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rcraighead
rcraighead
Brainiac
September 17, 2021
Answered

[JS] Capture last 2 characters with: textRange or contents

  • September 17, 2021
  • 5 replies
  • 745 views

Something alludes me:
I want to capture a "range" of characters from a text frame as a variable (in this case I want the last 2 characters).

 

How do I do that using textRange and/or contents?

 

[ branched from Textranges vs TextSelection to Illustrator forum by moderator ]

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer pixxxelschubser

Here is the example:

 

// [JS] Capture last 2 characters with: textRange or contents
// https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/js-capture-last-2-characters-with-textrange-or-contents/m-p/12390176#M291706

// catch the last two characters with textRange
// select a textFrame before running this snippet
// regards pixxxelschubser

var howMany = 2; // here you can change the desired number of last characters

var chars = app.selection[0].textRange.characters;
var lastChars = chars[chars.length-howMany];
lastChars.length = howMany; // set the new textRange.length
alert(howMany+" last character(s): "+lastChars.contents);

 

 

But I prefer a different method:

 

// select a textFrame before running this snippet
var searchString = /(..)$/;
var aTF = app.selection[0];

var foundString = aTF.contents.match (searchString);
alert(foundString[0]);

 

 

If that works for you

have fun

😉

5 replies

pixxxelschubser
pixxxelschubser
Adobe Expert
September 22, 2021

@pixxxelschubser , I do have a followup question:

When I use the RegEx method it produces an array with 2 identical objects. I saved "foundString[0]" into its own variable. Why does this method created 2 instances of the same matched string?


By @rcraighead

 

Ouch!

This is an extremely extensive area with which one could fill many books. Depending on how the regular expression (Regex) is structured, one achieves completely different results. Only by using wildcards, flags, capturing and non-capturing groups you can exploit the possibilities of Regex.

 

In this case, @femkeblanco is absolutely right - the match command finds something, and an array is created with the entire find and the first (there is only one here) find (capturing group).

 

Here are some more basic possibilities that already significantly extend the example he gave. And this is only a small start ...

 

 

$.writeln( "Blue".match(/(B)lue/)[0] );  // Blue
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/(B)(l)(u)(e)/) );  // Blue,B,l,u,e
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/(B)(l)(u)(e)/)[0] );  // Blue
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/(B)(l)(u)(e)/)[4] );  // e
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/./g) );  // B,l,u,e
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/./g)[0] );  // B
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/./g)[3] );  // e
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/./) );  // B
$.writeln( "Blue".match(/.$/) );  // e

 

 

 

 

    rcraighead
    rcraigheadAuthor
    Brainiac
    September 20, 2021

    Thank you both! I wondered if RegEx was a better option. It does seem a little more direct.

      pixxxelschubser
      pixxxelschubserCorrect answer
      Adobe Expert
      September 18, 2021

      Here is the example:

       

      // [JS] Capture last 2 characters with: textRange or contents
// https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/js-capture-last-2-characters-with-textrange-or-contents/m-p/12390176#M291706

// catch the last two characters with textRange
// select a textFrame before running this snippet
// regards pixxxelschubser

var howMany = 2; // here you can change the desired number of last characters

var chars = app.selection[0].textRange.characters;
var lastChars = chars[chars.length-howMany];
lastChars.length = howMany; // set the new textRange.length
alert(howMany+" last character(s): "+lastChars.contents);

       

       

      But I prefer a different method:

       

      // select a textFrame before running this snippet
var searchString = /(..)$/;
var aTF = app.selection[0];

var foundString = aTF.contents.match (searchString);
alert(foundString[0]);

       

       

      If that works for you

      have fun

      😉

        rcraighead
        rcraigheadAuthor
        Brainiac
        September 22, 2021

        @pixxxelschubser , I do have a followup question:

        When I use the RegEx method it produces an array with 2 identical objects. I saved "foundString[0]" into its own variable. Why does this method created 2 instances of the same matched string?

        femkeblanco
        femkeblanco
        Brainiac
        September 22, 2021

        If I can make an unsolicited comment while you're waiting for a reply: Presuming one match, match() returns an array, in which the first element is the whole matched expression and the second element is a parenthesised subexpression (called a capturing group). If the whole expression is parenthesised, both elements will be the same.

         

        alert( "Blue".match(/(B)lue/)[0] );  // Blue
alert( "Blue".match(/(B)lue/)[1] );  // B

alert( "Blue".match(/(Blue)/)[0] );  // Blue
alert( "Blue".match(/(Blue)/)[1] );  // Blue

         

          pixxxelschubser
          pixxxelschubser
          Adobe Expert
          September 18, 2021

          Hi,

          you can use textRanges better --> change its length property.

           

          I will post an example later.

           

           

          femkeblanco
          femkeblanco
          Brainiac
          September 17, 2021

          One way:

          var textFrame1 = app.selection[0]
var length = textFrame1.textRanges.length;
var last = textFrame1.textRanges[length-1];
var beforeLast = textFrame1.textRanges[length-2];
alert( beforeLast.contents+last.contents );

           

          You can also use string functions on the contents. 

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