Batch

Report · Nov 07, 2012

I need to find & replace a string of text. I tried FindChangeByList script which it does work but I need to be batch over 300 ID documents. Open/ find/ replace/ save/ close)

I found this script & modified some lines but Im getting an error -10006 Can't set object or data to object or data. I checked the dictionary but I am in blank (I'm not a scripter at all but I like applescript) After spending hours trying to figure it out by myself I have to throw the towel. I understand the concept. Please any guidance or tips will help me to make it work.

set OLDid to {"WRT11-TY"} -- set up the data lists to be exchanged --find this
set NEWid to {"WRT11-TYA"} -- replace with this

set source_folder to choose folder with prompt "Select folder containing InDesign docs" with multiple selections allowed without invisibles

tell application "Finder" to set item_list to (every item where name ends with "indd") of folder source_folder asalias list --only ID docs can be selected

tell application "Adobe InDesign CS4"
   activate
   repeat with DocAlias in item_list --(loops thru ID docs)
       set doc to open DocAlias
       tell document 1

           repeat with swap from 1 to (number of items of OLDid) -- swap is the list index

               set oldReference to item swap of OLDid -- Get an old ID...
               set newReference to item swap of NEWid -- Get the corresponding new ID...
               set find what of find text preferences to oldReference -- and load each string into the 'Find'
               set change to of change text preferences to newReference -- and 'Change to' boxes of the Find/Change dialog box

               set hitList to find text -- 'find text' creates a list of matching strings...

               repeat with foundIt in hitList
                   change text -- and 'change text' swaps the 'find' text field with the 'Change to' text field in the Find/Change dialog box
               end repeat -- Keep doing this until you run out of items in 'hitList'

           end repeat -- Next 'find' string; next 'change to' string
       end tell
       close document 1 saving yes
   end repeat
end tell

Report · Nov 07, 2012

Hi,

could just ran it with ID CS 5.5 under OSX 10.7.4.

Did a few changes ... works here. You should think of adding some errorhandling!

set OLDid to {"Maus", "Katze"} -- set up the data lists to be exchanged --find this
set NEWid to {"Haus", "Hund"} -- replace with this
set source_folder to choose folder with prompt "Select folder containing InDesign docs"
tell application "Finder" to set item_list to (every item where name ends with "indd") of source_folder as alias list
tell application "Adobe InDesign CS5.5"
    activate

    --clear fields ...
    set find text preferences to nothing
    set change text preferences to nothing

    -- set find options
    set case sensitive of find change text options to false
    set include footnotes of find change text options to false
    set include hidden layers of find change text options to false
    set include locked layers for find of find change text options to false
    set include locked stories for find of find change text options to false
    set include master pages of find change text options to false
    set whole word of find change text options to false


    repeat with DocAlias in item_list --(loops thru ID docs)
        set doc to open DocAlias

        repeat with swap from 1 to count of OLDid -- swap is the list index

            set oldReference to item swap of OLDid -- Get an old ID...
            set newReference to item swap of NEWid -- Get the corresponding new ID...
            set find what of find text preferences to oldReference -- and load each string into the 'Find'
            set change to of change text preferences to newReference -- and 'Change to' boxes of the Find/Change dialog box

            tell document 1
                change text -- and 'change text' swaps the 'find' text field with the 'Change to' text field in the Find/Change dialog box
            end tell

        end repeat -- Next 'find' string; next 'change to' string
        close doc saving yes
    end repeat

    set find text preferences to nothing
    set change text preferences to nothing
end tell

Please don't forget to set your findoptions!

Hope it'll work

Hans-Gerd Claßen