Placing a multiple page PDF into InDesign

How do I place the pdf with format Trimbox or whatever box, can I change this in the JavaScript?

Hi all,

I've had the same issue and have been using Zanelli's script in general which has been a lifesaver. Zanelli's script will place one PDF page per Indesign page. However I recently had a need to place a multiple paged PDF into a grid of pre-existing image frames. I want to do this sometimes when I'm putting an existing document into a "presentation" document for review. Placing PDFs is much faster than placing Indesign files by the way.

So I wrote an AppleScript that does this and I'd love to share it with you all for review. I also improved it by giving the option to place not just a multiple paged PDF into existing image frames but also a whole folder of images (which may also contain PDFs). If there aren't enough picture frames selected on the page to hold all the PDF pages or images in the folder, there is the option to let the script duplicate the original page and continue filling the boxes until all images or pages have been placed.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

Place multiple paged PDF into existing image frames – Dr Scripto

Regards,

David

Thank you soooo much !!! best explanation EVER

Works! Awesome advice GArshamA ! ©Adobe should notice your help ! I'm happy google ranked you high ! Tomer

This was AWESOME advice!!
Thank you!!
Jouna

This script works fine for me

//PlaceMultipagePDF.jsx

//An InDesign JavaScript

/* 

@@@BUILDINFO@@@ "PlaceMultipagePDF.jsx" 3.0.0 15 December 2009

*/

//Places all of the pages of a multi-page PDF.

//

main();

function main(){

  //Make certain that user interaction (display of dialogs, etc.) is turned on.

  app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.interactWithAll;

  //Display a standard Open File dialog box.

  var myPDFFile = File.openDialog("Choose a PDF File");

  if((myPDFFile != "")&&(myPDFFile != null)){

  var myDocument, myPage;

  if(app.documents.length != 0){

  var myTemp = myChooseDocument();

  myDocument = myTemp[0];

  myNewDocument = myTemp[1];

  }

  else{

  myDocument = app.documents.add();

  myNewDocument = false;

  }

  alert(myDocument.constructor.name);

  if(myNewDocument == false){

  myPage = myChoosePage(myDocument);

  }

  else{

  myPage = myDocument.pages.item(0);

  }

  myPlacePDF(myDocument, myPage, myPDFFile);

  }

}

function myChooseDocument(){

    var myDocumentNames = new Array;

    myDocumentNames.push("New Document");

    //Get the names of the documents

    for(var myDocumentCounter = 0;myDocumentCounter < app.documents.length; myDocumentCounter++){

        myDocumentNames.push(app.documents.item(myDocumentCounter).name);

    }

    var myChooseDocumentDialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"Choose a Document", canCancel:false});

    with(myChooseDocumentDialog.dialogColumns.add()){

        with(dialogRows.add()){

            with(dialogColumns.add()){

                staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Place PDF in:"});

            }

            with(dialogColumns.add()){

                var myChooseDocumentDropdown = dropdowns.add({stringList:myDocumentNames, selectedIndex:0});

            }

        }

    }

  var myResult = myChooseDocumentDialog.show();

  if(myResult == true){

  if(myChooseDocumentDropdown.selectedIndex == 0){

  myDocument = app.documents.add();

  myNewDocument = true;

  }

  else{

  myDocument = app.documents.item(myChooseDocumentDropdown.selectedIndex-1);

  myNewDocument = false;

  }

  myChooseDocumentDialog.destroy();

  }

  else{

  myDocument = "";

  myNewDocument = "";

  myChooseDocumentDialog.destroy();

  }

    return [myDocument, myNewDocument];

}

function myChoosePage(myDocument){

  alert(myDocument.name);

    var myPageNames = new Array;

    //Get the names of the pages in the document

    for(var myCounter = 0; myCounter < myDocument.pages.length;myCounter++){

        myPageNames.push(myDocument.pages.item(myCounter).name);

    }

    var myChoosePageDialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"Choose a Page", canCancel:false});

    with(myChoosePageDialog.dialogColumns.add()){

        with(dialogRows.add()){

            with(dialogColumns.add()){

                staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Place PDF on:"});

            }

            with(dialogColumns.add()){

                var myChoosePageDropdown = dropdowns.add({stringList:myPageNames, selectedIndex:0});

            }

        }

    }

    myChoosePageDialog.show();

    var myPage = myDocument.pages.item(myChoosePageDropdown.selectedIndex);

    myChoosePageDialog.destroy();

    return myPage;

}

function myPlacePDF(myDocument, myPage, myPDFFile){

  var myPDFPage;

  app.pdfPlacePreferences.pdfCrop = PDFCrop.cropMedia;

  var myCounter = 1;

  var myBreak = false;

  while(myBreak == false){

  if(myCounter > 1){

  myPage = myDocument.pages.add(LocationOptions.after, myPage);

  }

  app.pdfPlacePreferences.pageNumber = myCounter;

  myPDFPage = myPage.place(File(myPDFFile), [0,0])[0];

  if(myCounter == 1){

  var myFirstPage = myPDFPage.pdfAttributes.pageNumber;

  }

  else{

  if(myPDFPage.pdfAttributes.pageNumber == myFirstPage){

  myPage.remove();

  myBreak = true;

  }

  }

  myCounter = myCounter + 1;

  }

}

Hello Guys,

I've read this thread. The Zanelli's solution is quiet good for a document that have several pages, and for the user who want all this pages joined in a new indesign document and in separate pages. Furthermore, i've got a problem :

I’m under Indesign CS6. I’ve a made an indesign document called Master_file.ind composed of 50 blank pages. Each page contains 5 empty image blocs. I want to load a bunch of 500 .indd files (each file has just 1 page) in these 5 blocs in each page until all is done.
Do you know if there’s a script for that ? The Zanelli's script doesn't work for that.

Help welcome !
E’

FYI it works fine on ID version 11.3.0.34 on a mac running El Capitan 10.11.3.

I know it doesn't work on every PDF though, and the PDF that is being imported is usually to blame - anything from media boxes not set correctly, to inherent errors with the PDF when it was created (e.g. if it was created from a source other than a CC application).

I'm using Indesign CC 2015 and I'm unable to load the script. Am I missing something? Does it not work with CC?

To place multiple pages in Indesign effortlessly

Step 1: Go to file>>New>>Document, Fill in the number of pages and first page. (Do not mix up the number 

              of pages and the first page boxes). Also if you want single pages, uncheck the facing pages and   

               check the single page (make sure only one of these is checked)

Step 2: From Window (on the Tools Bar) go to Utilities>>Scripts

Step 3: In the appearing panel,Click Applications> then scripts>>then javascripts.

Step 4: Under javascripts scroll down to "placemultiplePDFpages and double-click it.

Step 5: In the appearing "choose File box" search for the pdf you want to place in Indesign and clck open.   

            You will see a message"place pdf in new document. Click OK, Followed by another OK( message

             Indesign document) and relax to enjoy watching the placement being done for you automatically. 

             You do not have even have to touch the mouse.