Help tweaking InDesign script to alphabetize ImageCatalog.jsx

Hi sommer0101,

if you have the same problem like Holly had, just make sure that you save the script code with TextEdit in Text only mode. Means: No formatting. Your screenshot points to a different issue. I think, you did not copy all the the code.

Here the code again, just tested it with my InDesign 16.4.0.55 on Windows 10:

*
	Extended version posted at:
	
	script imagecatalog.jsx don´t sorts images correctly
	Correct Answer by Laubender, May 17, 2018
	https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/script-imagecatalog-jsx-don-t-sorts-images-correctly/m-p/9839869#M98459
	
	
	
	
*/

//ImageCatalog.jsx
//An InDesign CS6 JavaScript 
/*  
@@@BUILDINFO@@@ ImageCatalog-EDITED.jsx !Version! Fri Jan 03 2020 16:11:10 GMT+0100
*/ 
//Creates an image catalog from the graphic files in a selected folder. 
//Each file can be labeled with the file name, and the labels are placed on 
//a separate layer and formatted using a paragraph style ("label") you can 
//modify to change the appearance of the labels. 
// 
//For more information on InDesign scripting, go to http://www.adobe.com/products/indesign/scripting/index.html 
//Or visit the InDesign Scripting User to User forum at http://www.adobeforums.com . 
// 
//The myExtensions array contains the extensions of the graphic file types you want 
//to include in the catalog. You can remove extensions from or add extensions to this list. 
//myExtensions is a global. Mac OS users should also look at the file types in the myFileFilter function.
main();
function main(){
	var myFilteredFiles;
	//Make certain that user interaction (display of dialogs, etc.) is turned on.
	app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.interactWithAll;
	myExtensions = [".jpg", ".jpeg", ".eps", ".ps", ".pdf", ".tif", ".tiff", ".gif", ".psd", ".ai"] 
	//Display the folder browser. 
	var myFolder = Folder.selectDialog("Select the folder containing the images", ""); 
	//Get the path to the folder containing the files you want to place. 
	if(myFolder != null){ 
			if(File.fs == "Macintosh")
			{
				// CHANGES BY UWE LAUBENDER :
				myFilteredFiles = myMacOSFileFilter(myFolder).sort( sortFileNames );
			}
			else
			{
				// CHANGES BY UWE LAUBENDER :
				myFilteredFiles = myWinOSFileFilter(myFolder).sort( sortFileNames );
			}
			if(myFilteredFiles.length != 0){ 
					myDisplayDialog(myFilteredFiles, myFolder); 
					alert("Done!");
			} 
	}
}
//Windows version of the file filter.
function myWinOSFileFilter(myFolder){
	var myFiles = new Array;
	var myFilteredFiles = new Array; 
	for(myExtensionCounter = 0; myExtensionCounter < myExtensions.length; myExtensionCounter++){ 
		myExtension = myExtensions[myExtensionCounter]; 
        myFiles = myFolder.getFiles("*"+ myExtension); 
		if(myFiles.length != 0){ 
			for(var myFileCounter = 0; myFileCounter < myFiles.length; myFileCounter++){ 
				myFilteredFiles.push(myFiles[myFileCounter]); 
			} 
		} 
	}	
	return myFilteredFiles;
}
function myMacOSFileFilter(myFolder){
	var myFilteredFiles = myFolder.getFiles(myFileFilter);
	return myFilteredFiles;
}
//Mac OS version of file filter
//Have to provide a separate version because not all Mac OS users use file extensions
//and/or file extensions are sometimes hidden by the Finder.
function myFileFilter(myFile){
	var myFileType = myFile.type;
	switch (myFileType){
		case "JPEG":
		case "EPSF":
		case "PICT":
		case "TIFF":
		case "8BPS":
		case "GIFf":
		case "PDF ":
			return true;
			break;
		default:
		for(var myCounter = 0; myCounter<myExtensions.length; myCounter++){
			var myExtension = myExtensions[myCounter]; 	
			if(myFile.name.indexOf(myExtension)>-1){
				return true;
				break;			
			}
		}
	}
	return false;	
}
function myDisplayDialog(myFiles, myFolder){ 
	var myLabelWidth = 112; 
	var myStyleNames = myGetParagraphStyleNames(app);
	var myLayerNames = ["Layer 1", "Labels"];
	var myDialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"Image Catalog"}); 
	with(myDialog.dialogColumns.add()){
		with(dialogRows.add()){ 
			staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Information:"}); 
		}
		with(borderPanels.add()){
			with(dialogColumns.add()){
				with(dialogRows.add()){ 
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Source Folder:", minWidth:myLabelWidth}); 
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:myFolder.path + "/" + myFolder.name}); 
				} 
				with(dialogRows.add()){ 
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Number of Images:", minWidth:myLabelWidth}); 
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:myFiles.length + ""}); 
				} 
			}
		}
		with(dialogRows.add()){ 
				staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Options:"}); 
		} 
		with(borderPanels.add()){
			with(dialogColumns.add()){
				with(dialogRows.add()){
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Number of Rows:", minWidth:myLabelWidth}); 
					var myNumberOfRowsField = integerEditboxes.add({editValue:3}); 
				} 
				with(dialogRows.add()){ 
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Number of Columns:", minWidth:myLabelWidth}); 
					var myNumberOfColumnsField = integerEditboxes.add({editValue:3}); 
				} 
				with(dialogRows.add()){ 
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Horizontal Offset:", minWidth:myLabelWidth}); 
