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SmythWharf
Known Participant
September 8, 2023
Answered

Can you redefine paragraph styles from a script?

  • September 8, 2023
  • 3 replies
  • 1765 views

Hello, 

I am trying to make a script which can redefine styles from a script  - i know it doesnt make a lot of sence as there is a shortcut for this and also menu for this 

but long story short the menu is small and hiddent and the shortcut by default is also hidden to get to find out what is it 

so a script to hit hit would be faster

advice on this would be much helpful

many thanks

best

Smyth

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Peter Kahrel

    Rob showed you the shortcut key, which is the most convenient. If you must have a script-equivalent for that, try

    app.selection[0].appliedParagraphStyle.properties = app.selection[0].properties;

    P.

    3 replies

    Peter Kahrel
    Community Expert
    Peter KahrelCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 8, 2023

    > You can now select a chunk of text with many paragraph styles and it will update all of them

     

    No, you're wrong. This statement:

    paraStyle.properties = para.properties

    says 'the paragraph style's properties are the paragraph's properties'. But the paragraph's properties are just the properties that apply to the whole paragraph, which means that the local overrides (which you were after) are ignored.

     

    Maybe you could try something diabolical with textStyleRanges. But you're probably better off explaining your users how to use the keyboard and the KB editor.

    S
    SmythWharfAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 8, 2023

    Umm, when i run it, it has been redefining the paragraph styles panel so i not longer see for example style+

    for example two styles one frame header and subheader

    I alter both the header and the subheader and i get the + 

     

    I select both at the same time and the run the autoRedefine script 



    which results in positive feedback



    And now I can check the styles 

     

     

    The + is gone so the paragraph styles have been updated, additionlly character styles are also taken into account

    NB does not have a funtion to undo in one go yet - to be added in 

    Not sure if this helps

    Best 

    Smyth

     

     

     

     

    S
    SmythWharfAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 8, 2023

    O0OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH no, i see the issue - grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

     

    Many thanks 

    Okay back to work  😞

    Peter Kahrel
    Community Expert
    Peter KahrelCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    September 8, 2023

    Rob showed you the shortcut key, which is the most convenient. If you must have a script-equivalent for that, try

    app.selection[0].appliedParagraphStyle.properties = app.selection[0].properties;

    P.

      S
      SmythWharfAuthor
      Known Participant
      September 8, 2023

      Hi Peter and Rob

      Yes thank for showing me the shortcut key, I was looking for a script as mentioned above as the shortcut key is four buttons plus a difficult thing to find in shortcut menues for those who dont go there too often.

      Anyhow will look into the script above.

      Many thanks as always, 

      Smyth

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 8, 2023

      the shortcut key is four buttons

       

      You can change it via Edit>Keyboard Shortcuts:

       

      M
      Community Expert
      Manan JoshiCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 8, 2023

      By redefine do you mean to change the properties of an existing style, if so then we can do so using the script. Just get the object of the desired style and then set the property you want to change

       

      var ps = app.documents[0].paragraphStyles.itemByName("My Style")
ps.autoLeading = 10

       

      In the script above I have set the autoLeading of a paragraphstyle named "My Style" to 10. For a list of properties of paragraphstyle check the following link

      https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#ParagraphStyle.html

      -Manan

      -Manan
      S
      SmythWharfAuthor
      Known Participant
      September 8, 2023

      Hello 

      thank you 

      I dont undestand as I am not a big scripter 

      I have a style lets say style x 

      and i have some overrides 


      lets say i made it red from black 

      the style x now has a + in the paragaph style list

      and i want to redefine the style by selecting it and then running the script 

      i couldnt quite understand the autoleading script 

      and when i checked out the link i didnt see anything for redefining 

      best 

      smyth

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      September 8, 2023

      Hi @SmythWharf , There’s a key command for Redefine Style, put your cursor in the text that has the updated definition and Command + Option + Shift + R:

       

       

       

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