animation begins to play, relative to the event that triggers the animation, is

controlled by the objects and properties of the TimingSettings object attached to the page item or to

one of its parent containers (usually the spread).

Basic animation

The following script fragment shows how to create a simple animation (for the complete script, refer to

SimpleAnimation). The most basic forms of animation can be applied without using timing settings.

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Working with Animation 178

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" and a color "myColorA"...

Rem Add a page item to animate.

Set myPolygon = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygon.fillColor = myColorA

myPolygon.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygon.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144), Array(144,

108))

Rem Create a motion path.

myMotionPathPoints = Array(Array(Array(Array(108, 108), Array(108, 108), Array(108,

108)), Array(Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108))), True)

Rem Set animation preferences for the polygon. We havent' set a dynamic trigger

Rem for the animation, so the polygon's animation will be triggered by

Rem DynamicTriggerEvents.onPageLoad (the default).

myPolygon.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygon.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPoints

TimingSettings

The TimingSettings objects of spreads, pages, and page items control the timing of the animation(s)

applied to the object and to any objects contained by the object. TimingSettings contain:

TimingLists, which define the trigger event (page load, page click, and so on) that start the

animation.

TimingGroups, which associate a page item or series of page items with a specific timing and define

the sequence in which animations are shown.

TimingGroups contain TimingTargets, which define the objects associated with a given TimingGroup.

TimingTargets also specify a delay value for the animation applied to the page item, relative to the start

of the animation of the TimingGroup (for the first item in the TimingGroup), or from the start of the

previous item in the TimingGroup (for other items in the TimingGroup).

The following script fragment shows how to control the timing of the animation of an object using the

various timing objects (for the complete script, refer to TimingSettings). Note that the parameters used to

create a TimingGroup specify the properties of the first TimingTarget in the TimingGroup; subsequent

TimingTargets, if any, can be added separately.

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" and the color "myColorA",

Rem "myColorB", and "myColorC"...

Rem Add a page items to animate.

Set myPolygonA = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonA.fillColor = myColorA

myPolygonA.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonA.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

Set myPolygonB = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonB.fillColor = myColorB

myPolygonB.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonB.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

Set myPolygonC = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonC.fillColor = myColorC

myPolygonC.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonC.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

Rem Create a motion path.

myMotionPathPoints = Array(Array(Array(Array(108, 108), Array(108, 108), Array(108,

108)), Array(Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108))), True)

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Working with Animation 179

Rem Set animation preferences for the polygons.

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPoints

myPolygonB.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonB.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPoints

myPolygonC.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonC.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPoints

Set myTimingSettings = myPage.Parent.TimingSettings

Rem Remove the default timing list.

myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Item(1).Delete

Rem Add a new timing list that triggers when the page is clicked.

Set myTimingList =

myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Add(idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageClick)

Rem Add the polygons to a single timing group.

Set myTimingGroup = myTimingList.TimingGroups.Add(myPolygonA, 0)

myTimingGroup.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonB, 2

myTimingGroup.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonC, 2

Note that attempting to add a page item whose HasCustomSettings property (in the

AnimationSettings object of the page item) is false to a TimingTarget generates an error.

The following script fragment shows how to control the sequence of animations applied to objects on a

page (for the complete script, refer to MultipleTimingGroups). Note that the order in which TimingGroups

are added to a TimingList determines the order in which the animations play when the trigger event

specified in the TimingList occurs. Some trigger events, such as

idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageLoad, trigger the animations in the TimingList (in sequence);

others, such as idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageClick, trigger the animations one by one, in

sequence, with each instance of the event. For example, a TimingList containing five TimingGroups,

each containing a single TimingTarget, and having the trigger event

idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageClick requires five mouse clicks to process all the animations.

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" and the color "myColorA",

Rem "myColorB", and "myColorC"...

Rem Add a page items to animate.

Set myPolygonA = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonA.fillColor = myColorA

myPolygonA.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonA.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

Set myPolygonB = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonB.fillColor = myColorB

myPolygonB.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonB.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

Set myPolygonC = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonC.fillColor = myColorC

myPolygonC.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonC.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

Set myPolygonD = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonD.fillColor = myColorA

myPolygonD.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonD.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 144), Array(72, 216),

Array(144, 180))

Set myPolygonE = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonE.fillColor = myColorB

myPolygonE.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonE.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 144), Array(72, 216),

Array(144, 180))

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Working with Animation 180

Set myPolygonF = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonF.fillColor = myColorC

myPolygonF.strokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonF.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 144), Array(72, 216),

Array(144, 180))

Rem Create a motion path.

myMotionPathPointsA = Array(Array(Array(Array(108, 108), Array(108, 108), Array(108,

108)), Array(Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108))), True)

myMotionPathPointsB = Array(Array(Array(Array(108, 180), Array(108, 180), Array(108,

180)), Array(Array(516, 180), Array(516, 180), Array(516, 180))), True)

Rem Set animation preferences for the polygons.

Rem DynamicTriggerEvents.onPageLoad (the default).

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPointsA

myPolygonB.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonB.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPointsA

myPolygonC.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonC.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPointsA

myPolygonD.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonD.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPointsB

myPolygonE.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonE.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPointsB

myPolygonF.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonF.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPointsB

Set myTimingSettings = myPage.Parent.TimingSettings

Rem Remove the default timing list.

myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Item(1).Delete

Rem Add a new timing list that triggers when the page is clicked.

Set myTimingList =

myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Add(idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageClick)

Rem Add the polygons to a single timing group.

Set myTimingGroupA = myTimingList.TimingGroups.Add(myPolygonA, 0)

myTimingGroupA.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonB, 2

myTimingGroupA.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonC, 2

Rem myTimingGroupB will play on the second page click.

Set myTimingGroupB = myTimingList.TimingGroups.Add(myPolygonD, 0)

myTimingGroupB.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonE, 2

myTimingGroupB.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonF, 2

A given TimingSettings object can contain multiple TimingList objects, each of which responds to a

different trigger event. The following script fragment shows a series of animations triggered by

idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageLoad, by idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageClick (for the

complete script, refer to MultipleTimingLists).

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Working with Animation 181

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" containg 6 polygons:

Rem "myPolygonA", "myPolygonB", "myPolygonC", "myPolygonD", "myPolygonE",

"myPolygonF".

Set myTimingSettings = myPage.Parent.TimingSettings

Rem At this point, all of the polygons have already been added as timing targets

Rem of the default timing list. Change the delay of myPolygonB and myPolygonC,

Rem which are the targets of the second and third timing groups (item(1) and item(2)).

Set myTimingListA = myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Item(1)

Set myTimingGroup = myTimingListA.TimingGroups.Item(1)

myTimingGroup.TimingTargets.Item(1).DelaySeconds = 2

Set myTimingGroup = myTimingListA.TimingGroups.Item(2)

myTimingGroup.TimingTargets.Item(1).DelaySeconds = 2

Rem Remove the last three timing groups in the timing list.

Rem We have to do this, because we don't want these polygons to be

Rem animated when the page loads.

myTimingListA.TimingGroups.Item(-1).Delete

Rem Add a new timing list that triggers when the page is clicked.

Set myTimingListB =

myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Add(idDynamicTriggerEvents.idonPageClick)

Set myTimingGroupB = myTimingListB.TimingGroups.Add(myPolygonD, 0)

myTimingGroupB.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonE, 2

myTimingGroupB.TimingTargets.Add myPolygonF, 2

In the previous examples, we’ve worked with the TimingSettings of the spread containing the page

items we want to animate. When you want to animate a page item when a user clicks the item, you’ll need

to use the TimingSettings of the page item itself, as shown in the following script fragment (for the

complete script, refer to PageItemTimingSettings).

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" containg a polygon

Rem "myPolygonA" and a motion path myMotionPathPointsA...

Rem Remove the default timing list in the timing settings for the spread.

Rem Set animation preferences for the polygon.

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPointsA

myPage.Parent.TimingSettings.TimingLists.Item(1).Delete

Set myTimingSettings = myPolygonA.TimingSettings

Set myTimingList = myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Add(idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnClick)

Set myTimingGroup = myTimingList.TimingGroups.Add(myPolygonA, 0)

Animating transformations

Page items can change size, rotation or skewing angles, opacity, and visibility as their animation plays. The

AnimationSettings of the page item contain properties (such as RotationArray or HiddenAfter) that

define the transformations that are applied during animation. The following script fragment shows how to

make a page item rotate as it follows a motion path (for the complete script, refer to AnimateRotation).

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Working with Animation 182

Rem Given a document "myDocument" and a page "myPage" and the color "myColorA"...

Rem Add a page items to animate.

Set myPolygonA = myPage.Polygons.Add

myPolygonA.FillColor = myColorA

myPolygonA.StrokeColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("None")

myPolygonA.Paths.Item(1).EntirePath = Array(Array(72, 72), Array(72, 144),

Array(144, 108))

Rem Create a motion path.

myMotionPathPoints = Array(Array(Array(Array(108, 108), Array(108, 108), Array(108,

108)), Array(Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108), Array(516, 108))), True)

Rem Set animation preferences for the polygon.

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.MotionPathPoints = myMotionPathPoints

Rem Assuming 24 Frames Per Second (FPS)

Rem 23 = 1 second, 47 = 2 seconds, 71 = 3 seconds, 95 = 4 seconds, 119 = 5 seconds,

Rem 143 = 6 seconds

Rem Since the duration of our animation is 2 seconds, the following line will

Rem make the polygon rotate 360 degrees from the start to the end

Rem of the animation.

myPolygonA.AnimationSettings.RotationArray = Array(Array(0, 0), Array(47, 360))

Set myTimingSettings = myPage.Parent.TimingSettings

Rem Remove the default timing list.

myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Item(1).Delete

Rem Add a new timing list that triggers when the page is clicked.

Set myTimingList =

myTimingSettings.TimingLists.Add(idDynamicTriggerEvents.idOnPageClick)

Rem Add the polygons to a single timing group.

Set myTimingGroup = myTimingList.TimingGroups.Add(myPolygonA, 0)

Scripting offers more control over animation than can be achieved with InDesign’s user interface. A

scripted animation can, for example, apply transformations at each key frame of a given motion path. For

more on this topic, see “Key frames” later in this chapter.

Motion presets

In the preceding examples, we’ve constructed motion paths and specified animation settings as if we were

creating animations from the basic level in InDesign’s user interface. But InDesign can also use motion

presets to define the animation of page items in a layout. A motion preset can apply a number of

animation properties at once, as seen in the following script fragment (for the complete script, refer to

MotionPreset). InDesign comes with a large number of motion presets, and you can add new presets using

either the user interface or scripting.

Rem Given a page containing the ovals "myOvalA"...

Set myMotionPreset = app.MotionPresets.Item("move-right-grow")

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.PlaysLoop = True

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.Preset = myMotionPreset

Design options

Design options affect the way that an animated object appears, relative to the motion specified in the

object’s animation settings. The following script fragment shows how the design options for an animated

shape can affect the playback of the animation (for the complete script, refer to DesignOptions).

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Working with Animation 183

Rem Given a page containing the ovals "myOvalA" and "myOvalB"...

Set myMotionPreset = myInDesign.MotionPresets.Item("move-right-grow")

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.PlaysLoop = True

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.Preset = myMotionPreset

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.DesignOption = idDesignOptions.idFromCurrentAppearance

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.PlaysLoop = True

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.Preset = myMotionPreset

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.DesignOption = idDesignOptions.idToCurrentAppearance

Key frames

Key frames are points in the timeline of an animation. With InDesign scripting, you can add key frames at

any time in the animation, which gives you the ability to apply changes to objects as they are animated.

