Is there a way to select all text objects containing specified character?

[zawij]

Is there a way to select all text objects containing specified character?

For instance,

My artwork consists of dots and numbers.

Dots are on separated text frames, so are numbers.

I would like to select all dots, so I can group them.

Or numbers, and group them.

[CarlosCanto · Accepted solution]

yes,

- loop thru all text items

- get each contents

- compare to "."

- if matching, save a reference to that text frame

- when done with all frames

- loop thru all saved references and move to a group

[zawij]

Thanks, probably you are right, but

in fact I never started scripting in Illustrator and I am not able to write it myself..

So the question should be posted as: Do anyone has a script...

[CarlosCanto]

I see, it is unlikely there is a ready made script for such particular need...One would need to be written. If time permits, some of us contributors might give it a try.

[Sakari Niittyma]

I'm still quite new with this whole scripting, but I wrote simple script for this. Just copy&paste it from here or download it from here Dropbox - TextSearchSelection.jsx

Hope it helps!

// Text Search Selection
//
// JavaScript Script for Adobe Illustrator CC 2014
// Tested with Adobe Illustrator CC 2014, Windows 7 64-bit.
// This script provided "as is" without warranty of any kind.
// Free to use and distribute.
//
// Copyright(c) 2014 Sakari Niittymaa
// http://www.niittymaa.com
//
// 2014-09-24


#target illustrator


if (app.documents.length > 0) {

var script_name = "Text Search Selection"
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var find_char;


// Loop all items
function getTextItems (item) {


    for (var i=0; i < item.length; i++) {

        if (item.groupItems) {

            getTextItems (item.groupItems);
            getTextItems (item.textFrames);

        } else if (item.typename == "TextFrame") {

            // Set selection
            item.selected = findCharacter (item.contents);            
        }
    }
}


// Parse selected text item
function findCharacter( item ) {

    var char_found = false;

    // Parse selected string characters
    for (var i=0; i < item.length; i++) {

        // Mark character found if there is same character in text item
        if ( item.toLowerCase() == find_char.toLowerCase() ) {
            char_found = true;
        }
    }

    // If character found return true value for selection
    if (char_found) {
        return true;
    } else { return false }
}


// GUI
startGUI();
function startGUI() {

    // Create Main Window
    var win = new Window( "dialog", script_name, undefined );

    // Style for Main Window
    win.orientation = "column";
    win.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];

    // Style for Search group
    var searchGrp = win.add("panel", undefined, "Find Character");
    searchGrp.orientation = "column";
    searchGrp.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];

    var titleMsg = searchGrp.add ("statictext", undefined, "Select all text items with this character:");
    var singleChar = searchGrp.add("edittext { characters: 1, justify: 'center', active: true }");
    singleChar.helpTip = "Enter single character";

    // Listener for the find button
    singleChar.onChanging = function() {
        if (singleChar.text.length > 1) { singleChar.text = ""; };
        app.executeMenuCommand ('selectall');
        find_char = singleChar.text;
        getTextItems ( doc.selection  );
        app.redraw();
    }

    // Style for Extra
    var extraGrp = win.add("panel", undefined, "Extra");
    extraGrp.orientation = "column";
    extraGrp.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];

    // Button: Edges
    var btnEdges = extraGrp.add('button', undefined, "Edges");
    btnEdges.helpTip = "Show/Hide Edges";
    btnEdges.onClick = function () { 
        app.executeMenuCommand ('edge'); app.redraw(); 
    };

    // Button: Bounding Box
    var btnBoundingBox = extraGrp.add('button', undefined, "Bounding Box");
    btnBoundingBox.helpTip = "Show/Hide Bounding Box";
    btnBoundingBox.onClick = function () { 
        app.executeMenuCommand ('AI Bounding Box Toggle'); app.redraw(); 
    };

    // Close button
    var quitBtn = win.add("button", undefined, "Close");
    quitBtn.helpTip = "Press Esc to Close";


    // Event listener for the quit button
    quitBtn.onClick = function() {   
        win.close();   
    }  

    // Centering & Show Window
    win.center();
    win.show(); 
}
} else {
    alert("You do not have any document opened!");
}