					var myHorizontalOffsetField = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue:12, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points}); 
				} 
				with(dialogRows.add()){ 
					staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Vertical Offset:", minWidth:myLabelWidth}); 
					var myVerticalOffsetField = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue:24, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points}); 
				} 
				with (dialogRows.add()){
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Fitting:", minWidth:myLabelWidth}); 
					}
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						var myFitProportionalCheckbox = checkboxControls.add({staticLabel:"Proportional", checkedState:true});
						var myFitCenterContentCheckbox = checkboxControls.add({staticLabel:"Center Content", checkedState:true});
						var myFitFrameToContentCheckbox = checkboxControls.add({staticLabel:"Frame to Content", checkedState:true});
					}
				}
				with(dialogRows.add()){ 
						var myRemoveEmptyFramesCheckbox = checkboxControls.add({staticLabel:"Remove Empty Frames:", checkedState:true}); 
				}
			}
		}
		with(dialogRows.add()){ 
				staticTexts.add({staticLabel:""}); 
		} 
		var myLabelsGroup = enablingGroups.add({staticLabel:"Labels", checkedState:true});
		with (myLabelsGroup){
			with(dialogColumns.add()){
				//Label type
				with(dialogRows.add()){
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Label Type:", minWidth:myLabelWidth});
					}
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						var myLabelTypeDropdown = dropdowns.add({stringList:["File name", "File path", "XMP description", "XMP author"], selectedIndex:0});
					}
				}
				//Text frame height
				with(dialogRows.add()){
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Label Height:", minWidth:myLabelWidth});
					}
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						var myLabelHeightField = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue:24, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points});
					}
				}
				//Text frame offset
				with(dialogRows.add()){
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Label Offset:", minWidth:myLabelWidth});
					}
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						var myLabelOffsetField = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue:0, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points});
					}
				}
				//Style to apply
				with(dialogRows.add()){
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Label Style:", minWidth:myLabelWidth});
					}
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						var myLabelStyleDropdown = dropdowns.add({stringList:myStyleNames, selectedIndex:0});
					}
				}
				//Layer
				with(dialogRows.add()){
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Layer:", minWidth:myLabelWidth});
					}
					with(dialogColumns.add()){
						var myLayerDropdown = dropdowns.add({stringList:myLayerNames, selectedIndex:0});
					}
				}
			}
		}
        var myResult = myDialog.show(); 
        if(myResult == true){ 
			var myNumberOfRows = myNumberOfRowsField.editValue; 
			var myNumberOfColumns = myNumberOfColumnsField.editValue; 
			var myRemoveEmptyFrames = myRemoveEmptyFramesCheckbox.checkedState;
			var myFitProportional = myFitProportionalCheckbox.checkedState;
			var myFitCenterContent = myFitCenterContentCheckbox.checkedState;
			var myFitFrameToContent = myFitFrameToContentCheckbox.checkedState;
			var myHorizontalOffset = myHorizontalOffsetField.editValue;
			var myVerticalOffset = myVerticalOffsetField.editValue;
			var myMakeLabels = myLabelsGroup.checkedState;
			var myLabelType = myLabelTypeDropdown.selectedIndex;
			var myLabelHeight = myLabelHeightField.editValue;
			var myLabelOffset = myLabelOffsetField.editValue;
			var myLabelStyle = myStyleNames[myLabelStyleDropdown.selectedIndex];
			var myLayerName = myLayerNames[myLayerDropdown.selectedIndex];
			myDialog.destroy();
			myMakeImageCatalog(myFiles, myNumberOfRows, myNumberOfColumns, myRemoveEmptyFrames, myFitProportional, myFitCenterContent, myFitFrameToContent, myHorizontalOffset, myVerticalOffset, myMakeLabels, myLabelType, myLabelHeight, myLabelOffset, myLabelStyle,  myLayerName); 
        } 
		else{
			myDialog.destroy(); 
		}
	}
}
function myGetParagraphStyleNames(myDocument){
	var myStyleNames = new Array;
	var myAddLabelStyle = true;
	for(var myCounter = 0; myCounter < myDocument.paragraphStyles.length; myCounter++){
		myStyleNames.push(myDocument.paragraphStyles.item(myCounter).name);
		if (myDocument.paragraphStyles.item(myCounter).name == "Labels"){
			myAddLabelStyle = false;
		}
	}
	if(myAddLabelStyle == true){
		myStyleNames.push("Labels");
	}
	return myStyleNames;
}
function myMakeImageCatalog(myFiles, myNumberOfRows, myNumberOfColumns, myRemoveEmptyFrames, myFitProportional, myFitCenterContent, myFitFrameToContent, myHorizontalOffset, myVerticalOffset, myMakeLabels, myLabelType, myLabelHeight, myLabelOffset, myLabelStyle,  myLayerName){
	var myPage, myFile, myCounter, myX1, myY1, myX2, myY2, myRectangle, myLabelStyle, myLabelLayer; 
	var myParagraphStyle, myError;
	var myFramesPerPage = myNumberOfRows * myNumberOfColumns;  
	var myDocument = app.documents.add(); 
	myDocument.viewPreferences.horizontalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.points; 
