Create a txt file in Extendscript

[Itay Assouline]

Hey!

im trying to create a script that creates a txt file but i can't do that...

that is the function code:

var scriptFolderPath = File($.fileName).path; // the URI of the folder that contains the script file  
var TimerFolderPath = scriptFolderPath + encodeURI("/ProjectTimers_sources"); // the URI of the folder for your script resources  
StartButton.onClick = function(){ 
var JFile = new File(TimerFolderPath + encodeURI("/File.txt"));
var content="That is a text file";
File.write(content);
alert("File created!");
}

and it doesn't creates any file...

[Mathias Moehl]

JFile.write(content); 

instead of

File.write(content); 

?

[Itay Assouline]

haha...

didn't see that.

but, the file is not being created yet...

[Tomas Sinkunas · Accepted solution]

Give this one a shot.

First you better check if you have permissions to Write Files and Access Network.

Next, you probably need to open fine before writing to it.

var scriptFolderPath = File($.fileName).path; // the URI of the folder that contains the script file    
var TimerFolderPath = scriptFolderPath + encodeURI("/ProjectTimers_sources"); // the URI of the folder for your script resources    
StartButton.onClick = function() {
    var JFile = new File(TimerFolderPath + encodeURI("/File.txt"));
    var content = "That is a text file";
    if (!canWriteFiles()) return null;
    writeFile(JFile, content);
    // File.write(content);
    alert("File created!");
};
function writeFile(fileObj, fileContent, encoding) {
    encoding = encoding || "utf-8";
    fileObj = (fileObj instanceof File) ? fileObj : new File(fileObj);
    var parentFolder = fileObj.parent;
    if (!parentFolder.exists && !parentFolder.create())
        throw new Error("Cannot create file in path " + fileObj.fsName);
    fileObj.encoding = encoding;
    fileObj.open("w");
    fileObj.write(fileContent);
    fileObj.close();
    return fileObj;
}
function canWriteFiles() {
    if (isSecurityPrefSet()) return true;
    alert(script.name + " requires access to write files.\n" +
        "Go to the \"General\" panel of the application preferences and make sure " +
        "\"Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network\" is checked.");
    app.executeCommand(2359);
    return isSecurityPrefSet();
    function isSecurityPrefSet() {
        return app.preferences.getPrefAsLong(
            "Main Pref Section",
            "Pref_SCRIPTING_FILE_NETWORK_SECURITY"
        ) === 1;
    }
}

[Itay Assouline]

It is working!

thanks

i have another question.

i want to create an if statement that checks if the file already exists. how can i do that?

for example:

if(***the text file we have created exists***) {

bla bla

}

[Tomas Sinkunas]

if (File("pathToFile.extension").exists) {
    // file exists
}

[Itay Assouline]

Not working...

var p=app.project;
var projTLayersFound=[];
var projTextName = "this project";
//get project name:
var projName = p.file.name.replace(/%20/g, "");
var didNotFindOne = true;
///Other
if (File(TimerFolderPath + encodeURI("/" + projName + ".txt")).exist) {
alert("if");
  } else {
   StartButton.onClick = function() { 
    var TimerFile = new File(TimerFolderPath + encodeURI("/" + projName + ".txt")); 
    var content = "That is a text file"; 
    if (!canWriteFiles()) return null; 
    writeFile(TimerFile, content); 
    // File.write(content); 
  alert(projName);
    alert("File created!"); 
}; 
}

[Tomas Sinkunas]

Apologies, I had a typo in code: it should have been File().exists and not File().exist

[Itay Assouline]

Worked! thanks

[theodorm34189694]

If I call the function

 app.preferences.getPrefAsLong(  
            "Main Pref Section",  
            "Pref_SCRIPTING_FILE_NETWORK_SECURITY"  
        );

in Illustrator 2018 22.1, I get the error message "app.preferences.getPrefAsLong is not a function". Is this function deprecated?

[Dave Merchant]

theodorm34189694  wrote

If I call the function

in Illustrator 2018 22.1 ....

You're responding to a topic in AFTER EFFECTS scripting. There's your clue.

[theodorm34189694]

Thanks for the hint... I really need to brush up my reading skills