Applescript and InDesign - insert group into text frame

[Raavst]

Hi Experts,

I have a very specific question.

I am using applescript to automate InDesign for a while, but now I got stucked. 

So, basically my problem is that in the InDesign user interface I can easily insert a group/graphic/text frame/etc into an other text frame with no problem. See picture below:

From Applescript I can read out the content of the text frame, which says it is still "test" only, but anyway, I can find the inserted object in the page items of the text frame. So If there is a text frame that contains such an object or page item, I can read out.

BUT, and here is the question: how can I insert the object into the text frame using Applescript? It's not enough if I just anchor the objects together, because in the user interface of InDesign I insert the object directly into the content.
Does that make sence? Can someone help me out?

Thank you very much in advance.

Ravast

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I don't know AS but in order to place object in the text you need to select InsertionPoint - or get a reference to it - and then do Paste. 

[rob day]

Hi @Raavst , You would use paste into if you wanted to paste a group into a text frame replacing the text. If you want to anchor the group you would select an insertion point and paste (not paste into).

So paste into:

tell application id "com.adobe.indesign"
	--the document’s first text frame
	set tf to item 1 of every text frame of active document
	--a selected group
	set sel to item 1 of selection
	
	--copy and paste into the text frame
	copy
	select tf
	paste into
	
end tell

Before and after:

Or to anchor the selected group:

tell application id "com.adobe.indesign"
	set tf to item 1 of every text frame of active document
	set sel to item 1 of selection
	copy
	
	--paste at the text frame’s first insertion point
	select insertion point 1 of tf
	paste
end tell

After:

[Raavst]

Hi rob day

Wow, you are my hero. 🙂

How the hell could you find it out? I mean, what is the logic behind taking item 1 of selection? What is exactly item 1?

I really would like to understand this logic a bit deeper.

Wow again 🙂

Thank you 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Raavst

"1" is an index of an element in the collection "of something". 

[rob day]

what is the logic behind taking item 1 of selection

Getting the selection returns a list (or an array) not a single object. The list might have a single object, but you still have to ask for item 1 in order to get it. So with a single object selected:

tell application id "com.adobe.indesign"
	
	set sel to selection
	-- returns a list of 1 item: {rectangle id 256 of spread id 241 of document id 24 of application "Adobe InDesign 2021"}
	
	
	
	set sel to item 1 of selection
	--returns an object (no curly brackets): rectangle id 256 of spread id 241 of document id 24 of application "Adobe InDesign 2021"
	
	
end tell