Text Frame - Area Type Options - Basline options and BaseLine offset

[Rahul_Rastogi]

Hi,

I have a tex frame (In Path Text) and I want to set Baseline option and baseline offset as shown with Area Type options.

I searched Illustrator SDK a lot but could not find API to set baseline option and baseline offset.

Can any expert help me ?

Please see the below screenshot for reference -

[Omar.Fathy]

Hi rahulrastogi9

Would you provide a screen shot for your area text or explain more?!

If you have a text inside a path shape you can use the Type>Area Text Options.
If you has a text on a path, you can edit it by the normal setting in the character pannel or using Type>Type on a path

[Rahul_Rastogi]

Hi,

I have In Path Text for which Area Type Options is applicable.

I want to set the first baseline and minimum offset for the text frame from the Illustrator SDK API.

Please see the below screenshot of my text frame -

[didiermazier]

I don't get it.

Is your text on a path or in a box (frame)?

COuld you take a snapshot of what you have?

Anyway offset work the same either cases

[Peter Villevoye]

Well, most experts here are familiar with using the application – not developing or scripting it...

You might have more luck looking for a solution via these pages:

https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/using/automation-scripts.html

And from there to the main page about Illustrator scripting:

https://www.adobe.com/devnet/illustrator/scripting.html

Perhaps if you find the proper scripting method for it, it might also make sense (or at least give a clue) for an SDK approach.

BTW, let me guess: you're developing an automated process for the creation of stamps ?

[Rahul_Rastogi]

Hi,

I already googled Scripting before Posting on this forums. Unfortunately, I don't find it in scripting either.

I am automating process for creation of Labels for Packaging Industry.

[Peter Villevoye]

I found some mentions of the "baseline shift" in these two PDFs (page 17 and 18):

https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/illustrator/pdf/Illustrator_JavaScript_Scripting_Re...

https://www.adobe.com/content/dam/acom/en/devnet/illustrator/pdf/Illustrator_Scriptin_Reference_Java...

Probably the position is calculated through this/these values, combined with the characteristics/metrics of the font itself.

Another mention of it in an online resource can be found here:

https://illustrator-scripting-guide.readthedocs.io/jsobjref/CharacterAttributes/#characterattributes...

[Rahul_Rastogi]

All these BaseLine options are available for Character Styles and not for Text Frame (Area Type options).

[Peter Villevoye]

True, but the Text Frame value might be translated to an overall (extra) value for the Character setting of Baseline Shift. Just like text frames can have an overall Kerning value, which in essence is also a Character setting. But then we're back to square one: what's the name of this value ?

It's indeed a strange, mysteriously missing variable...

Like I said, maybe it's derived from OpenType values, like these:

"InDesign uses the typoAscender and typoDescender values to determine the offset of the first baseline in a text box and the minimum size of a text box below which the display of type is suppressed."

https://glyphsapp.com/tutorials/vertical-metrics

These articles and questions dig into the nitty gritty of that "first line" in general, but no word about scripting:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/first-baseline-offset-problem-super-weird/td-p/9195499

https://indesignsecrets.com/understanding-the-first-baseline-position-of-text.php

Maybe you could ask technical InDesign experts like Cari Jansen, David Blatner, or Peter Kahrel to solve this riddle. Or reverse-engineer an available script from the latter and see what values he's using.

[Peter Villevoye]

Ah, while preparing and posting my post, I now see that CarlosCanto came up with something ! 

[CarlosCanto · Accepted solution]

Hi rahul, select your Area text frame and try the below sample script

// set Area text baseline options
// carlos canto
// https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator/text-frame-area-type-options-basline-options-and-baseline-offset/td-p/11045221?page=1

selection[0].firstBaseline = FirstBaselineType.BASELINECAPHEIGHT;
selection[0].firstBaselineMin = 20;

[Rahul_Rastogi]

Hi,

Thanks, the javascript snippet worked and it was able to set the baseline options with Area Text Options.

But, I again searched the Illustrator SDK and was still unable to find anything API to set baseline options for Area Text.

[CarlosCanto]

sorry I'm not familiar with the SDK, can't you run javascript from C++ somehow? or is there an API call like sendScriptMessage, we use it call plugin functions from javascript.