	myDocument.viewPreferences.verticalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.points; 
	var myDocumentPreferences = myDocument.documentPreferences;  
	var myNumberOfFrames = myFiles.length; 
	var myNumberOfPages = Math.round(myNumberOfFrames / myFramesPerPage); 
	if ((myNumberOfPages * myFramesPerPage) < myNumberOfFrames){  
		myNumberOfPages++; 
	}
	//If myMakeLabels is true, then add the label style and layer if they do not already exist.
	if(myMakeLabels == true){
		try{
			myLabelLayer = myDocument.layers.item(myLayerName);
			//if the layer does not exist, trying to get the layer name will cause an error.
			myLabelLayer.name;
		}
		catch (myError){
			myLabelLayer = myDocument.layers.add({name:myLayerName}); 
		}
		//If the paragraph style does not exist, create it.
		try{
			myParagraphStyle = myDocument.paragraphStyles.item(myLabelStyle);
			myParagraphStyle.name;
		}
		catch(myError){
			myDocument.paragraphStyles.add({name:myLabelStyle});
		}
	}
	myDocumentPreferences.pagesPerDocument = myNumberOfPages;  
	myDocumentPreferences.facingPages = false;  
	var myPage = myDocument.pages.item(0);  
	var myMarginPreferences = myPage.marginPreferences; 
	var myLeftMargin = myMarginPreferences.left;  
	var myTopMargin = myMarginPreferences.top;  
	var myRightMargin = myMarginPreferences.right;  
	var myBottomMargin = myMarginPreferences.bottom;  
	var myLiveWidth = (myDocumentPreferences.pageWidth - (myLeftMargin + myRightMargin)) + myHorizontalOffset
	var myLiveHeight = myDocumentPreferences.pageHeight - (myTopMargin + myBottomMargin)
	var myColumnWidth = myLiveWidth / myNumberOfColumns
	var myFrameWidth = myColumnWidth - myHorizontalOffset
	var myRowHeight = (myLiveHeight / myNumberOfRows)
	var myFrameHeight = myRowHeight - myVerticalOffset
	var myPages = myDocument.pages;
	// Construct the frames in reverse order. Don't laugh--this will  
	// save us time later (when we place the graphics).  
	for (myCounter = myDocument.pages.length-1; myCounter >= 0; myCounter--){  
		myPage = myPages.item(myCounter); 
		for (var myRowCounter = myNumberOfRows; myRowCounter >= 1; myRowCounter--){  
			myY1 = myTopMargin + (myRowHeight * (myRowCounter-1));
			myY2 = myY1 + myFrameHeight;
			for (var myColumnCounter = myNumberOfColumns; myColumnCounter >= 1; myColumnCounter--){  
				myX1 = myLeftMargin + (myColumnWidth * (myColumnCounter-1));
				myX2 = myX1 + myFrameWidth;
				myRectangle = myPage.rectangles.add(myDocument.layers.item(-1), undefined, undefined, {geometricBounds:[myY1, myX1, myY2, myX2], strokeWeight:0, strokeColor:myDocument.swatches.item("None")});  
			} 
		}
	}
	// Because we constructed the frames in reverse order, rectangle 1  
	// is the first rectangle on page 1, so we can simply iterate through  
	// the rectangles, placing a file in each one in turn. myFiles = myFolder.Files;  
	for (myCounter = 0; myCounter < myNumberOfFrames; myCounter++){  
		myFile = myFiles[myCounter];  
		myRectangle = myDocument.rectangles.item(myCounter); 
		myRectangle.place(File(myFile)); 
		myRectangle.label = myFile.fsName.toString();
		//Apply fitting options as specified.
		if(myFitProportional){
			myRectangle.fit(FitOptions.proportionally); 
		}
		if(myFitCenterContent){
			myRectangle.fit(FitOptions.centerContent); 
		}
		if(myFitFrameToContent){
			myRectangle.fit(FitOptions.frameToContent); 
		}
		//Add the label, if necessary.
		if(myMakeLabels == true){ 
			myAddLabel(myRectangle, myLabelType, myLabelHeight, myLabelOffset, myLabelStyle, myLayerName);
		} 
	}
	if (myRemoveEmptyFrames == 1){  
		for (var myCounter = myDocument.rectangles.length-1; myCounter >= 0;myCounter--){  
			if (myDocument.rectangles.item(myCounter).contentType == ContentType.unassigned){ 
				myDocument.rectangles.item(myCounter).remove(); 
			}  
			else{ 
				//As soon as you encounter a rectangle with content, exit the loop. 
				break; 
			} 
		}
	}
}
//Function that adds the label.
function myAddLabel(myFrame, myLabelType, myLabelHeight, myLabelOffset, myLabelStyleName, myLayerName){
	var myDocument = app.documents.item(0);
	var myLabel;
	var myLabelStyle = myDocument.paragraphStyles.item(myLabelStyleName);
	var myLabelLayer = myDocument.layers.item(myLayerName);
	var myLink =myFrame.graphics.item(0).itemLink;
	//Label type defines the text that goes in the label.
	switch(myLabelType){
		//File name
		case 0:
			myLabel = myLink.name;
			break;
		//File path
		case 1:
			myLabel = myLink.filePath;
			break;
		//XMP description
		case 2:
			try{
				myLabel = myLink.linkXmp.description;
				if(myLabel.replace(/^\s*$/gi, "")==""){
					throw myError;
				}
			}
			catch(myError){
				myLabel = "No description available.";
			}
			break;
		//XMP author
		case 3:
			try{
				myLabel = myLink.linkXmp.author
				if(myLabel.replace(/^\s*$/gi, "")==""){
					throw myError;
				}
			}
			catch(myError){
				myLabel = "No author available.";
			}
			break;
	}
	var myX1 = myFrame.geometricBounds[1]; 
	var myY1 = myFrame.geometricBounds[2] + myLabelOffset; 
	var myX2 = myFrame.geometricBounds[3]; 
	var myY2 = myY1 + myLabelHeight;
	var myTextFrame = myFrame.parent.textFrames.add(myLabelLayer, undefined, undefined,{geometricBounds:[myY1, myX1, myY2, myX2], contents:myLabel}); 
	myTextFrame.textFramePreferences.firstBaselineOffset = FirstBaseline.leadingOffset; 
	myTextFrame.parentStory.texts.item(0).appliedParagraphStyle = myLabelStyle;				
}


