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J
jakobt95792637
Participating Frequently
October 25, 2016
Answered

Coloring map from data sheet like excel

  • October 25, 2016
  • 8 replies
  • 4458 views

Hello

Is there a way to color a map from data sheet like excel? I'm thinking of splitting a country into regions and bind the paths to a variable that can be change by importing a data sheet.

Has anyone here got experience with this?

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Silly-V

Hmm - I think Mac way of handling the data is destroying it. So I have included a couple of extra data sheets. One specific for MS and one for Mac. Hope one of the is usable: regions_map - Google Drive

I haven't specified any particular color swatch for the different values. I have just giving them a number and the idea is that the number has a corresponding swatch by the same name. If that is overly complicated I'll be glad to submit some color values for each name.


Okay, try this script.

It will only work on the kind of CSV files you supply- which are semi-colon delimited.

#target illustrator
function test(){
  function readSemicolonCSV(filePath){
    var f = File(filePath);
    if(!f.exists){
      alert(f + " is not found.");
      return false;
    }
    var str = "";
    f.open("r");
    str = f.read();
    f.close();
    return str;
  }
  function getCells(str){
    var rows = str.split(/[\n\r]/g);
    for(var i=0; i<rows.length; i++){
      rows = rows.split(/;/g);
    };
    return rows;
  }
  function applyColorSettingsRow(regionName, colorName){
    var doc = app.activeDocument, thisRegionShape, thisColor;
    try{
      thisRegionShape = doc.layers.getByName(regionName).pathItems[0];
      thisColor = doc.swatches.getByName(colorName);
      thisRegionShape.fillColor = thisColor.color;
    } catch(e) {
      $.writeln("Region: " + regionName + "\tColor: " + colorName + "\r" + e + "\n\n");
    }
  }
  if(app.documents.length == 0){
    alert("No open documents detected.");
    return;
  }
  var csvFile = File.openDialog("Open CSV File", "*.csv");
  if(!csvFile){
    alert("No file chosen");
    return;
  }
  var data = getCells(readSemicolonCSV(csvFile));
  var doc = app.activeDocument;
  for(var i=1; i<data.length; i++){
    applyColorSettingsRow(data[0], data[1]);
  };
};
test();

8 replies

M
mdupras
Participating Frequently
April 10, 2020

I attempted to use the solution posted by Silly-V but keep running into an error.

 

The particulars: I have a map of NY state, with each county an object on a separate sublayer of a layer group; the layer group is a date. I want to color the counties by the number of cases of coronavirus on that date. Eventually there will be about 40 date layer groups, and they'll be imported into Premiere to create a timeline video of the spread in NY.

 

My CSV file has the name of the county (regionName) and name of a color (colorName) which aligns to a color name in my palette, and the file is delimited by semicolons per the script instructions. I keep getting this error when I run the script:

 

 

Error 24: rows.split is not a function.
Line: 18
->  rows = rows.split(/;/g);

 

 

Perhaps the issue is because I'm using sublayers? Any advice is appreciated!

E
eShirtLabs
Participant
March 23, 2022

Same error, but on Line: 35

Error 24: row.split is not a function.

Line: 35

->    rows=rows.split(/;/g);

 

 

J
jakobt95792637Author
Participating Frequently
November 4, 2016

By golly it seems to be working!

You're are genius Silly-V.

Check out this vid.


ColorMap.mov - Google Drive

    Disposition_Dev
    Disposition_Dev
    Legend
    November 4, 2016

    awesome! glad it's working out for you. thanks, Silly!

      Loic.Aigon
      Loic.Aigon
      Legend
      October 26, 2016

      I understand better the previous comments. I was certain to be in the indesign scripting forum and didn't notice it was the illustrator one I still think it's a great tool but indeed dedicated to InDesign.

        J
        jakobt95792637Author
        Participating Frequently
        October 26, 2016

        Here are the for files for download: a csv fil and an illustrator CS6.

        They are part of a bigger map. I have added each region to a seperate layer.

        Hopefully some of you guys will give it a go at creating a script.

        regions_map - Google Drive

        Silly-V
        Silly-V
        Legend
        October 26, 2016

        Your CSV file appears to be semi-colon delimited, and the characters apparently do not make it across into my MS Excel.

