Automatically remove underline when text intersects.

[Mitsjol]

Is it possible to automatically remove the underline when text intersects?

I now have to do it by hand, but it would make my job a lot easier if it was done automatically.

[marliton]

Hi. Those underline are a text property or is a line that you drew?

[Mitsjol]

It's a text property.

[marliton]

I think is not possible without break the text, but maybe some else has the solution.

[chrisl41501719]

I hate to say it but I put background colored boxes over the areas not underlined. I don't know an easy or quick workaround though.

This seems like it is easy IF you know the trick, anyone?

[Myra Ferguson]

You could use GREP in InDesign to set the text there and copy/paste it back into Illustrator if you don't complete the design in InDesign. There are a few ways to do that. Here are a couple of links to GREP solutions in InDesign for the underline https://indesignsecrets.com/breaking-underlines-descenders.php, https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/78656/practically-making-interrupted-underlines-th.... If you need help with GREP, you can post questions in the InDesign forum. 

Another idea would be to create your own font with custom underlining in something like Fontself.

[rcraighead]

You could just turn OFF the "Underline" character attribute for characters with decenders. This could probably be scripted.

Edit Oct. 30:
I've updated the Javascript to include test for selection and an alert to "Select a text object". On the "var decender" line 2 array entries are commented out. They are "space" and "tab" characters. If you want to include them remove the first "];//" from the line.

var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
    if (aDoc.selection.length > 0){
        aDoc.selection[0].textRange.characterAttributes.underline = true;
          test();
          } else {
              alert ("Please select a text object.");
              }
         
  function test() {
    var t = aDoc.selection[0],
      thisChar;
    var decender = ['g', 'y', 'µ', '(', ')', ';', '[', ']', ',', 'q', '|'];//, ' ', '	']; //add decender characters to this array
    var x = decender.length; //number of dicenders in the array
    for (var i = 0; i < t.characters.length; i++) {
      thisChar = t.characters[i];//loop through all characters in selection
      for (var ii = 0; ii < x; ii++)
      if (thisChar.contents == decender[ii]){
        thisChar.characterAttributes.underline = false; //if it's a decender subtract underline
      }
    }
  }

Edit: Updated script to first underline selection then skip decenders. Also added a downloadable .jsx you can put in your scripts folder. https://www.dropbox.com/s/vegxuic3j0blb2b/underline_skip_decenders.jsx?dl=0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBqUJNZTbPU

[CarlosCanto]

Wow, look at you Ray! I'm impressed, great job!

[rcraighead]

@CarlosCanto,

That's because of all the help (and free scripts) you've given me over the years. Some of it is finally rubbing off. I'm sure I built this from one you, or one of the other scripting gurus provided! Thanks for all the help.

[Mitsjol]

That's awesome! I will give this a try.

Thank you!