Javascripting for InDesign

[eugenetyson]

I was wondering if it is possible to create a script that will align a heading depending on if it's in a left hand column or a right hand column. I have text that flows in from a source file, it all comes in fine to a single frame with 2 columns. Each heading has a Keep Option to Start in a New Column. I need the heading in the left column to be always aligned left. And I need the heading in the right column to be always aligned to the right. It's for a book and the usual facing pages apply, single text frame, 2 columns. Is it possible to have a script that only targets a paragraph heading that is in a right column?

Any help is greatly appreciated, I can honestly say I don't know anything about scripting, I just need this for a current project and InDesign doesn't allow alignment for "Align away from gutters" unfortunately.

PS - I have posted this on the Adobe Forums too.

I am a regular contributor to the InDesign section of Tek Tips also, and I don't think anyone over that side of the Fourms knows much about scripting.

Regards

http://www.doozler.blogspot.com/

 

[BillyRayPreachersSon]

My InDesign knowledge is lacking, so apologies if this is completely off-track...

Are we talking about a regular HTML page here, that you could style using CSS? If so, you could apply a class to the left column (e.g. 'leftCol') and the same to the right column, and then use that to perform your alignment, e.g.

.leftCol .heading {
   text-align: left;
}

.rightCol .heading {
   text-align: right;
}

Like I said, I could be way off here when it comes to InDesign... does it load HTML pages, or does it just use JS to script other elements?

Dan



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[eugenetyson]

No it doesn't load html pages, I'm not sure how it works to be honest.

InDesign is a page layout program. It is used for laying out books, magazines, catalogues, brochures, etc.

It's primarily for printing and exporting hi-res pdfs for printing.

Here's a sample script:

//AlignToPage.jsx
//An InDesign CS2 JavaScript
//
//Aligns the items in the selection to the specified location on the page.
//
//
//For more information on InDesign scripting, go to

http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/scripting.html

//Or visit the InDesign Scripting User to User forum at

http://www.adobeforums.com.

//
var myObjectList = new Array;
if (app.documents.length != 0){

if (app.selection.length != 0){
for(var myCounter = 0;myCounter < app.selection.length; myCounter++){
switch (app.selection[myCounter].constructor.name){
case "Rectangle":
case "Oval":
case "Polygon":
case "TextFrame":
case "Group":
case "Button":
case "GraphicLine":
myObjectList.push(app.selection[myCounter]);
break;
}
}
if (myObjectList.length != 0){
myDisplayDialog(myObjectList);
}
else{
alert ("Please select a page item and try again.");
}
}
else{
alert ("Please select an object and try again.");
}
}
else{
alert ("Please open a document, select an object, and try again.");
}
function myDisplayDialog(myObjectList){
var myDialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"AlignToPage"});
with(myDialog.dialogColumns.add()){
with(dialogRows.add()){
with(dialogColumns.add()){
with(borderPanels.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Vertical"});
var myVerticalAlignmentButtons = radiobuttonGroups.add();
with(myVerticalAlignmentButtons){
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"Top", checkedState: true});
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"Center"});
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"Bottom"});
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"None"});
}
}
}
with(dialogColumns.add()){
with(borderPanels.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Horizontal"});
var myHorizontalAlignmentButtons = radiobuttonGroups.add();
with(myHorizontalAlignmentButtons){
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"Left", checkedState: true});
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"Center"});
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"Right"});
radiobuttonControls.add({staticLabel:"None"});
}
}
}
}
with(dialogRows.add()){
var myConsiderMarginsCheckbox = checkboxControls.add({staticLabel:"Consider Page Margins", checkedState:false});
}
}
var myResult = myDialog.show();
if(myResult == true){
myVerticalAlignment = myVerticalAlignmentButtons.selectedButton;
myHorizontalAlignment = myHorizontalAlignmentButtons.selectedButton;
myConsiderMargins = myConsiderMarginsCheckbox.checkedState;
myDialog.destroy();
myAlignObjects(myObjectList, myVerticalAlignment, myHorizontalAlignment, myConsiderMargins);
}
else{
myDialog.destroy();
}
}
function myAlignObjects(myObjectList, myVerticalAlignment, myHorizontalAlignment, myConsiderMargins){
var myPageHeight = app.activeDocument.documentPreferences.pageHeight;
var myPageWidth = app.activeDocument.documentPreferences.pageWidth;
var myOldRulerOrigin = app.activeDocument.viewPreferences.rulerOrigin;
app.activeDocument.viewPreferences.rulerOrigin = RulerOrigin.pageOrigin;
app.activeDocument.zeroPoint = [0,0];
var myXCenter = myPageWidth/2;
var myYCenter = myPageHeight/2;
var myMarginPreferences = app.activeWindow.activePage.marginPreferences;
var myTopMargin = myMarginPreferences.top;
var myLeftMargin = myMarginPreferences.left;
var myBottomMargin = myMarginPreferences.bottom;
var myRightMargin = myMarginPreferences.right;
if(myConsiderMargins == true){
switch(myHorizontalAlignment){
case 0:
myX = myLeftMargin;
break;
case 1:
myX = myXCenter;
break;
case 2:
myX = myPageWidth - myRightMargin;
break;
case 3:
myX = null;
break;
}
switch(myVerticalAlignment){
case 0:
myY = myTopMargin;
break;
case 1:
myY = myYCenter;
break;
case 2:
myY = myPageHeight - myBottomMargin;
break;
case 3:
myY = null;
break;
}
}
else{
switch(myHorizontalAlignment){
case 0:
myX = 0;
break;
case 1:
myX = myXCenter;
break;
case 2:
myX = myPageWidth;
break;
case 3:
myX = null;
break;
}
switch(myVerticalAlignment){
case 0:
myY = 0;
break;
case 1:
myY = myYCenter;
break;
case 2:
myY = myPageHeight;
break;
case 3:
myY = null;
break;
}
}
for(myCounter = 0; myCounter < myObjectList.length; myCounter ++){
myAlignObject(myObjectList[myCounter], myX, myY, myHorizontalAlignment, myVerticalAlignment);
}
app.activeDocument.viewPreferences.rulerOrigin = myOldRulerOrigin;
}
function myAlignObject(myObject, myX, myY, myHorizontalAlignment, myVerticalAlignment){
var myBounds = myObject.geometricBounds;
var myWidth = myBounds[3]-myBounds[1];
var myHeight = myBounds[2]-myBounds[0];
if(myX==null){
myX = myBounds[1];
}
if(myY==null){
myY = myBounds[0];
}
switch(myHorizontalAlignment){
case 0:
break;
case 1:
myX = myX-(myWidth/2);
break;
case 2:
myX = myX-myWidth;
break;
case 3:
break;
}
switch(myVerticalAlignment){
case 0:
break;
case 1:
myY = myY-(myHeight/2);
break;
case 2:
myY = myY-myHeight;
break;
case 3:
break;
}
myObject.move([myX, myY]);
}

http://www.doozler.blogspot.com/