Update the linked PDFs page with JSX script

Question

I’m writing an InDesign script using JSX. I want to loop through all frames and check if they have specific script labels set, which I then want to use to change the page of the linked PDF file. I can do all the steps outside the last one.

How to use a JSX script to update a frame’s linked PDF’s page?

var allframes = app.activeDocument.allPageItems;

for (i = 0; i < allframes.length; i++) {
    // Pseudo code of the part I need help with:
    allframes[i].updateImportedPage(4)
}

samil40909655 · Accepted Answer

Thank you for your answer. However, the pageNumber is a read only property. I had to place the PDF again to circumvent this.

// Original PDF file
var file = graphic.itemLink.filePath;

//Set placement preference (ie. the )
app.pdfPlacePreferences.pageNumber = newPage;

// Replace the PDF file with new page
graphic.parent.place(File(file));

Eugene Tyson · Answer

I don’t think (or I haven’t found it) that InDesign exposes updateImportedPage() on page items. I think in placed PDFs, the page number is controlled through the PDF attributes of the graphic inside the frame, not the frame itself.

So what I have seen in other scripts:

Check the frame contains a placed PDF
Access the graphic inside the frame
Modify its pdfAttributes.pageNumber
Then reassign or relink if needed (usually not necessary)

For example:

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var allItems = doc.allPageItems;

for (var i = 0; i < allItems.length; i++) {
    var item = allItems[i];

    // Check it’s a rectangle/image frame with a graphic
    if (item.graphics && item.graphics.length > 0) {
        var graphic = item.graphics[0];

        // Check it's a placed PDF
        if (graphic.constructor.name === "PDF") {

            // Optional: check for your script label
            if (item.label === "yourLabelHere") {

                try {
                    // Change the page number
                    graphic.pdfAttributes.pageNumber = 4;

                } catch (e) {
                    $.writeln("Error on item " + i + ": " + e);
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

item.graphics[0] is the actual placed asset.
pdfAttributes.pageNumber is the property you need.

This works without relinking InDesign updates the display automatically.
If nothing happens, the PDF might not actually be a PDF object (e.g. EPS or AI), so log graphic.constructor.name to confirm.

If you want to drive page numbers dynamically (e.g. from the label) the something like the below:

var targetPage = parseInt(item.label, 10);
if (!isNaN(targetPage)) {
    graphic.pdfAttributes.pageNumber = targetPage;
}

If your labels are more complex (like page=4), you’ll need to parse that string before applying it.

If this still doesn’t update in your case, it’s usually because the link is cached, in that scenario, forcing a relink with the same file can help, but in most cases the property change alone is sufficient.

I’ve a few PDF relinking scripts I’ve done myself. And help from a few scripters over the years to improve them. Happy to share those relink scripts.

One I have is to import the PDF and choose the bounding box before placing - then places it centered on the page and changes the blend mode - it can do 1 or more pages.

And the other is to simply update the placed pdf if it’s Page 1 - it switches it to Page 2.
Happy to share if you think they’ll be of use.

And there is this https://creativepro.com/script-show-options-files/

Might help you disect some scripting logic.

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