applyParagraphStyle Doesn't Clear Overrides

[Zoffix222]

Hey,

In the Adobe InDesign CS5.5 Scripting Guide, there's a paragraph that reads:

Why use the applyParagraphStyle method instead of setting the appliedParagraphStyle property of

the text object? The applyParagraphStyle method gives the ability to override existing formatting;

setting the property to a style retains local formatting.

However, when I use applyParagraphStyle like this: text_frame.parentStory.paragraphs[0].applyParagraphStyle(title_style, true);  the color and font family of the paragraph is not changed (even though the size is).

Am I missing something? Here's the full code I'm using:

var products = load_products();
var doc = app.documents.add();
var title_style = doc.paragraphStyles.item('Product - Title');
for ( var i = 0, l = products.length; i < l; i++ ) {
    var text_frame = doc.pages[0].textFrames.add();
    text_frame.geometricBounds = [
        (100 * i) + 'pt',
        '6pt',
        (100 * i + 240) + 'pt',
        '240pt'
    ];
    text_frame.contents = products.title;
    text_frame.parentStory.paragraphs[0].applyParagraphStyle(title_style, true);
    text_frame.fit(FitOptions.frameToContent);
    var b = text_frame.geometricBounds;
}

Edit: if after ruinning the script I go to apply the style to this paragraph, I get an option in the context menu to clear overrides; and if I do so, then the color and font-family are changed.

Message was edited by: Zoffix222

[Harbs.]

That only works on paragraph level overrides.

To clear character level overrides, you need to use text_frame.parentStory.paragraphs[0].clearOverrides() as well.

Harbs

[Zoffix222]

I tried that, but there is no effect.

Using story editor, I can see the paragraph style applied, but the character styles are not cleared...

[Harbs.]

Before or after appliying the para style?

[Zoffix222]

I'm using clearOverrides before applying the style:

text_frame.parentStory.paragraphs[0].clearOverrides(OverrideType.ALL);
text_frame.parentStory.paragraphs[0].applyParagraphStyle(title_style, true);

If I comment out the .applyParagraphStyle, the only thing different is text is no longer center-justified, but all else looks the same.

Could the problem be that my styles are not created via the script, but are actually default styles I setup in InDesign?

[Guest · Accepted solution]

Character Styles should not be cleared by clear overrides.

If you set appliedCharacterStyle = doc.characterStyles[0] to change character style to [None] before overriding, character style formatting will be cleared.

[Zoffix222]

Hey, Awesome! That worked.

But why? The docs for clearOverrides list OverrideType.CHARACTER_ONLY.... oh never mind.

The overrides clears only the overrides but not the styles

That makes sense. Thanks!

[Harbs.]

Right. Character styles are not overrides at all!

Overrides by definition is styling not applied using styles.

[andreasf]

I am trying to get a script to clear all overrides in selected paragraph and/or text box.

Reason for this is I want a shortcut key to fix this e.g. F1.

Have tried with the code mentioned abowe but cant seem to get it to work (I am an Indesign Power user but a bit new to coding).

The best I have found is:

app.documents[0].stories.everyItem().clearOverrides()

But that clears ALL overrides in the whole document – and thats not what I want.

Can this be done?

[TᴀW]

Well, if that's what you need, then how about:

app.selection[0].clearOverrides()

which will clear the overrides in the current selection

Ariel

[andreasf]

I cant get this to work. My text is placed by an automated command to Indesign. But everytime I must select the text and "force" Indesign to use "PARAGRAPH STYLE NAME", then the next format, clear text format. I do this from the drop-down menu in paragraph style palette.

Any way this can be scriptable to work whatever the paragraph style is?

This would be a real lifesaver for me.

[basiliog28708857]

This was exactly what I needed

app.documents[0].stories.everyItem().clearOverrides()