Get app.findColorPreferences.findWhat property value

Forum|Forum|14 days ago
July 9, 2026
2 replies
58 views

I’m looking for a way to read the value app.findColorPreferences.findWhat, and find out what swatch it’s currently looking for. It gives the error 30615 The property is not applicable in the current state.

I am able to set it:

app.findColorPreferences.findWhat = app.activeDocument.swatches.item("SWATCH_NAME")

Is there a way to read what swatch is currently selected in the dialog, similar to findGrepPreferences and findTextPreferences?

nik.m

Community Manager

Hi @_wckdTall_, just checking in to see if the suggestions from our Experts helped, or if you still need help.

If yes, please let us know and we'll be happy to assist further.

Thanks,
Nikunj

E

Eugene Tyson

Community Expert

You can read the Find Colour setting like this:

var currentFindColor = app.findColorPreferences.findWhat;

if (currentFindColor === NothingEnum.NOTHING) {
    alert("No Find Color swatch is set.");
} else if (currentFindColor && currentFindColor.isValid) {
    alert("Current Find Color swatch: " + currentFindColor.name);
}

But this is reading InDesign’s Find/Change preference, not the open Find Colour dialog itself.

Could be best to remember the swatch yourself when you set it:

var swatch = app.activeDocument.swatches.itemByName("SWATCH_NAME");

app.findColorPreferences.findWhat = swatch;

// remember what your script set
var currentFindColorSwatchName = swatch.name;

That way, your script is not relying on checking the dialog later. It already knows what value it assigned.

And maybe clear the Find/Change preferences when finished

app.findColorPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

_wckdTall_Author

Inspiring

Thanks! That’s what I was seeing as well, that app.findColorPreferences.findWhat produces an error and cannot be read.

rob day

Community Expert

Hi @_wckdTall_ , findWhat expects a swatch, so here swatches.itemByName() works

alert(colorSearch(doc, "Blue"))
//returns 3

function colorSearch(d, fc){
    //clear F&C
    app.findColorPreferences = app.changeColorPreferences = app.findChangeColorOptions = null;
    app.findColorPreferences.findWhat = d.swatches.itemByName(fc);
    alert(d.swatches.itemByName(fc).name)
    //returns Blue
    app.findColorPreferences.tint = 100;
    //findColor returns a number
    return app.activeDocument.findColor()
}

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