Key frames are part of the motion path applied to an animated page item, and are specified relative to the

duration and speed of the animation. For example, for an animation with a duration of two seconds,

playing at 24 frames per second, the last frame in the animation is frame 48.

The following script fragment shows how to add key frames to a motion path, and how to change the

transformations applied to an animated page item at each key frame. For the complete script, refer to

TransformAnimation.

Rem Given a page containing ovals "myOvalA," "myOvalB," and "myOvalC"...

Rem The motion path is constructed relative to the center of the object, and key frames

Rem are based on the duration of the animation divided by the number of frames

Rem per second (usually 24). The following array sets key frames at the start,

Rem midpoint, and end of a path.

myMotionPath = Array(Array(0, Array(Array(0, 0), Array(0, 0), Array(0, 0))), Array(23,

Array(Array(234, 0), Array(234, 0), Array(234, 0))), Array(47, Array(Array(468, 0),

Array(468, 0), Array(468, 0))))

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.MotionPath = myMotionPath

Rem The transformation changes at each key frame.

Rem scaleXArray in the form Array(Array(keyframe, scale_percentage),

Rem Array(keyframe, scalePercentage), ...)

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.ScaleXArray = Array(Array(0, 100), Array(23, 200),

Array(47, 100))

Rem scaleYArray in the form Array(Array(keyframe, scale_percentage),

Rem Array(keyframe, scalePercentage), ...)

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.ScaleYArray = Array(Array(0, 100), Array(23, 200),

Array(47, 100))

Rem opacityArray in the form Array(Array(keyframe, opacity), Array(keyframe,

opacity),...)

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.OpacityArray = Array(Array(0, 100), Array(23, 20),

Array(47, 100))

myOvalA.AnimationSettings.PlaysLoop = True

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.MotionPath = myMotionPath

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.ScaleXArray = Array(Array(0, 200), Array(23, 300),

CHAPTER 11: Creating Dynamic Documents Adding Page Transitions 184

Array(47, 50))

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.ScaleYArray = Array(Array(0, 200), Array(23, 300),

Array(47, 50))

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.OpacityArray = Array(Array(0, 10), Array(23, 80),

Array(47, 60))

myOvalB.AnimationSettings.PlaysLoop = True

myOvalC.AnimationSettings.Duration = 2

myOvalC.AnimationSettings.MotionPath = myMotionPath

myOvalC.AnimationSettings.ScaleXArray = Array(Array(0, 50), Array(23, 200),

Array(47, 400))

myOvalC.AnimationSettings.ScaleYArray = Array(Array(0, 50), Array(23, 200),

Array(47, 400))

myOvalC.AnimationSettings.OpacityArray = Array(Array(0, 100), Array(23, 40),

Array(47, 80))

myOvalC.AnimationSettings.PlaysLoop = True

Adding Page Transitions

Page transitions are special effects that appear when you change pages in an exported dynamic

document. Adding page transitions using scripting is easy, as shown in the following script fragment (for

the complete script, refer to PageTransitions).

Rem Given a document "myDocument" containing at least two spreads...

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.Spreads.Count

myDocument.Spreads.Item(myCounter).PageTransitionType =

idPageTransitionTypeOptions.idPageTurnTransition

Rem This page transition option does not support the pageTransitionDirection

Rem or pageTransitionDuration properties.

Rem If you chose idPageTransitionTypeOptions.idWipeTransition (for example),

Rem you would be able to set those options, as shown in the next two lines:

Rem myDocument.spreads.item(myCounter).pageTransitionDirection =

Rem idPageTransitionDirectionOptions.idLeftToRight

Rem myDocument.spreads.item(myCounter).pageTransitionDuration =

Rem idPageTransitionDurationOptions.idMedium

Rem Export the document to SWF, and you'll see the page transitions.

185

12 XML

Extensible Markup Language, or XML, is a text-based mark-up system created and managed by the World

Wide Web Consortium (www.w3.org). Like Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), XML uses angle brackets

to indicate markup tags (for example, <article> or <para>). While HTML has a predefined set of tags,

XML allows you to describe content more precisely by creating custom tags.

Because of its flexibility, XML increasingly is used as a format for storing data. InDesign includes a complete

set of features for importing XML data into page layouts, and these features can be controlled using

scripting.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create and run a

script. We also assume that you have some knowledge of XML, DTDs, and XSLT.

Overview

Because XML is entirely concerned with content and explicitly not concerned with formatting, making

XML work in a page-layout context is challenging. InDesign’s approach to XML is quite complete and

flexible, but it has a few limitations:

Once XML elements are imported into an InDesign document, they become InDesign elements that

correspond to the XML structure. The InDesign representations of the XML elements are not the same

thing as the XML elements themselves.

Each XML element can appear only once in a layout. If you want to duplicate the information of the

XML element in the layout, you must duplicate the XML element itself.

The order in which XML elements appear in a layout largely depends on the order in which they

appear in the XML structure.

Any text that appears in a story associated with an XML element becomes part of that element’s data.

The Best Approach to Scripting XML in InDesign

You might want to do most of the work on an XML file outside InDesign, before you import the file into an

InDesign layout. Working with XML outside InDesign, you can use a wide variety of excellent tools, such as

XML editors and parsers.

When you need to rearrange or duplicate elements in a large XML data structure, the best approach is to

transform the XML using XSLT. You can do this as you import the XML file.

If the XML data is already formatted in an InDesign document, you probably will want to use XML rules if

you are doing more than the simplest of operations. XML rules can search the XML structure in a

document and process matching XML elements much faster than a script that does not use XML rules.

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

CHAPTER 12: XML Scripting XML Elements 186

For more on working with XML rules, see Chapter 13, “XML Rules."

Scripting XML Elements

This section shows how to set XML preferences and XML import preferences, import XML, create XML

elements, and add XML attributes. The scripts in this section demonstrate techniques for working with the

XML content itself; for scripts that apply formatting to XML elements, see “Adding XML Elements to a

Layout” on page 191.

Setting XML preferences

You can control the appearance of the InDesign structure panel using the XML view-preferences object, as

shown in the following script fragment (from the XMLViewPreferences tutorial script):

Set myXMLViewPreferences = myDocument.XMLViewPreferences

myXMLViewPreferences.ShowAttributes = True

myXMLViewPreferences.ShowStructure = True

myXMLViewPreferences.ShowTaggedFrames = True

myXMLViewPreferences.ShowTagMarkers = True

myXMLViewPreferences.ShowTextSnippets = True

You also can specify XML tagging preset preferences (the default tag names and user-interface colors for

tables and stories) using the XML preferences object., as shown in the following script fragment (from the

XMLPreferences tutorial script):

Set myXMLPreferences = myDocument.XMLPreferences

myXMLPreferences.DefaultCellTagColor = idUIColors.idBlue

myXMLPreferences.DefaultCellTagName = "cell"

myXMLPreferences.DefaultImageTagColor = idUIColors.idBrickRed

myXMLPreferences.DefaultImageTagName = "image"

myXMLPreferences.DefaultStoryTagColor = idUIColors.idCharcoal

myXMLPreferences.DefaultStoryTagName = "text"

myXMLPreferences.DefaultTableTagColor = idUIColors.idCuteTeal

myXMLPreferences.DefaultTableTagName = "table"

Setting XML import preferences

Before importing an XML file, you can set XML import preferences that can apply an XSLT transform,

govern the way white space in the XML file is handled, or create repeating text elements. You do this using

the XML import-preferences object, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

XMLImportPreferences tutorial script):

CHAPTER 12: XML Scripting XML Elements 187

Set myXMLImportPreferences = myDocument.XMLImportPreferences

myXMLImportPreferences.AllowTransform = False

myXMLImportPreferences.CreateLinkToXML = False

myXMLImportPreferences.IgnoreUnmatchedIncoming = True

myXMLImportPreferences.IgnoreWhitespace = True

myXMLImportPreferences.ImportCALSTables = True

myXMLImportPreferences.ImportStyle = idXMLImportStyles.idMergeImport

myXMLImportPreferences.ImportTextIntoTables = False

myXMLImportPreferences.ImportToSelected = False

myXMLImportPreferences.RemoveUnmatchedExisting = False

myXMLImportPreferences.RepeatTextElements = True

Rem The following properties are only used when the

Rem AllowTransform property is set to True.

Rem myXMLImportPreferences.TransformFilename = "c:\myTransform.xsl"

Rem If you have defined parameters in your XSL file, then you can pass

Rem parameters to the file during the XML import process. For each parameter,

Rem enter an array containing two strings. The first string is the name of the

Rem parameter, the second is the value of the parameter.Rem

myXMLImportPreferences.TransformParameters = Array(Array("format", "1"))

Importing XML

Once you set the XML import preferences the way you want them, you can import an XML file, as shown in

the following script fragment (from the ImportXML tutorial script):

myDocument.ImportXML "c:\xml_test.xml"

When you need to import the contents of an XML file into a specific XML element, use the importXML

method of the XML element, rather than the corresponding method of the document. See the following

script fragment (from the ImportXMLIntoElement tutorial script):

myXMLElement.importXML "c:\xml_test.xml"

You also can set the ImportToSelected property of the XMLImportPreferences object to true, then

select the XML element, and then import the XML file, as shown in the following script fragment (from the

ImportXMLIntoSelectedElement tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

myDocument.ImportXML "c:\test.xml"

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1)

Set myLastXMLElement = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(-1)

Rem Select the XML element

myDocument.Select myLastXMLElement, idSelectionOptions.idReplaceWith

myDocument.XMLImportPreferences.ImportToSelected = True

myDocument.ImportXML "c:\test.xml"

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myRootXMLElement.PlaceXML myTextFrame

Creating an XML tag

XML tags are the names of the XML elements you want to create in a document. When you import XML,

the element names in the XML file are added to the list of XML tags in the document. You also can create

XML tags directly, as shown in the following script fragment (from the MakeXMLTags tutorial script):

CHAPTER 12: XML Scripting XML Elements 188

Rem You can create an XML tag without specifying a color for the tag.

Set myXMLTagA = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("XML_tag_A")

Rem You can define the highlight color of the XML tag using the UIColors enumeration...

Set myXMLTagB = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("XML_tag_B", UIColors.Gray)

Rem ...or you can provide an RGB array to set the color of the tag.

Set myXMLTagC = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("XML_tag_C", Array(0, 92, 128))

Loading XML tags

You can import XML tags from an XML file without importing the XML contents of the file. You might want

to do this to work out a tag-to-style or style-to-tag mapping before you import the XML data., as shown in

the following script fragment (from the LoadXMLTags tutorial script):

myDocument.LoadXMLTags("c:\test.xml")

Saving XML tags

Just as you can load XML tags from a file, you can save XML tags to a file, as shown in the following script.

When you do this, only the tags themselves are saved in the XML file; document data is not included. As

you would expect, this process is much faster than exporting XML, and the resulting file is much smaller.

The following sample script shows how to save XML tags (for the complete script, see SaveXMLTags):

myDocument.SaveXMLTags("c:\xml_tags.xml", "Tag set created October 5, 2006")

Creating an XML element

Ordinarily, you create XML elements by importing an XML file, but you also can create an XML element

using InDesign scripting, as shown in the following script fragment (from the CreateXMLElement tutorial

script):

Set myXMLTagA = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("XML_tag_A")

Set myXMLElementA = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTagA)

myXMLElementA.Contents = "This is an XML element containing text."

Moving an XML element

You can move XML elements within the XML structure using the move method, as shown in the following

script fragment (from the MoveXMLElement tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myXMLTagA = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("myXMLTagA")

Set myXMLTagB = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("myXMLTagB")

Set myXMLElementA = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTagA)

myXMLElementA.Contents = "This is XML element A."

