Checking if an object exists on a page

Question

Hi,I'm trying to automate adding commonly-used elements on existing documents and I want to be able to check if an object already exists on the page so that it doesn't get added twice. I'm pretty new to JavaScript but pretty confident in Indesign CC.Here is the script fragment that I want to do the job: 
// add address window
if(!doesObjectExist(myAddressWindow)){
    var myAddressWindow=myDocument.pages.item(0).textFrames.add();
    var myCorners=CornerOptions.ROUNDED_CORNER;
    myAddressWindow.properties={name:"myAddressWindow",geometricBounds:["33mm", "20mm", "78mm", "110mm"],strokeWeight:0.5,strokeColor:"Magenta",topLeftCornerOption:myCorners,topRightCornerOption:myCorners,bottomLeftCornerOption:myCorners,bottomRightCornerOption:myCorners};
}

function doesObjectExist(objectName){
 with(myDocument.pages.everyItem){
     if(name==objectName){
         return true;
         }
     }
the myAddressWindow element always get added, even if it already exists and I can't figure out why.Thanks and regards,Malcolm

Laubender · Accepted Answer

Hi Malcom,you could use itemByName() on the pageItems in the document, if that element you are looking for is not nested ( inside a group or inside a graphic frame or anchored to a text frame etc.pp).:testSomething("TheNameOfTheThing");function testSomething(/*String*/myName){  if( app.documents[0].pageItems.itemByName(myName).isValid ){ //Nothing to do: $.writeln("Nothing to do.") return; }; else{ doSomething() };  };function doSomething(){ /* Your code for adding something should follow here: */ $.writeln("Build something."); };You could also test for is not valid, and do something, if true.The above code is just an exmple not optimized for anything.Uwe

Peter Kahrel · Answer

The function you use to check if a frame exists has an error: with(myDocument.pages.everyItem){ should be with(myDocument.pages.everyItem()){

But that function is unnecessary, no need to cycly through all frames on a page. You can do this:

if (!myDocument.pages.item(0).textFrames.item('myAddressWindow').isValid){  
    var myAddressWindow=myDocument.pages.item(0).textFrames.add();  
    var myCorners=CornerOptions.ROUNDED_CORNER;  
    myAddressWindow.properties={name:"myAddressWindow",geometricBounds:["33mm", "20mm", "78mm", "110mm"],strokeWeight:0.5,strokeColor:"Magenta",topLeftCornerOption:myCorners,topRightCornerOption:myCorners,bottomLeftCornerOption:myCorners,bottomRightCornerOption:myCorners};  
}

Peter

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded