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Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 10, 2022
Answered

Help with GREP syntax in FindChangeByList script

  • December 10, 2022
  • 8 replies
  • 842 views

Hi InDesign Friends:

 

Within a FindChangeByList script, I'm trying to target the paragraphs styled with Subhead 2 (A, B) that may have italics assigned via a character style called Italic. And I want to change the Italic character style within the Subhead 2 (A, B)s to a character style called Bold Italic.

 

This is what I have, but it's not working:

grep {appliedParagraphStyle:"Subhead 2 (A, B)", appliedCharacterStyle:"Italic"} {appliedCharacterStyle:"Bold Italic"} {includeFootnotes:true, includeMasterPages:true, includeHiddenLayers:true, wholeWord:false}
 
Subhead 2 (A, B) is in a style group called Subheads. 
  • Do I need to reference the group and the style name?
  • Or are the parentheses in the style name an issue?
  • Or am just entirely off track?
 
Thanks in advance, 
~Barb

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Manan Joshi

Hi @Barb Binder,

Based on our older discussion on how to access styles from folders in FindChangeByList, link given below

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/findchangebylist-apply-a-paragraph-tag-that-resides-in-a-folder/td-p/10139539

The following string worked for me

 

grep	{appliedParagraphStyle:app.doScript('function getStyle(){var ps = app.activeDocument.allParagraphStyles;for(var i = 0; i < ps.length; i++){if( ps[i].name == "Subhead 2 (A, B)" ) return ps[i]}}getStyle()', ScriptLanguage.javascript), appliedCharacterStyle:"Italic"}	{appliedCharacterStyle:"Bold Italic"}	{includeFootnotes:true, includeMasterPages:true, includeHiddenLayers:true, wholeWord:false}

 

Change the spaces to tabs, you know the drill by now. Let me know if you see any issues

P.S.:- This searches for the style irrespective of whether its in a group or not. The search is not robust to check that the style path i.e. folder and name both matches. This string should suffice in cases where the style is uniquely named in the document. If you need more robust search that can also be done, let me know if that is needed.

-Manan

8 replies

Barb Binder
Community Expert
Barb BinderCommunity ExpertAuthor
Community Expert
December 12, 2022

Hi @Manan Joshi:

 

When it wasn't an easy answer, I suspected it would eventually come down to you and me again, it took all my willpower not to tag you! 😂

 

So thank you for this. You are right, of course, that this syntax does appear further down my FCBL text file—it's been growing over the years and I was basing this a simpler query. I didn't even look down at the bottom of the file or maybe I would have had a chance. I am going to add some notes so that maybe, just maybe, I can do this on my own someday.

 

So once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I learn a little more each time we chat, but boy do I have a long way to go!

 

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
Mike Witherell
Community Expert
Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 12, 2022

Hey Barb, I recently started using this:

http://kasyan.ho.ua/indesign/text/record_find_change/record_find_change.html

Thought I would mention it in case it helps.

Mike Witherell
    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity ExpertAuthor
    Community Expert
    December 12, 2022

    Wow, Mike, looks great. But I'm afraid @Manan Joshi would miss me! 😂 Just in case he's ready to be done with me, though, I downloaded it. Thanks!

     

    ~Barb

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    M
    Community Expert
    Manan JoshiCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    December 12, 2022

    Hi @Barb Binder,

    Based on our older discussion on how to access styles from folders in FindChangeByList, link given below

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/findchangebylist-apply-a-paragraph-tag-that-resides-in-a-folder/td-p/10139539

    The following string worked for me

     

    grep	{appliedParagraphStyle:app.doScript('function getStyle(){var ps = app.activeDocument.allParagraphStyles;for(var i = 0; i < ps.length; i++){if( ps[i].name == "Subhead 2 (A, B)" ) return ps[i]}}getStyle()', ScriptLanguage.javascript), appliedCharacterStyle:"Italic"}	{appliedCharacterStyle:"Bold Italic"}	{includeFootnotes:true, includeMasterPages:true, includeHiddenLayers:true, wholeWord:false}

     

    Change the spaces to tabs, you know the drill by now. Let me know if you see any issues

    P.S.:- This searches for the style irrespective of whether its in a group or not. The search is not robust to check that the style path i.e. folder and name both matches. This string should suffice in cases where the style is uniquely named in the document. If you need more robust search that can also be done, let me know if that is needed.

    -Manan

    -Manan
      Barb Binder
      Community Expert
      Barb BinderCommunity ExpertAuthor
      Community Expert
      December 11, 2022

      Robert, does all of that follow GREP { in the FCBL script? It's still not working for me and I'm out of my depth to troubleshoot it.

       

      I can always run 1 F/C after the script. This works as expected. I had some downtime and was trying to get it into the FCBL script.

       

      ~Barb

       

      ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      Barb Binder
      Community Expert
      Barb BinderCommunity ExpertAuthor
      Community Expert
      December 11, 2022

      Hi Robert, thank you for trying to help. I'm away from my computer until tomorrow. I'll be back once I have time to test this out. 

      ~Barb

      ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      December 10, 2022

      https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/findchangebylist-script/td-p/1868007/page/2

       

      Kasyan's reply:

       

      I tested the syntax and it works:

       

      appliedParagraphStyle:app.activeDocument.paragraphStyleGroups.item("Style Group 1"). paragraphStyles.item("Endnotes Head")

       

      just write the name of your style group instead of "Style Group 1"

       

        Barb Binder
        Community Expert
        Barb BinderCommunity ExpertAuthor
        Community Expert
        December 10, 2022

        Again, thank you, @Peter Spier. I've double-checked the spelling. Maybe the group name needs to be added?

         

        ~Barb

        ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
        Peter Spier
        Community Expert
        Peter SpierCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        December 10, 2022

        I'm not sure you can use the script to access styles in folders.

        We need to hear from someone more expert than I.

          Barb Binder
          Community Expert
          Barb BinderCommunity ExpertAuthor
          Community Expert
          December 10, 2022

          Thank you @Peter Spier. I tried that earlier but assuming user error I tried it again, but still not working:

          grep	{appliedParagraphStyle:"Subhead 2 \(A, B\)", appliedCharacterStyle:"Italic"}	{appliedCharacterStyle:"Bold Italic"}	{includeFootnotes:true, includeMasterPages:true, includeHiddenLayers:true, wholeWord:false}

           

          ~Barb

          ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
          Peter Spier
          Community Expert
          Peter SpierCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          December 10, 2022

          Sure there's a space in Subhead 2?

            Peter Spier
            Community Expert
            Peter SpierCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            December 10, 2022

            I think you'll need to "escape" the parentheses (add a \before each one).

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