Set myXMLElementB = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTagB)

myXMLElementB.Contents = "This is XML element B."

myXMLElementA.Move idLocationOptions.idAfter, myXMLElementB

Deleting an XML element

Deleting an XML element removes it from both the layout and the XML structure, as shown in the

following script fragment (from the DeleteXMLElement tutorial script).

CHAPTER 12: XML Scripting XML Elements 189

myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(1).Delete

Duplicating an XML element

When you duplicate an XML element, the new XML element appears immediately after the original XML

element in the XML structure, as shown in the following script fragment (from the DuplicateXMLElement

tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myXMLTagA = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("myXMLTagA")

Set myXMLTagB = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("myXMLTagB")

Set myXMLElementA = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTagA)

myXMLElementA.Contents = "This is XML element A."

Set myXMLElementB = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTagB)

myXMLElementB.Contents = "This is XML element B."

myXMLElementA.Duplicate

Removing items from the XML structure

To break the association between a page item or text and an XML element, use the untag method, as

shown in the following script. The objects are not deleted, but they are no longer tied to an XML element

(which is deleted). Any content of the deleted XML element becomes associated with the parent XML

element. If the XML element is the root XML element, any layout objects (text or page items) associated

with the XML element remain in the document. (For the complete script, see UntagElement.)

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.item(1).xmlElements.item(1)

myXMLElement.Untag

Creating an XML comment

XML comments are used to make notes in XML data structures. You can add an XML comment using

something like the following script fragment (from the MakeXMLComment tutorial script):

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.item(1)

Set myXMLElementB = myRootXMLElement.xmlElements.item(2)

myXMLElementB.XMLComments.Add "This is an XML comment."

Creating an XML processing instruction

A processing instruction (PI) is an XML element that contains directions for the application reading the

XML document. XML processing instructions are ignored by InDesign but can be inserted in an InDesign

XML structure for export to other applications. An XML document can contain multiple processing

instructions.

An XML processing instruction has two parts, target and value. The following is an example:

<?xml-stylesheet type="text/css" href="generic.css"?>

The following script fragment shows how to add an XML processing instruction (for the complete script,

see MakeProcessingInstruction):

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.item(1)

Set myXMLProcessingInstruction = myRootXMLElement.XMLInstructions.Add("xml-stylesheet

type=\"text/css\" ", "href=\"generic.css\"")

CHAPTER 12: XML Scripting XML Elements 190

Working with XML attributes

XML attributes are “metadata” that can be associated with an XML element. To add an XML attribute to an

XML element, use something like the following script fragment (from the MakeXMLAttribute tutorial

script). An XML element can have any number of XML attributes, but each attribute name must be unique

within the element (that is, you cannot have two attributes named “id”).

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.item(1)

Set myXMLElementB = myRootXMLElement.xmlElements.item(2)

myXMLElementB.XMLAttributes.Add "example_attribute", "This is an XML attribute. It will

not appear in the layout!"

In addition to creating attributes directly using scripting, you can convert XML elements to attributes.

When you do this, the text contents of the XML element become the value of an XML attribute added to

the parent of the XML element. Because the name of the XML element becomes the name of the attribute,

this method can fail when an attribute with that name already exists in the parent of the XML element. If

the XML element contains page items, those page items are deleted from the layout.

When you convert an XML attribute to an XML element, you can specify the location where the new XML

element is added. The new XML element can be added to the beginning or end of the parent of the XML

attribute. By default, the new element is added at the beginning of the parent element.

You also can specify am XML mark-up tag for the new XML element. If you omit this parameter, the new

XML element is created with the same XML tag as XML element containing the XML attribute.

The following script shows how to convert an XML element to an XML attribute (for the complete script,

see ConvertElementToAttribute):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.item(1)

myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(-1).ConvertToAttribute

You also can convert an XML attribute to an XML element, as shown in the following script fragment (from

the ConvertAttributeToElement tutorial script):

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.item(1)

Set myXMLElementB = myRootXMLElement.xmlElements.item(1)

Rem The "at" parameter can be either idLocationOptions.idAtEnd or

Rem idLocationOptions.idAtBeginning, but cannot

Rem be idLocationOptions.idAfter or idLocationOptions.idBefore.

myXMLElementB.XMLAttributes.item(1).convertToElement idLocationOptions.idAtEnd,

myDocument.XMLTags.item("xml_element"

Working with XML stories

When you import XML elements that were not associated with a layout element (a story or page item),

they are stored in an XML story. You can work with text in unplaced XML elements just as you would work

with the text in a text frame. The following script fragment shows how this works (for the complete script,

see XMLStory):

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 191

Set myXMLStory = myDocument.XmlStories.Item(1)

Rem Though the text has not yet been placed in the layout,

Rem all text properties are available.

myXMLStory.Paragraphs.Item(1).PointSize = 72

Rem Place the XML element in the layout to see the result.

myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(1).PlaceXML

myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Item(1)

Exporting XML

To export XML from an InDesign document, export either the entire XML structure in the document or one

XML element (including any child XML elements it contains). The following script fragment shows how to

do this (for the complete script, see ExportXML):

Rem Export the entire XML structure in the document.

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idXML, "c:\completeDocumentXML.xml"

Rem Export a specific XML element and its child XML elements.

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(-1)

myXMLElement.Export idExportFormat.idXML, "c:\partialDocumentXML.xml"

In addition, you can use the ExportFromSelected property of the XMLExportPreferences object to

export an XML element selected in the user interface. The following script fragment shows how to do this

(for the complete script, see ExportSelectedXMLElement):

myDocument.Select myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(2)

myDocument.XMLExportPreferences.ExportFromSelected = True

Rem Export the entire XML structure in the document.

myDocument.Export idExportFormat.idXML, "c:\selectedXMLElement.xml"

myDocument.XMLExportPreferences.ExportFromSelected = False

Adding XML Elements to a Layout

Previously, we covered the process of getting XML data into InDesign documents and working with the

XML structure in a document. In this section, we discuss techniques for getting XML information into a

page layout and applying formatting to it.

Associating XML elements with page items and text

To associate a page item or text with an existing XML element, use the PlaceXML method. This replaces the

content of the page item with the content of the XML element, as shown in the following script fragment

(from the PlaceXML tutorial script):

myDocument.XMLElements.item(1).placeXML myDocument.pages.item(1).textFrames.item(1)

To associate an existing page item or text object with an existing XML element, use the markup method.

This merges the content of the page item or text with the content of the XML element (if any). The

following script fragment shows how to use the markup method (for the complete script, see Markup):

myDocument.XMLElements.item(1).XMLElements.item(0).markup

myDocument.pages.item(1).textFrames.item(1)

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 192

Placing XML into page items

Another way to associate an XML element with a page item is to use the PlaceIntoFrame method. With

this method, you can create a frame as you place the XML, as shown in the following script fragment (for

the complete script, see PlaceIntoFrame):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add()

myDocument.ViewPreferences.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myDocument.ViewPreferences.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

myDocument.ViewPreferences.RulerOrigin = idRulerOrigin.idPageOrigin

Rem PlaceIntoFrame has two parameters:

Rem On: The page, spread, or master spread on which to create the frame

Rem GeometricBounds: The bounds of the new frame (in page coordinates).

myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(1).PlaceIntoFrame

myDocument.Pages.Item(1), Array(72, 72, 288, 288)

To associate an XML element with an inline page item (i.e., an anchored object), use the PlaceIntoCopy

method, as shown in the following script fragment (from the PlaceIntoCopy tutorial script):

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1)

myXMLElement.PlaceIntoCopy myPage, Array(288, 72), myPage.TextFrames.Item(1), True

To associate an existing page item (or a copy of an existing page item) with an XML element and insert the

page item into the XML structure at the location of the element, use the PlaceIntoInlineCopy method,

as shown in the following script fragment (from the PlaceIntoInlineCopy tutorial script):

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myTextFrame.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents = vbCr & vbCr

myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).PlaceXML myTextFrame

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTag)

myXMLElement.Contents = "This is the second XML element."

myXMLElement.PlaceIntoInlineCopy myTextFrame, False

To associate an XML element with a new inline frame, use the PlaceIntoInlineFrame method, as shown

in the following script fragment (from the PlaceIntoInlineFrame tutorial script):

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(3)

Rem Specify width and height as you create the inline frame.

myXMLElement.PlaceIntoInlineFrame Array(72, 24)

Inserting text in and around XML text elements

When you place XML data into an InDesign layout, you often need to add white space (for example, return

and tab characters) and static text (labels like “name” or “address”) to the text of your XML elements. The

following sample script shows how to add text in and around XML elements (for the complete script, see

InsertTextAsContent):

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 193

Rem Shows how to add text before, after, and at the beginning/end

Rem of XML elements.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Add

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1)

Set myXMLTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("myXMLElement")

Set myXMLElementA = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myXMLTag)

myXMLElementA.Contents = "This is a paragraph in an XML story."

Set myXMLElementB = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myXMLTag)

myXMLElementB.Contents = "This is another paragraph in an XML story."

Set myXMLElementC = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myXMLTag)

myXMLElementC.Contents = "This is the third paragraph in an example XML story."

Set myXMLElementD = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myXMLTag)

myXMLElementD.Contents = "This is the last paragraph in the XML story."

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(1)

Rem By inserting the return character after the XML element, the character

Rem becomes part of the content of the parent XML element, not of the element itself.

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(2)

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent "Static text: ", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

Rem To add text inside the element, set the location option to beginning or end.

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(3)

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent "Text at the start of the element: ",

idXMLElementPosition.idElementStart

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent " Text at the end of the element.",

idXMLElementPosition.idElementEnd

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

Rem Add static text outside the element.

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(4)

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent "Text before the element: ",

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

myXMLElement.InsertTextAsContent " Text after the element.",

idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

Rem To insert text inside the text of an element, work with the text objects contained

by the element.

myXMLElement.Words.Item(2).InsertionPoints.Item(1).Contents = "(the third word of) "

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

myRootXMLElement.PlaceXML (myStory)

Marking up existing layouts

In some cases, an XML publishing project does not start with an XML file—especially when you need to

convert an existing page layout to XML. For this type of project, you can mark up existing page-layout

content and add it to an XML structure. You can then export this structure for further processing by XML

tools outside InDesign.

Mapping tags to styles

One of the quickest ways to apply formatting to XML text elements is to use XMLImportMaps, also known

as tag-to-style mapping. When you do this, you can associate a specific XML tag with a paragraph or

character style. When you use the MapXMLTagsToStyles method of the document, InDesign applies the

style to the text, as shown in the following script fragment (from the MapTagsToStyles tutorial script):

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 194

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Create a tag to style mapping.

myDocument.XMLImportMaps.Add myDocument.XMLTags.Item("heading_1"),

myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("heading 1")

myDocument.XMLImportMaps.Add myDocument.XMLTags.Item("heading_2"),

myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("heading 2")

myDocument.XMLImportMaps.Add myDocument.XMLTags.Item("para_1"),

myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("para 1")

myDocument.XMLImportMaps.Add myDocument.XMLTags.Item("body_text"),

myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("body text")

Rem Apply the tag to style mapping.

myDocument.MapXMLTagsToStyles

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

Rem Associate the root XML element with the text frame

Rem so that you can see the effect of the tag to style mapping.

myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).PlaceXML myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Item(1)

Mapping styles to tags

When you have formatted text that is not associated with any XML elements, and you want to move that

text into an XML structure, use style-to-tag mapping, which associates paragraph and character styles with

XML tags. To do this, use XMLExportMap objects to create the links between XML tags and styles, then use

the MapStylesToXMLTags method to create the corresponding XML elements, as shown in the following

script fragment (from the MapStylesToTags tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Create a tag to style mapping.

myDocument.XMLExportMaps.Add myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("heading 1"),

myDocument.XMLTags.Item("heading_1")

myDocument.XMLExportMaps.Add myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("heading 2"),

myDocument.XMLTags.Item("heading_2")

myDocument.XMLExportMaps.Add myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("para 1"),

myDocument.XMLTags.Item("para_1")

myDocument.XMLExportMaps.Add myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("body text"),

myDocument.XMLTags.Item("body_text")

Rem Apply the style to tag mapping.

myDocument.MapStylesToXMLTags

Another approach is simply to have your script create a new XML tag for each paragraph or character style

in the document, and then apply the style to tag mapping, as shown in the following script fragment (from

the MapAllStylesToTags tutorial script):

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 195

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Create tags that match the style names in the document,

Rem creating an XMLExportMap for each tag/style pair.

For myCounter = 1 To myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Count

Set myParagraphStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item(myCounter)

myParagraphStyleName = myParagraphStyle.Name

myXMLTagName = Replace(myParagraphStyleName, " ", "_")

myXMLTagName = Replace(myXMLTagName, "[", "")

myXMLTagName = Replace(myXMLTagName, "]", "")

Set myXMLTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add(myXMLTagName)

myDocument.XMLExportMaps.Add myParagraphStyle, myXMLTag

Rem Apply the tag to style mapping.

myDocument.MapStylesToXMLTags

Marking up graphics

The following script fragment shows how to associate an XML element with a graphic (for the complete

script, see MarkingUpGraphics):

Set myXMLTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("graphic")

Set myGraphic = myDocument.Pages.Item(1).Place("c:\test.tif")

Rem Associate the graphic with a new XML element as you create the element.

Set myXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTag, myGraphic)

Applying styles to XML elements

In addition to using tag-to-style and style-to-tag mappings or applying styles to the text and page items

associated with XML elements, you also can apply styles to XML elements directly. The following script

fragment shows how to use three methods: ApplyParagraphStyle, ApplyCharacterStyle, and

ApplyObjectStyle. (For the complete script, see ApplyStylesToXMLElements.)

Rem Create a series of XML tags.

Set myHeading1XMLTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("heading_1")

Set myHeading2XMLTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("heading_2")

Set myPara1XMLTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("para_1")

Set myBodyTextXMLTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("body_text")

Rem Create a series of paragraph styles.

Set myHeading1Style = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Add

myHeading1Style.Name = "heading 1"

myHeading1Style.PointSize = 24

Set myHeading2Style = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Add

myHeading2Style.Name = "heading 2"

myHeading2Style.PointSize = 14

myHeading2Style.SpaceBefore = 12

Set myPara1Style = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Add

myPara1Style.Name = "para 1"

myPara1Style.PointSize = 12

myPara1Style.FirstLineIndent = 0

Set myBodyTextStyle = myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Add

myBodyTextStyle.Name = "body text"

myBodyTextStyle.PointSize = 12

myBodyTextStyle.FirstLineIndent = 24

Set myCharacterStyle = myDocument.CharacterStyles.Add

myCharacterStyle.Name = "Emphasis"

myCharacterStyle.FontStyle = "Italic"

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 196

Set myTextFrameStyle = myDocument.ObjectStyles.Add

myTextFrameStyle.Name = "Text Frame Style"

myTextFrameStyle.CornerEffect = idCornerEffects.idRoundedCorner

myTextFrameStyle.StrokeColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Black")

myTextFrameStyle.StrokeWeight = 2

Rem Add XML elements.

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1)

Set myXMLElementA = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myHeading1XMLTag)

myXMLElementA.Contents = "Heading 1"

myXMLElementA.ApplyParagraphStyle myHeading1Style, True

myXMLElementA.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idLocationOptions.idAfter

Set myXMLElementB = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myPara1XMLTag)

myXMLElementB.Contents = "This is the first paragraph in the article."

myXMLElementB.ApplyParagraphStyle myPara1Style, True

myXMLElementB.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idLocationOptions.idAfter

Set myXMLElementC = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myBodyTextXMLTag)

myXMLElementC.Contents = "This is the second paragraph in the article."

myXMLElementC.ApplyParagraphStyle myBodyTextStyle, True

myXMLElementC.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idLocationOptions.idAfter

Set myXMLElementD = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myHeading2XMLTag)

myXMLElementD.Contents = "Heading 2"

myXMLElementD.ApplyParagraphStyle myHeading2Style, True

myXMLElementD.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idLocationOptions.idAfter

Set myXMLElementE = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myPara1XMLTag)

myXMLElementE.Contents = "This is the first paragraph following the subhead."

myXMLElementE.ApplyParagraphStyle myPara1Style, True

myXMLElementE.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idLocationOptions.idAfter

Set myXMLElementF = myRootXMLElement.XMLElements.Add(myBodyTextXMLTag)

myXMLElementF.Contents = "This is the second paragraph following the subhead."

myXMLElementF.ApplyParagraphStyle myBodyTextStyle, True

myXMLElementF.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idLocationOptions.idAfter

Set myXMLElementG = myXMLElemetF.XMLElements.Add(myBodyTextXMLTag)

myXMLElementG.Contents = "Note:"

Set myXMLElementG = myXMLElementG.Move(idLocationOptions.idAtBeginning, myXMLElementF)

myXMLElementG.InsertTextAsContent " ", idLocationOptions.idAfter

myXMLElementG.ApplyCharacterStyle myCharacterStyle, True

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

Rem Associate the root XML element with the text frame.

myRootXMLElement.PlaceXML myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Item(1)

myRootXMLElement.ApplyObjectStyle myTextFrameStyle, True

Working with XML tables

InDesign automatically imports XML data into table cells when the data is marked up using HTML

standard table tags. If you cannot use the default table mark-up or prefer not to use it, InDesign can

convert XML elements to a table using the ConvertElementToTable method.

To use this method, the XML elements to be converted to a table must conform to a specific structure.

Each row of the table must correspond to a specific XML element, and that element must contain a series

of XML elements corresponding to the cells in the row. The following script fragment shows how to use

this method (for the complete script, see ConvertXMLElementToTable). The XML element used to denote

the table row is consumed by this process.

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 197

Rem Create a series of XML tags.

Set myRowTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("row")

Set myCellTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("cell")

Set myTableTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("table")

Rem Add XML elements.

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1)

With myRootXMLElement

Set myTableXMLElement = .XMLElements.Add(myTableTag)

With myTableXMLElement

For myRowCounter = 1 To 6

With .XMLElements.Add(myRowTag)

.Contents = "Row " + CStr(myRowCounter)

For myCellCounter = 1 To 4

With .XMLElements.Add(myCellTag)

.Contents = "Cell " + CStr(myCellCounter)

End With

Set myTable = myTableXMLElement.ConvertElementToTable(myRowTag, myCellTag)

Set myTextFrame = myDocument.TextFrames.Add

myTextFrame.GeometricBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(1).PlaceXML myTextFrame

Once you are working with a table containing XML elements, you can apply table styles and cell styles to

the XML elements directly, rather than having to apply the styles to the tables or cells associated with the

XML elements. To do this, use the ApplyTableStyle and ApplyCellStyle methods, as shown in the

following script fragment (from the ApplyTableStyles tutorial script):

Rem Create a series of XML tags.

Set myRowTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("row")

Set myCellTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("cell")

Set myTableTag = myDocument.XMLTags.Add("table")

Rem Create a table style and a cell style.

Set myTableStyle = myDocument.TableStyles.Add

myTableStyle.StartColumnFillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Black")

myTableStyle.StartColumnFillTint = 25

Set myCellStyle = myDocument.CellStyles.Add

myCellStyle.FillColor = myDocument.Colors.Item("Black")

myCellStyle.FillTint = 45

Rem Add XML elements.

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1)

With myRootXMLElement

Set myTableXMLElement = .XMLElements.Add(myTableTag)

With myTableXMLElement

For myRowCounter = 1 To 6

With .XMLElements.Add(myRowTag)

.Contents = "Row " + CStr(myRowCounter)

For myCellCounter = 1 To 4

With .XMLElements.Add(myCellTag)

.Contents = "Cell " + CStr(myCellCounter)

End With

CHAPTER 12: XML Adding XML Elements to a Layout 198

End With

Set myTable = myTableXMLElement.ConvertElementToTable(myRowTag, myCellTag)

Set myTableXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Item(1)

myTableXMLElement.ApplyTableStyle myTableStyle

myTableXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(1).ApplyCellStyle myCellStyle

myTableXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(6).ApplyCellStyle myCellStyle

myTableXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(11).ApplyCellStyle myCellStyle

myTableXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(16).ApplyCellStyle myCellStyle

myTableXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(17).ApplyCellStyle myCellStyle

myTableXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(22).ApplyCellStyle myCellStyle

myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).PlaceIntoFrame myDocument.Pages.Item(1),

myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.Pages.Item(1))

myTable.AlternatingFills = idAlternatingFillsTypes.idAlternatingColumns

199

13 XML Rules

The InDesign XML- rules feature provides a powerful set of scripting tools for working with the XML

content of your documents. XML rules also greatly simplify the process of writing scripts to work with XML

elements and dramatically improve performance of finding, changing, and formatting XML elements.

While XML rules can be triggered by application events, like open, place, and close, typically you will run

XML rules after importing XML into a document. (For more information on attaching scripts to events, see

Chapter 8, “Events.”)

This chapter gives an overview of the structure and operation of XML rules, and shows how to do the

following:

Define an XML rule.

Apply XML rules.

Find XML elements using XML rules.

Format XML data using XML rules.

Create page items based on XML rules.

Restructure data using XML rules.

Use the XML-rules processor.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create and run a

script. We also assume that you have some knowledge of XML and have read Chapter 12, “XML.”

Overview

InDesign’s XML rules feature has three parts:

XML rules processor (a scripting object) — Locates XML elements in an XML structure using XPath

and applies the appropriate XML rule(s). It is important to note that a script can contain multiple XML

rule processor objects, and each rule-processor object is associated with a given XML rule set.

Glue code — A set of routines provided by Adobe to make the process of writing XML rules and

interacting with the XML rules-processor easier.

XML rules — The XML actions you add to a script. XML rules are written in scripting code. A rule

combines an XPath-based condition and a function to apply when the condition is met. The “apply”

function can perform any set of operations that can be defined in InDesign scripting, including

changing the XML structure; applying formatting; and creating new pages, page items, or documents.

A script can define any number of rules and apply them to the entire XML structure of an InDesign

document or any subset of elements within the XML structure. When an XML rule is triggered by an XML

Chapter Update Status

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CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Overview 200

rule processor, the rule can apply changes to the matching XML element or any other object in the

document.

You can think of the XML rules feature as being something like XSLT. Just as XSLT uses XPath to locate XML

elements in an XML structure, then transforms the XML elements in some way, XML rules use XPath to

locate and act on XML elements inside InDesign. Just as an XSLT template uses an XML parser outside

InDesign to apply transformations to XML data, InDesign's XML Rules Processor uses XML rules to apply

transformations to XML data inside InDesign.

Why use XML rules?

In prior releases of InDesign, you could not use XPath to navigate the XML structure in your InDesign files.

Instead, you needed to write recursive script functions to iterate through the XML structure, examining

each element in turn. This was difficult and slow.

XML rules makes it easy to find XML elements in the structure, by using XPath and relying on InDesign's

XML-rules processors to find XML elements. An XML-rule processor handles the work of iterating through

the XML elements in your document, and it can do so much faster than a script.