        Those issues aside, how do the corresponding numbers relate to colors within an Illustrator document?

        Silly-V
        Silly-VCorrect answer
        Legend
        November 1, 2016

        Hmm - I think Mac way of handling the data is destroying it. So I have included a couple of extra data sheets. One specific for MS and one for Mac. Hope one of the is usable: regions_map - Google Drive

        I haven't specified any particular color swatch for the different values. I have just giving them a number and the idea is that the number has a corresponding swatch by the same name. If that is overly complicated I'll be glad to submit some color values for each name.


        Okay, try this script.

        It will only work on the kind of CSV files you supply- which are semi-colon delimited.

        #target illustrator
        function test(){
          function readSemicolonCSV(filePath){
            var f = File(filePath);
            if(!f.exists){
              alert(f + " is not found.");
              return false;
            }
            var str = "";
            f.open("r");
            str = f.read();
            f.close();
            return str;
          }
          function getCells(str){
            var rows = str.split(/[\n\r]/g);
            for(var i=0; i<rows.length; i++){
              rows = rows.split(/;/g);
            };
            return rows;
          }
          function applyColorSettingsRow(regionName, colorName){
            var doc = app.activeDocument, thisRegionShape, thisColor;
            try{
              thisRegionShape = doc.layers.getByName(regionName).pathItems[0];
              thisColor = doc.swatches.getByName(colorName);
              thisRegionShape.fillColor = thisColor.color;
            } catch(e) {
              $.writeln("Region: " + regionName + "\tColor: " + colorName + "\r" + e + "\n\n");
            }
          }
          if(app.documents.length == 0){
            alert("No open documents detected.");
            return;
          }
          var csvFile = File.openDialog("Open CSV File", "*.csv");
          if(!csvFile){
            alert("No file chosen");
            return;
          }
          var data = getCells(readSemicolonCSV(csvFile));
          var doc = app.activeDocument;
          for(var i=1; i<data.length; i++){
            applyColorSettingsRow(data[0], data[1]);
          };
        };
        test();
          Loic.Aigon
          Loic.Aigon
          Legend
          October 25, 2016

          Don't worry. I didn't take any offense and I can't agree more your points. I was mostly pointing an alternative solution

            Loic.Aigon
            Loic.Aigon
            Legend
            October 25, 2016

            From my experience, the ROI on this product is worth ten times the initial investment

              Disposition_Dev
              Disposition_Dev
              Legend
              October 25, 2016

              I don't disagree at all. Unfortunately, in my experience with clients, ROI is an afterthought to initial investment.

              Though i think it's important to note that ROI is heavily dependent upon the future needs of this functionality. It is roughly proportional to the frequency with which the user needs the same functionality in the future. If you only need it for a one off project that you don't expect to repeat later, then the ROI could easily be negative.

              I don't think Silly was trying to shame you for suggesting that as a solution at all. Just pointing out a very important piece of information necessary to making the decision to use that software.

              Silly-V
              Silly-V
              Legend
              October 25, 2016

              Yea. Show us what the CSV and document looks like.

              Loic.Aigon
              Loic.Aigon
              Legend
              October 25, 2016

              EasyCatalog is an alternative also. You can apply object styles based on a dynamic value. Always up to date. No need of scripting nor converting excel to csv.

              Loic

              Silly-V
              Silly-V
              Legend
              October 25, 2016

              That looks like it's a $1300 plugin for Indesign.

              Disposition_Dev
              Disposition_Dev
              Legend
              October 25, 2016

              Do you have any example files you can share? The data can be faked if it's sensitive, we just need a look at format.

              I'll give you a quick rundown so you can see what's involved.

              the excel sheet has to be saved as a CSV, unless you know how to parse all the gibberish out of an excel file.

              you'll have a sort of "template" file that you use. that will be your map that is split into regions with each region named something unique or at least put onto it's own (uniquiely named) layer so it's accessible.

              using javascript you open and read the CSV file and save the contents to a variable.

              split the CSV by \n and loop the resulting arrays to pull out the individual data and spit it out on each region of the map accordingly.

              Do you have any scripting experience?

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