Copy link to clipboard
Copied
In the application folder of Illustrator, there are sample scripts that end in .jsx. I'd like to edit them. However, I can't open them in any of the usual script editors. For example, I just download an app off the applie store called BBBEdit. When I try to open the sample scripts with this program, the .jsx files are grayed out. why is this?
The files will be greyed because that the app doesn’t recognize their filename extensions. The scripts in Illustrator’s Scripting folder have read-only permissions so can be opened but not saved (at least, not without Admin permissions).
Adobe no longer supports ESTK, which is a 32-bit app that won’t run on macOS 10.15+. OP can use BBEdit if that’s what they’re familiar with; they just need to update its Language preferences to recognize ,jsx files. They can also put this crude but convenient Ap
...Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Try the forum for Illustrator.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Yea, after I posted this I wanted to remove it right away, but I can't figure out how.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
You may contact the moderator using the "Report" tool and send them a message to move this thread to the appropriate forum.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
From what I'm reading you should be able to open these type of files with any text editor, .
If they appear greyed could it be because of read-only attributes to the file(s)? In which case, maybe using administrator rights could lower the restrictions of folder that they reside in.
However, from reading other guidance outside of these forums, if you're actually trying to edit JavaScript XML code, use a source code editor which will aide you with the proper syntax and the formatting of the scripted file.
I would say to use the Adobe Extend Toolkit CC: https://www.adobe.com/products/extendscript-toolkit.htmlESTK
See if this discussion helps with what you're looking for: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/how-to-download-extendscript-toolkit-...
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
The files will be greyed because that the app doesn’t recognize their filename extensions. The scripts in Illustrator’s Scripting folder have read-only permissions so can be opened but not saved (at least, not without Admin permissions).
Adobe no longer supports ESTK, which is a 32-bit app that won’t run on macOS 10.15+. OP can use BBEdit if that’s what they’re familiar with; they just need to update its Language preferences to recognize ,jsx files. They can also put this crude but convenient AppleScript in its Scripts menu if they wish:
-- Run Script in Illustrator.scpt
-- run the front BBEdit window as JSX in Illustrator
tell application "BBEdit"
set txt to text of document 1
end tell
tell application "Adobe Illustrator"
activate
with timeout of 30 seconds
do javascript txt
end timeout
end tell
The big disadvantage of using BBEdit or other editor is no debugger support. That’s especially aggravating if a script gets stuck in an infinite loop. VSCode is not the most beautiful app (typical Electron), but it’s what Adobe supports now so depending on OP’s scripting ambitions they may be best with that.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
Thank you very much for clarifying. Rookie here.
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
MOVED TO THE ILLUSTRATOR FORUM
Copy link to clipboard
Copied
In BBEdit, go to Preferences > Languages and add 2 entries to the Custom filename extension mappings:
jsx ➞ JavaScript
jsxinc ➞ JavaScript
You might also consider using Visual Studio Code. Adobe provides an ExtendScript plugin that adds debugger support.