How to edit script files?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
November 28, 2021
4 replies
3234 views

In the application folder of Illustrator, there are sample scripts that end in .jsx. I'd like to edit them. However, I can't open them in any of the usual script editors. For example, I just download an app off the applie store called BBBEdit. When I try to open the sample scripts with this program, the .jsx files are grayed out. why is this?

Scripting

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Correct answer hhas01

The files will be greyed because that the app doesn’t recognize their filename extensions. The scripts in Illustrator’s Scripting folder have read-only permissions so can be opened but not saved (at least, not without Admin permissions).

Adobe no longer supports ESTK, which is a 32-bit app that won’t run on macOS 10.15+. OP can use BBEdit if that’s what they’re familiar with; they just need to update its Language preferences to recognize ,jsx files. They can also put this crude but convenient AppleScript in its Scripts menu if they wish:

-- Run Script in Illustrator.scpt
-- run the front BBEdit window as JSX in Illustrator

tell application "BBEdit"
	set txt to text of document 1
end tell

tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
	activate
	with timeout of 30 seconds
		do javascript txt
	end timeout
end tell

The big disadvantage of using BBEdit or other editor is no debugger support. That’s especially aggravating if a script gets stuck in an infinite loop. VSCode is not the most beautiful app (typical Electron), but it’s what Adobe supports now so depending on OP’s scripting ambitions they may be best with that.

H

hhas01

Inspiring

In BBEdit, go to Preferences > Languages and add 2 entries to the Custom filename extension mappings:

jsx ➞ JavaScript

jsxinc ➞ JavaScript

You might also consider using Visual Studio Code. Adobe provides an ExtendScript plugin that adds debugger support.

JR Boulay

Community Expert

MOVED TO THE ILLUSTRATOR FORUM

Acrobate du PDF, InDesigner et Photoshopographe

ls_rbls

Community Expert

From what I'm reading you should be able to open these type of files with any text editor, .

If they appear greyed could it be because of read-only attributes to the file(s)? In which case, maybe using administrator rights could lower the restrictions of folder that they reside in.

However, from reading other guidance outside of these forums, if you're actually trying to edit JavaScript XML code, use a source code editor which will aide you with the proper syntax and the formatting of the scripted file.

I would say to use the Adobe Extend Toolkit CC: https://www.adobe.com/products/extendscript-toolkit.htmlESTK

See if this discussion helps with what you're looking for: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/how-to-download-extendscript-toolkit-for-2020/m-p/11114931

H

hhas01Correct answer

Inspiring

The files will be greyed because that the app doesn’t recognize their filename extensions. The scripts in Illustrator’s Scripting folder have read-only permissions so can be opened but not saved (at least, not without Admin permissions).

Adobe no longer supports ESTK, which is a 32-bit app that won’t run on macOS 10.15+. OP can use BBEdit if that’s what they’re familiar with; they just need to update its Language preferences to recognize ,jsx files. They can also put this crude but convenient AppleScript in its Scripts menu if they wish:

-- Run Script in Illustrator.scpt
-- run the front BBEdit window as JSX in Illustrator

tell application "BBEdit"
	set txt to text of document 1
end tell

tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
	activate
	with timeout of 30 seconds
		do javascript txt
	end timeout
end tell

The big disadvantage of using BBEdit or other editor is no debugger support. That’s especially aggravating if a script gets stuck in an infinite loop. VSCode is not the most beautiful app (typical Electron), but it’s what Adobe supports now so depending on OP’s scripting ambitions they may be best with that.