Learning Javascript

[michael_mandahl]

I am new to scripting but I would like to learn more. I have an account on Lynda.com, I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with Lynda.com's tutorials and which one's I should take. I was going to take the Javascript essential training, but I noticed that the training is centered around browsers.

If I learn javascript that is specific to html and browsers will that help me with scripting for Illustrator?

thanks!

[CarlosCanto]

yes, it will help, actually Adobe assumes you already know Javascript, they don't mention any of the basics of the language in their documentation, they go right into explaining how to use the different Illustrator Objects.

and that's the actual way to go, learn JS somewhere else, then when you're comfortable with the core language, move into the Illustrator Documentation.

[michael_mandahl]

Thanks Carlos, up until now, all I have been able to do is go through other scripts and make minor tweaks. Hopefully some day I will be able to write my own scripts so I can automate my work.

[CarlosCanto]

that's how we all started...

[W_J_T]

CarlosCanto wrote:

... actually Adobe assumes ...

It's an endless list we could apply that statement to.

CarlosCanto wrote:

learn JS somewhere else, then when you're comfortable with the core language, move into the Illustrator Documentation.

Michael, here is a thread with some resources for the approach Carlos mentioned, something may be helpful to your efforts (See posts # 9 & # 11).

http://forums.adobe.com/message/4690352

[Gustavo Del Vechio]

Michael

One year ago I had no knowledgment about JavaScript and even not about programming languages. But I was very excited to learn the magic of scripts.

I´m not an expert today, but I can say I have a sufficient knowledgment to write my own script (althought I still find some scripts very difficult to read and understand the direction).

My suggestion to start?

1. Learn programming logics. This will enable you to understand how to "think" in programming regardless the language you choose. You will learn what´s a variable, an array, loops and so on. I think this is a so important step, and perhaps still more important than learning JavaScript core itself. If you do not have this knowledgment, it will get difficult to proceed.

2. Go to JavaScript core learning. For me, the best place is the W3Schools (http://www.w3schools.com/js/default.asp) the explanations are direct and practical. Sure it will be focused on JavaScript for web, but, remember, what you want to learn here is the core of the language.

3. Go to Adobe manuals and learn what else ahead of JavaScript´s core you can use to your scripts developed for the Adobe softwares.

Sure, questions and problems will arise. Around this year of learning, much of what I learned was thank you to this forum and people who answers here. So, ask!

Best Regards

Gustavo.

Message was edited by: Gustavo Del Vechio

[michael_mandahl]

Thanks Gustavo, I was thinking that learning Javascript for the web can help me get started on Javascript for Adobe products.

It's a shame that there is no tutorials out there for this. Perhaps it's a void to needs to be filled.

My ultimate goal is to build a slug script for Illustrator. There have been plugins and scripts made before, but nothing that really works all that great, in my opinion.

I'm starting out design the skins and what the UI will look like, and then hopefully start writing the script.

I work in advertising and I see a real need for an all encompassing slug script that cleans files and sets them up for production.

[sinious]

I've found the video tutorials on Lynda regarding JavaScript to be very useful (amongst many other topics, including Illustrator). I think the small charge per month is entirely worth it. Use the trial and watch the Essential JavaScript Training (2011, still relevant, by Simon Allardice). This is focused on the web but that's where JavaScript began. While you'll also learn how to modify a web document you'll also learn all of the concepts mentioned here, logic, what are variables, arrays, loops, functions, syntax etc.

I second W3 as a good 'reference'. Because each piece can be so fragmentedly narrow to exactly what that function/topic is about it can be a little difficult to string together the right content in the right order for your needs.