Add operator name to a text variable is a slug

[wobblewoo]

Hello.

We have multiple operators and would like to add the name of the last operator for a document to a slug.

Currently we use text Variables to dynamically update filename and last modified date etc but i cannot see one for user.

It would be the name of the operator who last worked on it, so whomever is logged in.

InDesign 2020 on OSX.

Many thanks.

[Mike Bro]

Hello wobblewoo!

This shold work for what your after......

1. Start off by creating a new text Variable;

Name: User

Type: Custom Text

Text: leave blank

2. Apply the "User" text Variable to the text frame for the slug.

3. On every users machine you'll need to install the Indesign Startup Script below.

• ‎⁨Startup location: Mac⁩ ▸ ⁨Applications⁩ ▸ ⁨Adobe InDesign 2020⁩ ▸ ⁨Scripts⁩ ▸ ⁨startup scripts⁩

#targetengine "session"

var eventListener = app.addEventListener("beforeSave", rememberLastUser, false);     

function rememberLastUser(event) {
	try {var doc = event.parent;
        app.activeDocument.textVariables.item('User').variableOptions.contents = app.userName;} catch(err) {}
}

Each time the document is saved by a different user, the Text: in the "User" text Variable will be updated.

Regards,

Mike

[Mike Bro]

Hello wobblewoo!

Note: After installing the Indesign Startup Script, InDesign will need to be quit out of and restarted.

Regards,

Mike

[wobblewoo]

Thanks ever so Mike, however when compiling i get an error.

It's hilighting the eventListener on the second line of code and says:

Expected end of line, etc. but found identifier.

Can you help?

[Mike Bro]

Hello wobblewoo!

Where are you trying to run the script from? It's a Startup Script and needs to be ran from the location below:

• ‎⁨Startup Script location: Mac⁩ ▸ ⁨Applications⁩ ▸ ⁨Adobe InDesign 2020⁩ ▸ ⁨Scripts⁩ ▸ ⁨startup scripts⁩

Also I forgot to mention each user needs to set their user name in InDesign, Go to the File menu ▸ user  and enter User Name.

Regards,

Mike

[wobblewoo]

Hello Mike, thanks for your help so far.

I've entered the username (File > User) into ID, no problems there.

When i cut and paste your code into Script Editor and saved as 'setUserScript.scpt' then placed here:

/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2020/Scripts/startup scripts/setUserScript.scpt

When i quit and then restart ID i get this error:

If i then try and compile the script from within Script Editor i get this:

Im on OS 10.15.7 and ID 15.0.1 if that matters.

Wx

[Mike Bro · Accepted solution]

Hello wobblewoo!

it's a .jsx script not an Apple script. Copy the code into the text edit app and change the format to "Make Plain Text" and save it as a .jsx file.

Regards,

Mike

[wobblewoo]

Perfect. Thanking you.