Scripting tips

Hi Rick, and anyone else listening!

I hope I'm not being bothersome, but can you point to resources with good information on FrameMaker scripting?

The documentation provided by Adobe is woefully lacking. (Documentation doesn't match what I observe in ExtendScript, hundreds of constants just listed with no explanation...)

If there's no such thing, I'll post as needed, but if there is, I could solve some basic problems without having to do the forums.

Thanks in advance!

Here is a good place to start. Someone recently asked for help applying a condition format to certain paragraphs. When working on paragraphs, first get your code working on the paragraph containing the insertion point. Here is a useful snippet for doing that:

// Set a variable for the active document.
var doc = app.ActiveDoc;

// Get the paragraph at the beginning of the selection or insertion point.
var pgf = doc.TextSelection.beg.obj;

// Do something with the paragraph here:
// ...

Here is code you can use for working on the selected table, or the table containing your text cursor:

// Set a variable for the active document.
var doc = app.ActiveDoc;

// Get the table currently selected or that contains the insertion point.
var tbl = doc.SelectedTbl;

// Do something with the table here:
// ...

Do you need to work on table cells? Here is how to isolate the cell object that contains your text cursor.

// Set a variable for the active document.
var doc = app.ActiveDoc;

// Get the paragraph that contains the insertion point.
var pgf = doc.TextSelection.beg.obj;

// Get the table cell that contains the paragraph.
var cell = pgf.InTextObj;

// Do something with the cell here:
// ...

Or, find the row that contains the cell where your text cursor is:

// Set a variable for the active document.
var doc = app.ActiveDoc;

// Get the paragraph that contains the insertion point.
var pgf = doc.TextSelection.beg.obj;

// Get the table cell that contains the paragraph.
var cell = pgf.InTextObj;

// Get the row that contains the cell.
var row = cell.CellRow;

// Do something with the row here:
// ...

Hi Rick,

Great advice. I'll also add that posters should mention which version of FM that they are using and what platform they are running on. [Older versions of Extendscript had numerous issues]

Also, for those reading this thread for the first time, please use the "Correct Answer" link when your problem has been solved so that others can be see that a solution exists and to give credit to who helped you out.