// ADDED BY UWE LAUBENDER :

function sortFileNames( a,b )
{  
	// incoming a and b are files.
	// We need strings to compare, not files!
	
	a = a.name;
	b = b.name;
	
	// IDEA BY MARTIN FISCHER  FROM www.hilfdirselbst.ch
	// http://www.martinfischer.de/
	
	var myRegExp = new RegExp('^\\d+', ); 
	var aObj = {num: a.match(myRegExp) != null ? a.match(myRegExp)[0] : '_', string: a.replace(/^\d+/, '')}; 
	var bObj = {num: b.match(myRegExp) != null ? b.match(myRegExp)[0] : '_', string: b.replace(/^\d+/, '')}; 
	
	// a and b are fully numeric :
	if (aObj.string =='' && bObj.string == ''){ return a - b };
	
	// the numeric parts of a and b are equal :
	if (aObj.num == bObj.num ){ return aObj.string.toLowerCase() > bObj.string.toLowerCase() };
	
	// the numeric part of a is greater than the numeric part of b :
	if (aObj.num > bObj.num ){ return 1 }; 
};

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Hi Holly,

just tested the script code that I posted with InDesign 2020 on Windows 10.

No syntax error. The script ran fine.

Maybe you saved the script's code as formatted text to a script file?
That indeed will result in a syntax error.

How to save ExtendScript code, save as jsx script file and install the script file:

http://www.indiscripts.com/pages/help#hd0sb2

Because ExtendScript Toolkit app is not running anymore on the lastest OS X you have to use TextEdit app or a different text editor to save the code text as script file. Before pasting the code from the post make sure that you changed TextEdit's mode to text-only.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Hi Holly,

if the script that I posted back in 2018 is throwing a syntax error, it might be because the code was changed in the post through the moving of the thread to this new forum software. This is a pitty. Maybe I find the time to post it again.

What's the exact error message?

What kind of image file types are you working with?

What's your version of InDesign on what operating system?

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )