Hi scripters, I ran into a possible bug with Document.findObject() where the document reference (ie. the `doc` in doc.findObject) seems to be ignored, and the activeDocument used instead. Here is a script that shows the issue. I'm seeing it in Indesign 18.4 on MacOS 13.4.1.
/**
* Testing for possible Document.findObject() bug.
*/
function main() {
var docs = app.documents;
/* doesn't matter which way this loops */
// for (var d = docs.length - 1; d >= 0; d--) {
for (var d = 0; d < docs.length; d++) {
/* doesn't matter if the document reference is resolved */
// var doc = docs[d];
var doc = resolve(docs[d].toSpecifier());
app.findChangeObjectOptions.objectType = ObjectTypes.ALL_FRAMES_TYPE;
app.findObjectPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;
app.findObjectPreferences.fillTint = -1;
/*
uncomment this line to see that
the find occurs in the active document
regardless of `doc` reference
*/
// app.activeDocument = doc;
var found = doc.findObject();
$.writeln('\nFound ' + found.length + ' objects in "' + doc.name + '" (' + doc.toSpecifier() + ')');
/* doesn't matter which way this loops */
// for (var i = found.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
for (var i = 0; i < found.length; i++) {
$.writeln('specifier: ' + found[i].toSpecifier());
$.writeln('label: ' + found[i].label);
}
}
};
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Test for findObject Bug');
To follow my test, open the two attached demo documents, then run the script and look at the console.
Here is what I see when I have demo1.indd active:
Here is what I see when I have demo2.indd active:
The problem seems to be that doc.findObject() is performed on the activeDocument, not `doc`. You can see that the specifier for the found object always points to the active document, not `doc`.
Of course the result I expect is to iterate over all three frames—one from demo1 and two from demo2.
Am I missing anything here? Can anyone reproduce this? I couldn't find a bug report on uservoice, so if no-one corrects me here I'll lodge one.
- Mark
P.S. I'm assuming that UXP scripting will inherit problems like this from the DOM so it's still worth fixing these. Let me know if that's wrong, because if so, let's not waste much time.
1 Correct answer
Update: it seems that this is a bug, and is reproducable. I have lodged a bug report. Please vote.
- Mark
14
Replies
Hi Mark, I’m seeing the same behavior with CC2021. I’m not sure it‘s a bug? In the findChangeObjectOptions there’s no property for searching all documents, so I think that’s why activating the document in your documents loop works:
I don’t think you need to loop through the documents—you could set found to app.findObject(), which would return the three objects. Try this:
/**
* Testing for possible Document.findObject() bug.
*/
function main() {
var s = "Number of items found in open documents ";
app.findObjectPreferences = app.changeObjectPreferences = app.findChangeObjectOptions = null;
app.findChangeObjectOptions.objectType = ObjectTypes.ALL_FRAMES_TYPE;
app.findObjectPreferences.fillTint = -1;
var found = app.findObject();
s += found.length + "\r";
for (var i = 0; i < found.length; i++) {
s+= "Item " + (i+1) + ": " + found[i] + " in document named: " + found[i].parent.parent.name + "\r"
}
$.writeln(s)
/*
Returns:
Number of items found in open documents 3
Item 1: [object Rectangle] in document named: demo1.indd
Item 2: [object Rectangle] in document named: demo2.indd
Item 3: [object Rectangle] in document named: demo2.indd
*/
};
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Test for findObject Bug');
HI @rob day,
Aren't these the same options for other search options like Grep? However, there we are able to search based on the document object calling the findGrep method. 
-Manan
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