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Jonlin Creative
Jonlin Creative
Inspiring
July 3, 2023
Answered

Find 2-line paragraphs with a certain style and change the style

  • July 3, 2023
  • 1 reply
  • 478 views

Hello,

I'm typesetting a workbook that has questions with lines to write the answers. Most of the questions are a single line, but some are two lines. All are set with the same paragraph style. I need to change all the two-line questions to a different paragraph style and I'm wondering if there's an automated way to do that.

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer FRIdNGE

    … by Script:

     

    var myDoc = app.activeDocument;

var myParaStyle1 = myDoc.paragraphStyles.item("xxx");
var myParaStyle2 = myDoc.paragraphStyles.item("yyy");

app.findGrepPreferences = app.changeGrepPreferences = null;
app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = ".+";
app.findGrepPreferences.appliedParagraphStyle = myParaStyle1;  
myFound = myDoc.findGrep();
var F = myFound.length,  f;
for ( f = 0; f < F ; f++ ) if ( myFound[f].lines.length == 2 ) myFound[f].appliedParagraphStyle = myParaStyle2;
app.findGrepPreferences = app.changeGrepPreferences = null;

alert( "Done!" )

     

    (^/)

    1 reply

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Steve WernerCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 4, 2023

    No doubt it will require a script because it's not built-in to InDesign. If you're lucky, someone may have created one or could write one.

    FRIdNGE
    FRIdNGE
    July 4, 2023

    … Hmm!

     

    Of course, it could be done by a simplistic script but let's try to do it with … Grep [for those who know it]!

     

    Supposing we have 2 para styles: "xxx" and "yyy".

     

    First, add 2 nested lines styles to your para style "xxx":

    First line: [none]

    Second line: "zzz" char style (no attribute)

     

    … And just play this simplistic Grep Find/Replace:

     

    Find: $ + "zzz" char style

    Replace by: "yyy" para style

     

    Funny: 0 result, but it makes the job!

     

    (^/)  The Jedi

      FRIdNGE
      FRIdNGECorrect answer
      July 4, 2023

      … by Script:

       

      var myDoc = app.activeDocument;

var myParaStyle1 = myDoc.paragraphStyles.item("xxx");
var myParaStyle2 = myDoc.paragraphStyles.item("yyy");

app.findGrepPreferences = app.changeGrepPreferences = null;
app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = ".+";
app.findGrepPreferences.appliedParagraphStyle = myParaStyle1;  
myFound = myDoc.findGrep();
var F = myFound.length,  f;
for ( f = 0; f < F ; f++ ) if ( myFound[f].lines.length == 2 ) myFound[f].appliedParagraphStyle = myParaStyle2;
app.findGrepPreferences = app.changeGrepPreferences = null;

alert( "Done!" )

       

      (^/)

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