Where do I start?

[_fray_]

I am new to this scripting thing. I found some code here (adding filenames to keywords) but I cannot get it to work. I have pasted it into TextEdit and Text Wrangler saving as text files with .js and .jsx extensions but it hasn't worked. (Brige CS4 recognizes it being added but it doesn't show up in the right-click menu or anywhere else I can look.)
Is there a 'start here' topic/section/link?

Thanks.

[_michel_Duijvestijn_]

Did you find the ExtendScript Toolkit allready? It should be at the Adobe Utilities folder somewhere. You can find several 'getting started' with scripting in your adobe directory as well as at the adobe site. Look for JavaScript Tools Guide CS3.pdf (for information about using the ExtendScript toolkit); Adobe Intro to Scripting.pdf (general introduction to scripting); Bridge CS3 JavaScript Guide.pdf (about scripting in Bridge) and Bridge CS3 JavaScript Reference.pdf (the reference guide). There will be CS4 versions of these as well.

[sam452sam452]

As someone also who is looking to extend Bridge, etc with javascript, this was helpful.

However, the latter two do not yield on my default installs of CS3, or 4. I will hunt for them on the web.

My Q is this: As an Applescripter, should I purchase the "Adobe Bridge Official JavaScript Reference" which covers CS2 to get me into the javascript mindset vis a vis Bridge?

I'm wanting to interact with Adobe Drive much like I do with the Mac Finder and automate moving pdfs created by team members into the specific job folders determined by parsing out the job number of the file with the matching job number of the project file in Adobe Drive.

I'm trying to grasp what I can do to Bridge and its limits by checking the forums here. Is there a posting I should pay special attention? thanx, sam

[Paul Riggott]

The Adobe Bridge CS4 JavaScript Reference can be found in the SDK that can be downloaded from here..

http://www.adobe.com/devnet/bridge/

[adamghering]

Ok I have been reading the Adobe Intro to Scripting. But all of the examples don't work. I cut and past them into the extend script toolkit and hit f5 (run) and nothing happens. I have also tried to open several of the adobe programs and run the script form inside and nothing . I only get errors.  Whats up with that. I have scripted a bit before. am I missing something or is this just the worst scripting reference ever? example.

var myDoc = app.documents.add()
myDoc.layers.add()

thats an example script straight out of the Intro to scripting reference. untouched...all I get are errors. here is another

var myDoc = app.documents.add()
var myLayer = myDoc.layers.add()
var myTextFrame = myLayer.textFrames.add()
myTextFrame.contents = Hello world!

again only errors

and then, like they are taunting me, they make statements like this.

"Referring to the current or active object
When you ran your first script and created a new document, the application opened, and then it created a
document."

NO!  It didn't opend! and no! it did not create a document. and no layers were created.

I know it is something small and rediculous especially to those that are familiar with all of this. I am just saying ...if there is something missing from the examples given...a step, a word, then it isn't given with the examples and all it causes is frustration.

any help?

[Muppet Mark]

Adam, are you testing the example script in ExtendToolKit? The example script looks like Adobe Illustrator's objects to me. You need to set to target application in the top left of the toolkit window to the app in which you want to test the code. You can also add the target as part of your script code like so:

#target illustrator

var myDoc = app.documents.add()

var myLayer = myDoc.layers.add()

var myTextFrame = myLayer.textFrames.add()

myTextFrame.contents = 'Hello world!';

// End code

If the sample was unedited then its NOT very good at all as the string "Hello world!" should have been quoted with either double or single quotes. Putting the correct target as shown will have the toolkit automatically switch when you test run.

#target photoshop

var myDoc = app.documents.add()

// End code

#target indesign

var myDoc = app.documents.add()

// End code

[adamghering]

Thanks man...thats exactly what I am talking about. If that step is necessary then they should notate it in the pdf. Something like that is so crucial and so defeating to someone who maybe just starting out.

cheers,