Set Kerning

[Dr Tyrell]

I am trying to set the kerning between chars in Illustrator. Here's my script:

var countDigits=refGrp.textFrames[0].textRange.characters.length;

for(i=0; i < countDigits; i++) {

  refGrp.textFrames[0].textRange.characters.characterAttributes.kerning=50;

  }

But it doesn't work. refGrp is defined earlier.

Any ideas?

[Silly-V]

You must set the kerningMethod to be on not AutoKernType.NOAUTOKERN for the textRange in order to be able to edit the value.

Sometime ago I spent hours hunting this down, and now it is my gift to you.

[pixxxelschubser]

Something like this?

Re: Why can't set and get KerningMethod in Illustrator?

Have fun

[Silly-V]

Oh that's where I hunted it down!

[Dr Tyrell]

I tried this...

function test()

{

  var doc = app.activeDocument;

  doc.textFrames[0].textRange.characterAttributes.kerningMethod = AutoKernType.NOAUTOKERN;

  var countDigits=doc.textFrames[0].textRange.characters.length;

  for(i=0; i < countDigits; i++)

  {

  doc.textFrames[0].textRange.characters.characterAttributes.kerning=50;

  doc.textFrames[0].textRange.characters.characterAttributes.baselineShift=1;

  }

}

does nothing to the kerning, but the baselineShift works. Am I doing something wrong?

[pixxxelschubser]

More like this

function test()
{
  var doc = app.activeDocument;
  doc.textFrames[0].textRange.characterAttributes.kerningMethod = AutoKernType.NOAUTOKERN;
  doc.textFrames[0].textRange.kerning=50;
  doc.textFrames[0].textRange.baselineShift=1;
}
test ();

[Dr Tyrell]

ok, but if I want to do it char by char?

[Dr Tyrell]

just to add, I have now managed to set the baselineShift and TRACKING char by char, but not the kerning, so I can now control the spacing betwen chars in someway. Maybe this is by design that kerning cannot be done char by char, although it would make more sense the other way round, set tracking on whole string then set kerning char by char.

[pixxxelschubser]

That makes more sense for me.

I think: do not play with a fix value for the kerning!

But it is always the same procedere:

function test()
{
  var doc = app.activeDocument;
  //doc.textFrames[0].textRange.characterAttributes.kerningMethod = AutoKernType.NOAUTOKERN;
  //doc.textFrames[0].characters[1].kerning=50;
  doc.textFrames[0].characters[1].tracking=400;
  doc.textFrames[0].characters[1].baselineShift=3;
}
test ();

Define what you want to change and ready. In this case (the //kerning) and the tracking and the baselineShift of the second character of the first text frame.

Have fun

[pixxxelschubser]

Dr Tyrell, 

do you still have problems?