XML-rules programming model

An XML rule contains three things:

1. A name (as a string).

2. An XPath statement (as a string).

3. An apply function.

The XPath statement defines the location in the XML structure; when the XML rules processor finds a

matching element, it executes the apply function defined in the rule.

Here is a sample XML rule:

Class RuleName

Public Property Get name

name = "RuleNameAsString"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "ValidXPathSpecifier"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

Rem Do something here.

Rem Return true to stop further processing of the XML element.

apply = False

End Function

End Class

In the above example, RuleNameAsString is the name of the rule and matches the RuleName;

ValidXPathSpecifier is an XPath expression. Later in this chapter, we present a series of functioning

XML-rule examples.

NOTE: XML rules support a limited subset of XPath 1.0. See “XPath limitations” on page 204.”

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Overview 201

XML-rule sets

An XML-rule set is an array of one or more XML rules to be applied by an XML-rules processor. The rules are

applied in the order in which they appear in the array. Here is a sample XML-rule set:

myRuleSet = Array(new SortByName, new AddStaticText, new LayoutElements, new

FormatElements)

In the above example, the rules listed in the myRuleSet array are defined elsewhere in the script. Later in

this chapter, we present several functioning scripts containing XML-rule sets.

“Glue” code

In addition to the XML-rules processor object built into InDesign’s scripting model, Adobe provides a set of

functions intended to make the process of writing XML rules much easier. These functions are defined

within the glue code.vbs file:

__processRuleSet(root, ruleSet) — To execute a set of XML rules, your script must call the

__processRuleSet function and provide an XML element and an XML rule set. The XML element

defines the point in the XML structure at which to begin processing the rules.

__processChildren(ruleProcessor) — This function directs the XML-rules processor to apply

matching XML rules to child elements of the matched XML element. This allows the rule applied to a

parent XML element to execute code after the child XML elements are processed. By default, when an

XML-rules processor applies a rule to the children of an XML element, control does not return to the

rule. You can use the __processChildren function to return control to the apply function of the rule

after the child XML elements are processed.

__skipChildren(ruleProcessor) — This function tells the processor not to process any

descendants of the current XML element using the XML rule. Use this function when you want to

move or delete the current XML element or improve performance by skipping irrelevant parts of an

XML structure.

Iterating through an XML structure

The XML-rules processor iterates through the XML structure of a document by processing each XML

element in the order in which it appears in the XML hierarchy of the document. The XML-rules processor

uses a forward-only traversal of the XML structure, and it visits each XML element in the structure twice (in

the order parent-child-parent, just like the normal ordering of nested tags in an XML file). For any XML

element, the XML-rules processor tries to apply all matching XML rules in the order in which they are

added to the current XML rule set.

The __processRuleSet function applies rules to XML elements in “depth first” order; that is, XML

elements and their child elements are processed in the order in which they appear in the XML structure.

For each “branch” of the XML structure, the XML-rules processor visits each XML element before moving

on to the next branch.

After an XML rule is applied to an XML element, the XML-rules processor continues searching for rules to

apply to the descendents of that XML element. An XML rule can alter this behavior by using the

__skipChildren or __processChildren function, or by changing the operation of other rules.

To see how all these functions work together, import the DepthFirstProcessingOrder.xml file into a

new document, then run the DepthFirstProcessingOrder.jsx script. InDesign creates a text frame,

that lists the attribute names of each element in the sample XML file in the order in which they were visited

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Overview 202

by each rule. You can use this script in conjunction with the AddAttribute tutorial script to troubleshoot

XML traversal problems in your own XML documents (you must edit the AddAttribute script to suit your

XML structure).

Normal iteration (assuming a rule that matches every XML element in the structure) is shown in the

following figure:

Iteration with __processChildren (assuming a rule that matches every XML element in the structure) is

shown in the following figure:

Iteration given the following rule set is shown in the figure after the script fragment. The rule set includes

two rules that match every element, including one that uses __processChildren. Every element is

processed twice. (For the complete script, see ProcessChildren.)

Root

BA BB BC

BAA BAB BAC

BACA BACB

Root

BA BB BC

BAA BAB BAC

BACA BACB

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Overview 203

Class NormalRule

Public Property Get name

name = "NormalRule"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "//XMLElement"

End Property

Public Function apply(myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

myStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents =

.XMLAttributes.Item(1).Value & vbCr

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessChildrenRule

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessChildrenRule"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "//XMLElement"

End Property

Public Function apply(myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

glueCode_processChildren(myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

myXMLElement.XMLattributes.Item(1).Value

myStory.InsertionPoints.Item(-1).Contents =

.XMLAttributes.Item(1).Value & vbCr

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Changing structure during iteration

When an XML-rules processor finds a matching XML element and applies an XML rule, the rule can change

the XML structure of the document. This can conflict with the process of applying other rules, if the

Root

BA BB BC

BAA BAB BAC

BACA BACB

4 6

15 17

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Overview 204

affected XML elements in the structure are part of the current path of the XML-rules processor. To prevent

errors that might cause the XML-rules processor to become invalid, the following limitations are placed on

XML structure changes you might make within an XML rule:

Deleting an ancestor XML element — To delete an ancestor XML element of the matched XML

element, create a separate rule that matches and processes the ancestor XML element.

Inserting a parent XML element — To add an ancestor XML element to the matched XML element,

do so after processing the current XML element. The ancestor XML element you add is not processed

by the XML-rules processor during this rule iteration (as it appears “above” the current element in the

hierarchy).

Deleting the current XML element — You cannot delete or move the matched XML element until

any child XML elements contained by the element are processed. To make this sort of change, use the

__skipChildren function before making the change.

No repetitive processing — Changes to nodes that were already processed will not cause the XML

rule to be evaluated again.

Handling multiple matching rules

When multiple rules match an XML element, the XML-rules processor can apply some or all of the

matching rules. XML rules are applied in the order in which they appear in the rule set, up to the point that

one of the rule apply functions returns true. In essence, returning true means the element was

processed. Once a rule returns true, any other XML rules matching the XML element are ignored. You can

alter this behavior and allow the next matching rule to be applied, by having the XML rule apply function

return false.

When an apply function returns false, you can control the matching behavior of the XML rule based on a

condition other than the XPath property defined in the XML rule, like the state of another variable in the

script.

XPath limitations

InDesign’s XML rules support a limited subset of the XPath 1.0 specification, specifically including the

following capabilities:

Find an element by name, specifying a path from the root; for example, /doc/title.

Find paths with wildcards and node matches; for example, /doc/*/subtree/node().

Find an element with a specified attribute that matches a specified value; for example,

/doc/para[@font='Courier'].

Find an element with a specified attribute that does not match a specified value; for example,

/doc/para[@font !='Courier'].

Find a child element by numeric position (but not last()); for example, /doc/para[3].

Find self or any descendent; for example, //para.

Find comment as a terminal; for example, /doc/comment().

Find PI by target or any; for example, /doc/processing-instruction('foo').

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Overview 205

Find multiple predicates; for example, /doc/para[@font='Courier'][@size=5][2].

Find along following-sibling axes; for example, /doc/note/following-sibling::*.

Due to the one-pass nature of this implementation, the following XPath expressions are specifically

excluded:

No ancestor or preceding-sibling axes, including .., ancestor::, preceding-sibling::.

No path specifications in predicates; for example, foo[bar/c].

No last() function.

No text() function or text comparisons; however, you can use InDesign scripting to examine the text

content of an XML element matched by a given XML rule.

No compound Boolean predicates; for example, foo[@bar=font or @c=size].

No relational predicates; for example, foo[@bar < font or @c > 3].

No relative paths; for example, doc/chapter.

Error handling

Because XML rules are part of the InDesign scripting model, scripts that use rules do not differ in nature

from ordinary scripts, and they benefit from the same error-handling mechanism. When InDesign

generates an error, an XML-rules script behaves no differently than any other script. InDesign errors can be

captured in the script using whatever tools the scripting language provides to achieve that; for example,

try...catch blocks.

InDesign does include a series of errors specific to XML-rules processing. An InDesign error can occur at

XML-rules processor initialization, when a rule uses a non-conforming XPath specifier (see “XPath

limitations” on page 204). An InDesign error also can be caused by a model change that invalidates the

state of an XML-rules processor. XML structure changes caused by the operation of XML rules can

invalidate the XML-rules processor. These changes to the XML structure can be caused by the script

containing the XML-rules processor, another concurrently executing script, or a user action initiated from

the user interface.

XML structure changes that invalidate an XML-rules processor lead to errors when the XML-rules

processor's iteration resumes. The error message indicates which XML structural change caused the error.

XML rules flow of control

As a script containing XML rules executes, the flow of control passes from the script function containing

the XML rules to each XML rule, and from each rule to the functions defined in the glue code. Those

functions pass control to the XML-rules processor which, in turn, iterates through the XML elements in the

structure. Results and errors are passed back up the chain until they are handled by a function or cause a

scripting error. The following diagram provides a simplified overview of the flow of control in an XML-rules

script:

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 206

XML Rules Examples

Because XML rules rely on XPath statements to find qualifying XML elements, XML rules are closely tied to

the structure of the XML in a document. This means it is almost impossible to demonstrate a functional

XML-rules script without having an XML structure to test it against. In the remainder of this chapter, we

present a series of XML-rules exercises based on a sample XML data file. For our example, we use the

product list of an imaginary integrated-circuit manufacturer. Each record in the XML data file has the

following structure:

<part_number></part_number>

<supply_voltage>

</supply_voltage>

</package>

</device>

The scripts are presented in order of complexity, starting with a very simple script and building toward

more complex operations.

Setting up a sample document

Before you run each script in this chapter, import the XMLRulesExampleData.xml data file into a

document. When you import the XML, turn on the Do Not Import Contents of Whitespace-Only Elements

option in the XML Import Options dialog box. Save the file, then choose File > Revert before running each

sample script in this section. Alternately, run the following script before you run each sample XML-rule

script (see the XMLRulesExampleSetup.jsx script file):

XML rules script glue code XML rule

processor

XML rule

__processRuleSet

__processChildren

__skipChildren

XPath condition

apply()

XPath

evaluation

XML structure

iteration

XPath condition

XML element

XMLelement

XMLrules

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 207

//XMLRuleExampleSetup.jsx

main();

function main(){

var myDocument = app.documents.add();

myDocument.xmlImportPreferences.allowTransform = false;

myDocument.xmlImportPreferences.ignoreWhitespace = true;

var myScriptPath = myGetScriptPath();

var myFilePath = myScriptPath.path + "/XMLRulesExampleData.xml"

myDocument.importXML(File(myFilePath));

var myBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myDocument.pages.item(0));

myDocument.xmlElements.item(0).placeIntoFrame(myDocument.pages.item(0), myBounds);

function myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage){

var myWidth = myDocument.documentPreferences.pageWidth;

var myHeight = myDocument.documentPreferences.pageHeight;

var myX1 = myPage.marginPreferences.left;

var myY1 = myPage.marginPreferences.top;

var myX2 = myWidth - myPage.marginPreferences.right;

var myY2 = myHeight - myPage.marginPreferences.bottom;

return [myY1, myX1, myY2, myX2];

}

function myGetScriptPath() {

try {

return app.activeScript;

}

catch(myError){

return File(myError.fileName);

}

Getting started with XML rules

Here is a very simple XML rule—it does nothing more than add a return character after every XML element

in the document. The XML-rule set contains one rule. For the complete script, see AddReturns.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

Set myAddReturns = new AddReturns

myRuleSet = Array(myAddReturns)

Rem The third parameter of __processRuleSet is a

Rem prefix mapping table; we'll leave it empty.

