How can I get a file path element in XML to work in AI javascript?

[TomChag]

Hi all - this is my first post. I'm pretty familiar with javascript, but I'm new to the Adobe scripting environment.

Our client wants Illustrator at startup to load a certain pattern swatch. It works fine when I hard code the pattern file path, but it needs to be user configurable, so I put the file path info in an XML file to be read in at startup. The XML file is read in and the elements are extracted into varibles. When I concatenate the variables to create the file path string and try to open the pattern file, it says file not found.

Here is my source code:
--------------------------------------------------
var fileObj = new File("aiConfig.xml");
fileObj.open("r:");

var xmlString = new XML(fileObj.read());

var driveLetter = xmlString.fullPathName.driveLetter.text();
var filePath = xmlString.fullPathName.filePath.text();
var fileName = xmlString.fullPathName.fileName.text();
var fullFilePath = driveLetter + filePath + fileName;

var styled_ai = app.open(new File(fullFilePath));

app.activeDocument = styled_ai;
--------------------------------------------------
Here is aiConfig.xml:
--------------------------------------------------
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252" ?>
<aiConfig>
  <fullPathName>
     <driveLetter>C:</driveLetter>
     <filePath>/Program Files/Adobe/Adobe Illustrator CS4/Presets/en_US/Swatches/Patterns/Decorative/</filePath>
     <fileName>Decorative_Modern.ai</fileName>
    </fullPathName>
</aiConfig>
--------------------------------------------------

Any help would be greatly appreciated - this is driving me a little crazy.

Thanks,

Tom

[artchrome]

Hi Tomchag,

Your script works fine on MAC OS X & illustrator CS4.

i have change only pathway to aiConfig.xml like this:

var fileObj = new File("/Volumes/LaCie/aiConfig.xml"); //<- path of my external HDD should be D:/ on windows

and the contents in aiConfig.xml to :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="windows-1252" ?>
<aiConfig>
  <fullPathName>
     <driveLetter></driveLetter>
     <filePath>/Applications/Adobe Illustrator CS4/Presets.localized/fr_FR/Nuancier/</filePath>
     <fileName>VisiBone2.ai</fileName>
    </fullPathName>
</aiConfig>

So.. i notice twice thing:

1) complete file and path for aiConfig.xml

2) i didn't use drive letter (but it's specific to windows)

I hope this post can help you

Cyao, art.chrome