How can I insert specified text at the current cursor position using a script in Illustrator?

[Aprking]

Hello everyone, I would like to ask a simple technical question about scripting in Illustrator. How can I insert specified text at the current cursor position using a script in Illustrator? Alternatively, when using the Type tool to select a portion of text, how can I use a script to replace that text with specified text?

Thank you!

[m1b]

Hi @Aprking, I don't know the answer to the first question. I don't think we have access to mouse events via scripting. It may be possible via an elaborate (and hacky) use of Script UI, but I wouldn't get my hopes up. I think you'll need SDK for that one.

As for the second question, you can do something like this:

(function () {

    var myContents = 'Replacement Text';

    var doc = app.activeDocument,
        item = doc.selection;

    if ('TextRange' !== item.constructor.name)
        return alert('Please select some text and try again.');

    item.contents = myContents;
    item.select(true);

})();

- Mark

[Aprking]

Thank you very much to @m1b  for the help, the problem has been resolved

[Aprking]

@m1b

I added two lines to the script to change item.name:

javascriptCopy Code

var newName = 'New Text Box Name'; 
item.name = newName;

However, it didn't work because the text box is not in a selected state. What are some good ways to solve this problem? Thank you!

[m1b]

Hi @Aprking, it doesn't matter what is selected. Remember that `item` is a TextRange, not a TextFrame (in my code I should have called it `textRange`, not `item` since I knew it was going to be a textRange).

To get the textRange's container takes a little extra work. See below.

- Mark

(function () {

    var myContents = 'Replacement Text';

    var doc = app.activeDocument,
        textRange = doc.selection;

    if ('TextRange' !== textRange.constructor.name)
        return alert('Please select some text and try again.');

    textRange.contents = myContents;
    textRange.select(true);

    var textFrame = getTextFrame(textRange);

    if (textFrame)
        textFrame.name = 'New Name';

})();

/**
 * Returns the TextFrame containing the given textRange
 * @author m1b
 * @version 2024-10-15
 * @param {TextRange} textRange - the target textRange.
 * @returns {TextFrame?}
 */
function getTextFrame(textRange) {

    var story = textRange.parent;
    var textFrames = story.textFrames;

    for (var i = 0, textFrame, frameText; i < textFrames.length; i++) {

        textFrame = textFrames[i];

        // get the TextRange of the current TextFrame
        var frameText = textFrame.textRange;

        // compare the character offset of the TextRange within the frame
        if (
            textRange.start >= frameText.start
            && textRange.end <= frameText.end
        )
            return textFrame;

    };

};

[Aprking]

@m1b Thank you once again. You and Bob are just like Doraemon.

[m1b]

😝 なんとかなるさ

[Kurt Gold]

There are very good text expander applications for both Mac and Windows OS (e.g. aText or Beeftext). Mac OS even has a built-in snippet tool.

Probably more convenient than a script.