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet, Array()

Rem XML rule "AddReturns"

Class AddReturns

Public Property Get name

name = "AddReturns"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "//*"

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 208

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Rem Add a return character at the end of the XML element.

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idElementEnd

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Function Include(myScriptFilePath)

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set myScriptFile = myFileSystemObject.OpenTextFile(myScriptFilePath)

myScriptContents = myScriptFile.ReadAll

ExecuteGlobal myScriptContents

End Function

Adding white space and static text

The following XML rule script is similar to the previous script, in that it adds white space and static text. It is

somewhat more complex, however, in that it treats some XML elements differently based on their element

names. For the complete script, see AddReturnsAndStaticText.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new ProcessDevice,new ProcessName,new ProcessType,_

new ProcessPartNumber,new ProcessSupplyVoltage,new ProcessPackageType,_

new ProcessPackageOne,new ProcessPackages,new ProcessPrice)

Rem The third parameter of __processRuleSet is a

Rem prefix mapping table; we'll leave it empty.

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet, Array()

Class ProcessDevice

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessDevice"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessName

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessName"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/name"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Rem Add static text at the beginning of the element.

.InsertTextAsContent "Device Name:", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 209

Rem Add a return character at the end of the element.

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessType

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessType"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/type"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Rem Add static text at the beginning of the element.

.InsertTextAsContent "Circuit Type:", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

Rem Add a return character at the end of the element.

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessPartNumber

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPartNumber"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/part_number"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Rem Add static text at the beginning of the element.

.InsertTextAsContent "Part Number:", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

Rem Add a return character at the end of the element.

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Rem Adds static text around the "minimum" and "maximum"

Rem XML elements of the "supply_voltage" XML element.

Class ProcessSupplyVoltage

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessSupplyVoltage"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/supply_voltage"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "Supply Voltage: From ",

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

With myXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(1)

.InsertTextAsContent " to ", idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End with

With myXMLElement.XMLElements.Item(-1)

Rem Add static text to the end of the voltage range.

.InsertTextAsContent " volts", idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 210

End with

Rem Add a return at the end of the XML element.

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = True

End Function

End Class

Rem Insert a dash between the "type" and "pins" elements.

Class ProcessPackageType

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPackageType"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/package/type"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "-", idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Rem Process the first "package" element.

Class ProcessPackageOne

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPackageOne"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/package[1]"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "Package: ", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Rem Process the remaining "package" elements.

Class ProcessPackages

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPackages"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/package"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent", ", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

End With

apply = True

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessPrice

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPrice"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/price"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 211

With myXMLElement

Rem Add a return at the start of the XML element.

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr & "Price: $",

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

Rem .InsertTextAsContent "Price: $", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Function Include(myScriptFilePath)

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set myScriptFile = myFileSystemObject.OpenTextFile(myScriptFilePath)

myScriptContents = myScriptFile.ReadAll

ExecuteGlobal myScriptContents

End Function

NOTE: The above script uses scripting logic to add commas between repeating elements (in the

ProcessPackages XML rule). If you have a sequence of similar elements at the same level, you can use

forward-axis matching to do the same thing. Given the following example XML structure:

</xmlElement>

To add commas between each item XML element in a layout, you could use an XML rule like the

following (from the ListProcessing tutorial script):

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new ListItems)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

Rem Match all following sibling XML elements

Rem of the first "item" XML element.

Class ListItems

Public Property Get name

name = "ListItems"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/xmlElement/item[1]/following-sibling::*"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Changing the XML structure using XML rules

Because the order of XML elements is significant in InDesign’s XML implementation, you might need to

use XML rules to change the sequence of elements in the structure. In general, large-scale changes to the

structure of an XML document are best done using an XSLT file to transform the document before or

during XML import into InDesign.

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 212

The following XML rule script shows how to use the move method to accomplish this. Note the use of the

__skipChildren function from the glue code to prevent the XML-rules processor from becoming invalid.

For the complete script, see MoveXMLElement.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new MoveElement)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class MoveElement

Public Property Get name

name = "MoveElement"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/part_number"

End Property

Rem Moves the part_number XML element to the start of

Rem the device XML element (the parent).

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Rem Because this rule makes changes to the XML structure,

Rem you must use _skipChildren to avoid invalidating

Rem the XML element references.

glueCode_skipChildren(myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Set myParent = .Parent

Set myNameElement = myParent.XMLElements.Item(1)

.Move idLocationOptions.idBefore, myNameElement

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Duplicating XML elements with XML rules

As discussed in Chapter 12, “XML,” XML elements have a one-to-one relationship with their expression in a

layout. If you want the content of an XML element to appear more than once in a layout, you need to

duplicate the element. The following script shows how to duplicate elements using XML rules. For the

complete script, see DuplicateXMLElement. Again, this rule uses __skipChildren to avoid invalid XML

object references.

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Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new DuplicateElement)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class DuplicateElement

Public Property Get name

name = "DuplicateElement"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/part_number"

End Property

Rem Moves the part_number XML element to the start of

Rem the device XML element (the parent).

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Rem Because this rule makes changes to the XML structure,

Rem you must use _skipChildren to avoid invalidating

Rem the XML element references.

glueCode_skipChildren(myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.Duplicate

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

XML rules and XML attributes

The following XML rule adds attributes to XML elements based on the content of their “name” element.

When you need to find an element by its text contents, copying or moving XML element contents to XML

attributes attached to their parent XML element can be very useful in XML-rule scripting. While the subset

of XPath supported by XML rules cannot search the text of an element, it can find elements by a specified

attribute value. For the complete script, see AddAttribute.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new AddAttribute)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class AddAttribute

Public Property Get name

name = "AddAttribute"

End Property

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 214

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/part_number"

End Property

Rem Adds the content of the XML element to an attribute

Rem of the parent of the XML element. This can make finding

Rem the element by its content much easier and faster.

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Set myParent = .Parent

myString = myXMLElement.Texts.Item(1).Contents

Set myXMLAttribute = .Parent.XMLAttributes.Add("part_number", myString

)

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

In the previous XML rule, we copied the data from an XML element into an XML attribute attached to its

parent XML element. Instead, what if we want to move the XML element data into an attribute and remove

the XML element itself? Use the convertToAttribute method, as shown in the following script (from the

ConvertToAttribute tutorial script):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new ConvertToAttribute)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class ConvertToAttribute

Public Property Get name

name = "ConvertToAttribute"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/part_number"

End Property

Rem Converts an XML element to an attribute

Rem of the parent of the XML element.

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

glueCode_skipChildren(myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.ConvertToAttribute

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

To move data from an XML attribute to an XML element, use the convertToElement method, as described

in Chapter 12, “XML.”

Applying multiple matching rules

When the apply function of an XML rule returns true, the XML-rules processor does not apply any further

XML rules to the matched XML element. When the apply function returns false, however, the XML-rules

processor can apply other rules to the XML element. The following script shows an example of an XML-rule

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 215

apply function that returns false. This script contains two rules that will match every XML element in the

document. The only difference between them is that the first rule applies a color and returns false, while

the second rule applies a different color to every other XML element (based on the state of a variable,

myCounter). For the complete script, see ReturningFalse.

myCounter = 0

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Define two colors.

Set myColorA = myAddColor(myDocument, "ColorA",

idColorModel.idProcess, Array(0, 100, 80, 0))

Set myColorB = myAddColor(myDocument, "ColorB",

idColorModel.idProcess, Array(100, 0, 80, 0))

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new ReturnFalse, new ReturnTrue)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Rem Adds a color to the text of every element in the structure.

Class ReturnFalse

Public Property Get name

name = "ReturnFalse"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "//*"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myColorA = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Colors.Item("ColorA")

With myXMLElement

.Texts.Item(1).FillColor = myColorA

End With

Rem Leaves the XML element available to further processing.

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Rem Adds a color to the text of every other element in the structure.

Class ReturnTrue

Public Property Get name

name = "ReturnTrue"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "//*"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myColorB = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Colors.Item("ColorB")

With myXMLElement

Rem Test based on the global variable "myCounter"

If myCounter Mod 2 = 0 Then

.Texts.Item(1).FillColor = myColorB

End If

myCounter = myCounter + 1

End With

Rem Do not process the element with any further matching rules.

apply = true

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 216

End Function

End Class

Function Include(myScriptFilePath)

Set myFileSystemObject = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Set myScriptFile = myFileSystemObject.OpenTextFile(myScriptFilePath)

myScriptContents = myScriptFile.ReadAll

ExecuteGlobal myScriptContents

End Function

Function myAddColor(myDocument, myColorName, myColorModel, myColorValue)

On Error Resume Next

Set myColor = myDocument.colors.Item(myColorName)

If Err.Number <> 0 Then

Set myColor = myDocument.colors.Add

myColor.Name = myColorName

Err.Clear

End If

On Error GoTo 0

myColor.model = myColorModel

myColor.colorValue = myColorValue

Set myAddColor = myColor

End Function

Finding XML elements

As noted earlier, the subset of XPath supported by XML rules does not allow for searching the text

contents of XML elements. To get around this limitation, you can either use attributes to find the XML

elements you want or search the text of the matching XML elements. The following script shows how to

match XML elements using attributes. This script applies a color to the text of elements it finds, but a

practical script would do more. For the complete script, see FindXMLElementByAttribute.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Define two colors.

Set myColorA = myAddColor(myDocument, "ColorA", idColorModel.idProcess,

Array(0, 100, 80, 0))

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new AddAttribute)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

Rem Now that the attributes have been added, find and format

Rem the XML element whose attribute content matches a specific string.

myRuleSet = Array(new FindAttribute)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class AddAttribute

Public Property Get name

name = "AddAttribute"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/part_number"

End Property

Rem Adds the content of the XML element to an attribute

Rem of the parent of the XML element. This can make finding

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 217

Rem the element by its content much easier and faster.

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Set myParent = .Parent

myString = myXMLElement.Texts.Item(1).Contents

Set myXMLAttribute = .Parent.XMLAttributes.Add("part_number", myString)

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Class FindAttribute

Public Property Get name

name = "FindAttribute"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device[@part_number = 'DS001']"

End Property

Rem Applies a color to the text of an XML element

Rem (to show that we found it).

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myColorB = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Colors.Item("ColorB")

With myXMLElement

.Texts.Item(1).FillColor = myColorA

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

The following script shows how to use the findText method to find and format XML content (for the

complete script, see FindXMLElementByFindText):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Define two colors.

Set myColorA = myAddColor(myDocument, "ColorA", idColorModel.idProcess,

Array(0, 100, 80, 0))

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new FindByFindText)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class FindByFindText

Public Property Get name

name = "FindByFindText"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/description"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

With myXMLElement

myResetFindText myInDesign

If .Texts.Item(1).contents <> "" Then

Rem Set the find options.

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.CaseSensitive = False

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 218

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeFootnotes = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeHiddenLayers = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedLayersForFind =

False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeLockedStoriesForFind =

False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.IncludeMasterPages = False

myInDesign.FindChangeTextOptions.WholeWord = False

Rem Search for the word "triangle" in the content of the element.

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences.FindWhat = "triangle"

Set myFoundItems = .FindText

If myFoundItems.Count > 0 Then

Set myColorA = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Colors.Item("ColorA")

.Texts.Item(1).FillColor = myColorA

End If

myResetFindText myInDesign

End If

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Function myResetFindText(myInDesign)

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

End Function

The following script shows how to use the findGrep method to find and format XML content (for the

complete script, see FindXMLElementByFindGrep):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Define two colors.

Set myColorA = myAddColor(myDocument, "ColorA", idColorModel.idProcess,

Array(0, 100, 80, 0))

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

myRuleSet = Array(new FindByFindGrep)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class FindByFindGrep

Public Property Get name

name = "FindByFindGrep"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/description"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

With myXMLElement

myResetFindGrep myInDesign

If .Texts.Item(1).contents <> "" Then

Rem Search for the regular expression:

Rem "(?i)pulse.*?triangle|triangle.*?pulse"

Rem in the content of the element.

myInDesign.FindGrepPreferences.FindWhat =

"(?i)pulse.*?triangle|triangle.*?pulse"

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 219

Set myFoundItems = .FindGrep

Set myColorA = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).Colors.Item("ColorA")

If myFoundItems.Count > 0 Then

.Texts.Item(1).FillColor = myColorA

End If

myResetFindGrep myInDesign

End If

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Function myResetFindGrep(myInDesign)

myInDesign.FindTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

myInDesign.ChangeTextPreferences = idNothingEnum.idNothing

End Function

Extracting XML elements with XML rules

XSLT often is used to extract a specific subset of data from an XML file. You can accomplish the same thing

using XML rules. The following sample script shows how to duplicate a set of sample XML elements and

move them to another position in the XML element hierarchy. Note that you must add the duplicated XML

elements at a point in the XML structure that will not be matched by the XML rule, or you run the risk of

creating an endless loop. For the complete script, see ExtractSubset.

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

Set myXMLTag = myMakeXMLTag(myDocument, "VCOs")

Set myContainerElement =

myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1).XMLElements.Add(myXMLTag)

myRuleSet = Array(new ExtractVCO)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class ExtractVCO

Public Property Get name

name = "ExtractVCO"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/type"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

If .Texts.Item(1).Contents = "VCO" Then

Set myDestination = myXMLElement.Parent.Parent.XMLElements.Item(-1)

Set myNewElement = .Parent.Duplicate

myNewElement.Move idLocationOptions.idAtEnd, myDestination

End If

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 220

Applying formatting with XML rules

The previous XML-rule examples have shown basic techniques for finding XML elements, rearranging the

order of XML elements, and adding text to XML elements. Because XML rules are part of scripts, they can

perform almost any action—from applying text formatting to creating entirely new page items, pages,

and documents. The following XML-rule examples show how to apply formatting to XML elements using

XML rules and how to create new page items based on XML-rule matching.

The following script adds static text and applies formatting to the example XML data (for the complete

script, see XMLRulesApplyFormatting):

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

If myInDesign.Documents.Count > 0 Then

myFilePath = myInDesign.FilePath

myFilePath = myFilePath & "\Scripts\Xml rules\glue code.vbs"

Rem Use the Include function to load the glue code file.

Include myFilePath

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Rem Document setup

With myDocument.ViewPreferences

.HorizontalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

.VerticalMeasurementUnits = idMeasurementUnits.idPoints

End With

Rem Create a color.

Set myColor = myAddColor(myDocument, "Red", idColorModel.idProcess,

Array(0, 100, 100, 0))

Rem Create a series of paragraph styles.

Set myParagraphStyle = myMakeParagraphStyle(myDocument, "DeviceName")

myParagraphStyle.PointSize =24

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 24

myParagraphStyle.FillColor = myColor

myParagraphStyle.SpaceBefore = 24

Set myParagraphStyle = myMakeParagraphStyle(myDocument, "DeviceType")

myParagraphStyle.PointSize =12

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 12

myParagraphStyle.FontStyle = "Bold"

Set myParagraphStyle = myMakeParagraphStyle(myDocument, "PartNumber")

myParagraphStyle.PointSize =12

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 12

myParagraphStyle.FontStyle = "Bold"

Set myParagraphStyle = myMakeParagraphStyle(myDocument, "Voltage")

myParagraphStyle.PointSize =10

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 12

myParagraphStyle.FontStyle = "Bold"

Set myParagraphStyle = myMakeParagraphStyle(myDocument, "DevicePackage")

myParagraphStyle.PointSize =10

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 12

Set myParagraphStyle = myMakeParagraphStyle(myDocument, "Price")

myParagraphStyle.PointSize =10

myParagraphStyle.Leading = 12

myParagraphStyle.FontStyle = "Bold"

myRuleSet = Array(new ProcessDevice, new ProcessName, new ProcessType, new

ProcessPartNumber, new ProcessSupplyVoltage, new ProcessPrice, new ProcessPackageType,

new ProcessPackageOne, new ProcessPackages)

glueCode_ProcessRuleSet myInDesign, myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1), myRuleSet,

Array()

End If

Class ProcessDevice

Public Property Get name

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 221

name = "ProcessDevice"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessName

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessName"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/name"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

.ApplyParagraphStyle myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("DeviceName")

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessType

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessType"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/type"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "Circuit Type: ",

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

.ApplyParagraphStyle myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("DeviceType")

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessPartNumber

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPartNumber"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/part_number"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "Part Number: ",

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 222

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

.ApplyParagraphStyle myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("PartNumber")

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessSupplyVoltage

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPartNumber"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/supply_voltage"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "Supply Voltage From: ",

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

With .XMLElements.Item(1)

.InsertTextAsContent " to ", idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

With .XMLElements.Item(-1)

.InsertTextAsContent " volts",

idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

.ApplyParagraphStyle myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("Voltage")

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessPackageType

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPackageType"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/package/type"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRulesProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "-", idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Rem Process the first "package" element.

Class ProcessPackageOne

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPackageOne"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/package[1]"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent "Package: ",

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 223

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

Rem Because we have already added a return to the

Rem end of this element as part of the ProcessPrice

Rem rule, we can savly apply a paragrpah style.

.ApplyParagraphStyle

myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("DevicePackage")

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Rem Process the remaining "package" elements.

Class ProcessPackages

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPackages"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/package"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent", ", idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

End With

apply = True

End Function

End Class

Class ProcessPrice

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPrice"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/price"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

Rem Add a return at the start of the XML element.

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr & "Price: $",

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbcr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

.ApplyParagraphStyle myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("Price")

End With

apply = False

End Function

End Class

Creating page items with XML rules

The following script creates new page items, inserts the content of XML elements in the page items, adds

static text, and applies formatting. We include only the relevant XML-rule portions of the script here; for

more information, see the complete script (XMLRulesLayout).

The first rule creates a new text frame for each “device” XML element:

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules XML Rules Examples 224

Class ProcessDevice

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessDevice"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

.InsertTextAsContent vbCr, idXMLElementPosition.idAfterElement

If myDocument.Pages.Item(1).TextFrames.Count > 0 Then

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Add

myBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

Set myTextFrame = .PlaceIntoFrame(myPage, myBounds)

myTextFrame.TextFramePreferences.FirstBaselineOffset =

idFirstBaseline.idLeadingOffset

Else

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)

myBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

Set myTextFrame = .PlaceIntoFrame(myPage, myBounds)

myTextFrame.TextFramePreferences.FirstBaselineOffset =

idFirstBaseline.idLeadingOffset

End If

End With

apply = false

End Function

End Class

The “ProcessType” rule moves the “type” XML element to a new frame on the page:

Class ProcessType

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessType"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "/devices/device/type"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

With myXMLElement

Set myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(-1)

myBounds = myGetBounds(myDocument, myPage)

myX1 = myBounds(1)

myY1 = myBounds(0)

myBounds = Array(myY1-24, myX1, myY1, myX1 + 48)

Set myTextFrame = .PlaceIntoFrame(myPage, myBounds)

myTextFrame.TextFramePreferences.InsetSpacing = Array(6, 6, 6, 6)

myTextFrame.FillColor = myDocument.Swatches.Item("Red")

.ApplyParagraphStyle myDocument.ParagraphStyles.Item("DeviceType")

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Creating Tables using XML Rules 225

Creating Tables using XML Rules

You can use the ConvertElementToTable method to turn an XML element into a table. This method has a

limitation in that it assumes that all of the XML elements inside the table conform to a very specific set of

XML tags—one tag for a row element; another for a cell, or column element. Typically, the XML data we

want to put into a table does not conform to this structure: it is likely that the XML elements we want to

arrange in columns use heterogeneous XML tags (price, part number, etc.).

To get around this limitation, we can “wrap” each XML element we want to add to a table row using a

container XML element, as shown in the following script fragments (see XMLRulesTable). In this example, a

specific XML rule creates an XML element for each row.

Class ProcessDevice

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessDevice"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "//device[@type = 'VCO']"

End Property

Rem Create a new row for every device whose type is "VCO"

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myRowTag = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).XmlTags.Item("Row")

Set myNewRowElement = myContainerElement.XMLElements.Add(myRowTag)

apply = false

End Function

End Class

Successive rules move and format their content into container elements inside the row XML element.

Class ProcessPrice

Public Property Get name

name = "ProcessPrice"

End Property

Public Property Get xpath

xpath = "//device[@type = 'VCO']/price"

End Property

Public Function apply (myXMLElement, myRuleProcessor)

glueCode_skipChildren(myRuleProcessor)

With myXMLElement

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myCellTag = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1).XmlTags.Item("Column")

Set myLastElement = myContainerElement.XMLElements.Item(-1)

Set myNewElement = myLastElement.XMLElements.add(myCellTag)

Set myPriceElement = .Move(idLocationOptions.idAtBeginning,

myNewElement)

myPriceElement.InsertTextAsContent "$",

idXMLElementPosition.idBeforeElement

End With

apply = true

End Function

End Class

Once all of the specified XML elements have been “wrapped,” we can convert the container element to a

table.

Set myTable = myContainerElement.ConvertElementToTable(myRowTag, myCellTag)

CHAPTER 13: XML Rules Scripting the XML-rules Processor Object 226

Scripting the XML-rules Processor Object

While we have provided a set of utility functions in glue code.vbs, you also can script the XML-rules

processor object directly. You might want do this to develop your own support routines for XML rules or to

use the XML-rules processor in other ways.

When you script XML elements outside the context of XML rules, you cannot locate elements using XPath.

You can, however, create an XML rule that does nothing more than return matching XML elements, and

apply the rule using an XML-rules processor, as shown in the following script. (This script uses the same

XML data file as the sample scripts in previous sections.) For the complete script, see XMLRulesProcessor.

myXPath = Array("/devices/device")

myXMLMatches = mySimulateXPath(myXPath)

Rem At this point, myXMLMatches contains all of the XML elements

Rem that matched the XPath expression provided in myXPath.

Rem In a real script, you could now process the elements.

Rem For this example, however, we'll simply display a message.

If IsEmpty(myXMLMatches(0)) = False Then

MsgBox "Found " & CStr(UBound(myXMLMatches)+1) & " matching elements."

Else

MsgBox "Did not find any matching XML elements."

End if

Function mySimulateXPath(myXPath)

ReDim myMatchingElements(0)

Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")

Set myRuleProcessor = myInDesign.XMLRuleProcessors.Add(myXPath)

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myRootXMLElement = myDocument.XMLElements.Item(1)

Set myMatchData = myRuleProcessor.StartProcessingRuleSet(myRootXMLElement)

Do While TypeName(myMatchData) <> "Nothing"

Set myXMLElement = myMatchData.Element

If IsEmpty(myMatchingElements(0)) = False Then

ReDim Preserve myMatchingElements(UBound(myMatchingElements) + 1)

End If

Set myMatchingElements(UBound(myMatchingElements)) = myXMLElement

Set myMatchData = myRuleProcessor.FindNextMatch

Loop

mySimulateXPath = myMatchingElements

End Function

227

14 Track Changes

Writers can track, show, hide, accept, and reject changes as a document moves through the writing and

editing process. All changes are recorded and visualized to make it easier to review a document.

This tutorial shows how to script the most common operations involving tracking changes.

We assume that you have already read Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial and know how to create, install,

and run a script. We also assume that you have some knowledge of working with text in InDesign and

understand basic typesetting terms.

Tracking Changes

This section shows how to navigate tracked changes, accept changes, and reject changes using scripting.

Whenever anyone adds, deletes, or moves text within an existing story, the change is marked in galley and

story views.

Navigating tracked changes

If the story contains a record of tracked changes, the user can navigate sequentially through tracked

changes. The following script show how to navigate the tracked changes (for the complete script, refer to

GetTrackchange).

The script below uses the nextItem method to navigate to the change following the insertion point:

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

//Story.trackChanges  If true, track changes is turned on.

If(myStory.TrackChanges=true ) Then

Set myChange = myStory.Changes.Item(1)

If(myStory.Changes.Count>1) Then

Set myChange0 = myStory.Changes.NextItem(myChange)

End If

In the script below, we use the previousItem method to navigate to the change following the insertion

point:

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

If(myStory.TrackChanges=true ) Then

Set myChange = myStory.Changes.LastItem()

If(myStory.Changes.Count>1) Then

Set myChange0 = myStory.Changes.PreviousItem(myChange)

End If

Chapter Update Status

CS6 Unchanged

14: Track Changes Tracking Changes 228

Accepting and reject tracked changes

When changes are made to a story, by you or others, the change-tracking feature enables you to review all

changes and decide whether to incorporate them into the story. You can accept and reject

changes—added, deleted, or moved text—made by any user.

In the following script, the change is accepted (for the complete script, refer to AcceptChange):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Set myChange = myStory.Changes.Item(1)

myChange.Accept

In the following script, the change is rejected (for the complete script, refer to RejectChange):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Set myChange = myStory.Changes.Item(1)

myChange.Reject

Information about tracked changes

Change information includes include date and time. The following script shows the information of a

tracked change (for the complete script, refer to GetChangeInfo):

Set myDocument = myInDesign.Documents.Item(1)

Set myStory = myDocument.Stories.Item(1)

Set myChange = myStory.Changes.Item(1)

With myChange

Rem idChangeTypes.idDeletedText (Read Only) Deleted text.

Rem idChangeTypes.idInsertedText (Read Only) Insert text.

Rem idChangeTypes.idMovedText (Read Only) Moved text.

myTypes = .ChangeType

Rem Characters A collection of Characters.

Set myCharacters = .Characters

Rem Character = myCharacters.Item(1);

myDate = .Date

Rem InsertionPoints A collection of insertion points.

Rem insertpoint = myInsertionPoints.Item(1);

Set myInsertionPoints = .InsertionPoints

Rem Lines (Read Only) A collection of lines.

Set myLines = .Lines

Rem Paragraphs (Read Only) A collection of paragraphs.

Set myParagraphs =.Paragraphs

Rem InsertionPoints A collection of insertion points.

14: Track Changes Preferences for Tracking Changes 229

Rem myInsertpoint = myInsertionPoints.Item(0);

Set myStoryOffset = .StoryOffset

Rem TtextColumns (Read Only) A collection of text columns.

Set myTextColumns = .TextColumns

Rem TextStyleRanges (Read Only) A collection of text style ranges.

Set myTextStyleRanges = .TextStyleRanges

Rem TextVariableInstances (Read Only) A collection of text variable instances.

Set myTextVariableInstances = .TextVariableInstances

Rem Texts (Read Only) A collection of text objects.

Set myTexts = .Texts

Rem The user who made the change. Note: Valid only when track changes is true.

myUserName = .UserName

Rem Words A collection of words

Set myWords = .Words

End With

Preferences for Tracking Changes

Track-changes preferences are user settings for tracking changes. For example, you can define which

changes are tracked (adding, deleting, or moving text). You can specify the appearance of each type of

tracked change, and you can have changes identified with colored change bars in the margins. The

following script shows how to set and get these preferences (for the complete script, refer to

GetChangePreference):

Set myTrackChangesPreference = myInDesign.TrackChangesPreferences

With myTrackChangesPreference

Rem AddedBackgroundColorChoice As idChangeBackgroundColorChoices, The background color

option for added text.

Rem idChangeBackgroundColorChoices, Background color options for changed text.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesChangePrefColor The background color for changed text is the

same as the track changes preferences background color. For information, see background

color for added text, background color for deleted text, or background color for moved

text.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesGalleyBackgroundColor The background color for changed text

is the same as the galley background color.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesUserColor The background color for changed text is the same

as the color assigned to the current user.

myAddedBackgroundColorChoice = .AddedBackgroundColorChoice

.AddedBackgroundColorChoice =

idChangeBackgroundColorChoices.idChangeBackgroundUsesChangePrefColor

Rem idChangeTextColorChoices,Changed text color options.

Rem Property AddedTextColorChoice As idChangeTextColorChoices, The color option for

added text.

Rem idChangeUsesChangePrefColor,The text color for changed text is the same as the text

color defined in track changes preferences. For information, see text color for added

text, text color for deleted text, or text color for moved text.

Rem idChangeUsesGalleyTextColor,The text color for changed text is the same as the

galley text color.

myAddedTextColorChoice = .AddedTextColorChoice

.AddedTextColorChoice = idChangeTextColorChoices.idChangeUsesChangePrefColor

Rem BackgroundColorForAddedText,The background color for added text, specified as an

InCopy UI color. Note: Valid only when added background color choice is change

background uses change pref color. Type: Array of 3 Doubles (0 - 255) or

idInCopyUIColors enumerator

myBackgroundColorForAddedText = .BackgroundColorForAddedText

.BackgroundColorForAddedText = idUIColors.idGray

14: Track Changes Preferences for Tracking Changes 230

Rem BackgroundColorForDeletedText, The background color for deleted text, specified as

an InCopy UI color. Note: Valid only when deleted background color choice is change

background uses change pref color

myBackgroundColorForDeletedText = .BackgroundColorForDeletedText

.BackgroundColorForDeletedText = idUIColors.idRed

Rem BackgroundColorForMovedText,The background color for moved text. Note: Valid only

when moved background color choice is change background uses change pref color

myBackgroundColorForMovedText = .BackgroundColorForMovedText

.BackgroundColorForMovedText = idUIColors.idPink

Rem ChangeBarColor, The change bar color, specified as an InCopy UI color.

myChangeBarColor = .ChangeBarColor

.ChangeBarColor = idUIColors.idCharcoal

Rem DeletedBackgroundColorChoice,The background color option for deleted text.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesChangePrefColor The background color for changed text is the

same as the track changes preferences background color. For information, see background

color for added text, background color for deleted text, or background color for moved

text.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesGalleyBackgroundColor The background color for changed text

is the same as the galley background color.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesUserColor The background color for changed text is the same

as the color assigned to the current user.

myDeletedBackgroundColorChoice = .DeletedBackgroundColorChoice

.DeletedBackgroundColorChoice =

idChangeBackgroundColorChoices.idChangeBackgroundUsesUserColor

Rem DeletedTextColorChoice, The color option for deleted text.

Rem idChangeUsesChangePrefColor,The text color for changed text is the same as the text

color defined in track changes preferences. For information, see text color for added

text, text color for deleted text, or text color for moved text.

Rem idChangeUsesGalleyTextColor,The text color for changed text is the same as the

galley text color.

myDeletedTextColorChoice = .DeletedTextColorChoice

.DeletedTextColorChoice = idChangeTextColorChoices.idChangeUsesChangePrefColor

Rem LocationForChangeBar,The change bar location.

Rem idChangebarLocations,Change bar location options.

Rem idLeftAlign, Change bars are in the left margin.

Rem idRightAlign, Change bars are in the right margin

myLocationForChangeBar = .LocationForChangeBar

.LocationForChangeBar = idChangebarLocations.idLeftAlign

Rem MarkingForAddedText, The marking that identifies added text.

Rem idChangeMarkings, Marking options for changed text.

Rem idOutline, Outlines changed text.

Rem idNone, Does not mark changed text.

Rem idStrikethrough, Uses a strikethrough to mark changed text.

Rem idUnderlineSingle, Underlines changed text.

myMarkingForAddedText = .MarkingForAddedText

.MarkingForAddedText = idChangeMarkings.idStrikethrough

Rem MarkingForDeletedText, The marking that identifies deleted text.

Rem idChangeMarkings, Marking options for changed text.

Rem idOutline, Outlines changed text.

Rem idNone, Does not mark changed text.

Rem idStrikethrough, Uses a strikethrough to mark changed text.

Rem idUnderlineSingle, Underlines changed text.

myMarkingForDeletedText = .MarkingForDeletedText

.MarkingForDeletedText = idChangeMarkings.idUnderlineSingle

Rem MarkingForMovedText, The marking that identifies moved text.

Rem idChangeMarkings, Marking options for changed text.

Rem idOutline, Outlines changed text.

Rem idNone, Does not mark changed text.

Rem idStrikethrough, Uses a strikethrough to mark changed text.

Rem idUnderlineSingle, Underlines changed text.

14: Track Changes Preferences for Tracking Changes 231

myMarkingForMovedText = .MarkingForMovedText

.MarkingForMovedText = idChangeMarkings.idOutline

Rem MovedBackgroundColorChoice,The background color option for moved text.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesChangePrefColor The background color for changed text is the

same as the track changes preferences background color. For information, see background

color for added text, background color for deleted text, or background color for moved

text.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesGalleyBackgroundColor The background color for changed text

is the same as the galley background color.

Rem idChangeBackgroundUsesUserColor The background color for changed text is the same

as the color assigned to the current user.

myMovedBackgroundColorChoice = .MovedBackgroundColorChoice

.MovedBackgroundColorChoice =

idChangeBackgroundColorChoices.idChangeBackgroundUsesChangePrefColor

Rem MovedTextColorChoice, The color option for moved text.

Rem idChangeUsesChangePrefColor,The text color for changed text is the same as the text

color defined in track changes preferences. For information, see text color for added

text, text color for deleted text, or text color for moved text.

Rem idChangeUsesGalleyTextColor,The text color for changed text is the same as the

galley text color.

myMovedTextColorChoice = .MovedTextColorChoice

.MovedTextColorChoice = idChangeTextColorChoices.idChangeUsesChangePrefColor

Rem if true, displays added text.

myShowAddedText = .ShowAddedText

.ShowAddedText = true

Rem If true, displays change bars.

myShowChangeBars = .ShowChangeBars

.ShowChangeBars = true

Rem ShowDeletedText, If true, displays deleted text.

myShowDeletedText = .ShowDeletedText

.ShowDeletedText = true

Rem ShowMovedText,If true, displays moved text.

myShowMovedText = .ShowMovedText

.ShowMovedText = true

Rem SpellCheckDeletedText, If true, includes deleted text when using the Spell Check

command.

mySpellCheckDeletedText = .SpellCheckDeletedText

.SpellCheckDeletedText = true

Rem TextColorForAddedText, The color for added text, specified as an InCopy UI color.

Note: Valid only when added text color choice is change uses change pref color.

myTextColorForAddedText = .TextColorForAddedText

.TextColorForAddedText = idUIColors.idBlue

Rem TextColorForDeletedText,The color for deleted text.

myTextColorForDeletedText = .TextColorForDeletedText

.TextColorForDeletedText = idUIColors.idYellow

Rem TextColorForMovedText,The color for moved text.

myTextColorForMovedText = .TextColorForMovedText

.TextColorForMovedText = idUIColors.idGreen

End With

Adobe InDesign CS6 VBScript Scripting Guide In Design Guide: VB

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