Find content in cell and apply cell style across the entire ROW

[stevecole]

Any help?

I have succesfully created a jsx which finds content "x" within cells and applies a cell style across the entire ROW.

The problem is some cells are split horizontally and the lower part of the ROW on that cell does get the cell style.

Steve

[brian_p_dts]

Mind posting your jsx so we can more effectively troubleshoot?

[stevecole]

Hi 

I have added an InDesign file as well which shows lower part of horizontal split cell being coloured up. There are two cell styles which are called Weekend and  BankHoliday.

Thank you

Steve

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@stevecole 

You should rather get row number and iterate by Cell address.

VB exmple of how to address specific Cell:

myTable.Cells.Item(CStr(column) & ":" & CStr(row))

Or you can check if Cells are merged / span across rows:

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#Cell.html

And "rowSpan" property.

[stevecole]

Sorry Robert I replied to your personal email by mistake.

regards

Steve

[stevecole]

Hi Robert 

Thank you for the reply. Your explanation is much appreciated but far above my level of competence I’m afraid! I have attached the Indesign tester doc and the jsx so you can see what I am trying to achieve. Basically I am trying to colour weekend and bank holiday tints on some calendar settings, but where the cell is split horizontally it doesn’t seem to see it as the same ROW.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@stevecole

I fully understand what you are trying to achieve, but I'm not JS guy and can't find a sample in JS to address specific Cell by row and col - I'm pretty sure @brian_p_dts will be able to help you - or @rob day or @Peter Kahrel.

[stevecole]

Thank you

[rob day]

Hi @stevecole , Is the content always in the first column? This isn’t as easy as it seems because while your example looks like it has 5 rows, it really has 8 (column 2 has 8 rows)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rob day 

So it's not possible to address Cell in the Table by its "address" - like in my VB example?

myTable.Cells.Item(CStr(column) & ":" & CStr(row))

where CStr(column) & ":" & CStr(row) would be for example "4:5" - 4th column, 5th row.

Then, it would be just a case of iterating - something like this:

var row = cell.parentRow.index;
for (var c = 0; m < table.columns.length; c++) {
    table.cells[c + ":" + row].appliedCellStyle = weekendCellStyle;
}

I just don't know how "cells[c + ":" + row]" will be in JS.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hi @stevecole , Is the content always in the first column? This isn’t as easy as it seems because while your example looks like it has 5 rows, it really has 8 (column 2 has 8 rows)

By @rob day

So addresses would be like that?

[rob day]

This numbers the first cell of each row and gets the number of cells in the row:

function applyCellStylesToRows() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var rws = doc.stories.everyItem().tables.everyItem().rows.everyItem().getElements();
    for (var i = 0; i < rws.length; i++){
       rws[i].cells[0].fillColor = "Black";
       rws[i].cells[0].fillTint = 10;
       rws[i].cells[0].contents = "Row: " + (i+1).toString() + " (cell count "+ rws[i].cells.length + ")"
    };   
}

app.doScript(applyCellStylesToRows, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Apply Cell Styles');

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rob day 

Then in VB it's much "nicer"...

But .name property should return "address" of the Cell - "col:row" - at least it works that way in VB.

Now it's only the case of how to use it in the same way to get a specific cell?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

OK, this works:

function main() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    app.select(doc.stories[0].tables[0].cells.itemByName("1:1"));
};

main();

This will select the same Cell:

@stevecole, this should work for you:

var row = cell.parentRow.index;
for (var c = 0; m < table.columns.length; c++) {
    table.cells.itemByName(c + ":" + row).appliedCellStyle = weekendCellStyle;
}

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

function CellAddress() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var table = doc.stories[0].tables[0];
    for (var c = 0; c < table.columns.length; c++){
       for (var r = 0; r < table.rows.length; r++){
           table.cells.itemByName(c + ":" + r).contents = table.cells.itemByName(c + ":" + r).contents + " " + c + ":" + r;
       };
    };   
}

CellAddress();

[stevecole]

Hi Rob

The answer is no. Sometimes the table has up to 20 columns and 31 rows. The table represents a calendar date setting but the x's and the Y's maybe in the first or last column. Depending on the design. What I am looking for is a script to colour EVERY cell in the ROW. as you later post says address 1:1 2:1 and 2:2.

Steve

[rob day]

I couldn’t get @Robert at ID-Tasker ’s suggestion to work, and don’t see a way to cover every possible variation Maybe someone else can help.

[rob day]

This also seems to work at least on the provided sample:

function applyCellStylesToRows() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var weekendCellStyle = doc.cellStyles.itemByName("Weekend");
    var bankHolidayCellStyle = doc.cellStyles.itemByName("BankHoliday");
    var c = doc.stories.everyItem().tables.everyItem().cells.everyItem().getElements();
    var s;
    for (var i = 0; i < c.length; i++){
       if (c[i].contents.match(/\b\d{1,2}x\b/i)) {
            s =  weekendCellStyle   
       }else if (c[i].contents.match(/\b\d{1,2}Y\b/i)) {
            s = bankHolidayCellStyle
       }
       c[i].appliedCellStyle = s
    };   
}

app.doScript(applyCellStylesToRows, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Apply Cell Styles');

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

This also seems to work at least on the provided sample:

function applyCellStylesToRows() {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var weekendCellStyle = doc.cellStyles.itemByName("Weekend");
    var bankHolidayCellStyle = doc.cellStyles.itemByName("BankHoliday");
    var c = doc.stories.everyItem().tables.everyItem().cells.everyItem().getElements();
    var s;
    for (var i = 0; i < c.length; i++){
       if (c[i].contents.match(/\b\d{1,2}x\b/i)) {
            s =  weekendCellStyle   
       }else if (c[i].contents.match(/\b\d{1,2}Y\b/i)) {
            s = bankHolidayCellStyle
       }
       c[i].appliedCellStyle = s
    };   
}

app.doScript(applyCellStylesToRows, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Apply Cell Styles');

By @rob day

But @stevecole wants to style the entire ROW - not just a single Cell.

[rob day]

I understand. The cells read left to right top to bottom, so my version is simply changing the cell style when the column 1 cell contains content—it works when the content is in the first column. Here’s X,Y,Y,X,Y

Your approach might be better, but the snippet you posted is  throwing an error when I try it with @stevecole’s code.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I understand. The cells read left to right top to bottom, so my version is simply changing the cell style when the column 1 cell contains content—it works when the content is in the first column. Here’s X,Y,Y,X,Y

By @rob day

Right.

[...]

Your approach might be better, but the snippet you posted is  throwing an error when I try it with @stevecole’s code.

By @rob day

What error?

[rob day]

What error?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

What error?

By @rob day

Because it should be "c <" - not "m <". 

[rob day]

Because it should be "c <" - not "m <".

No error, but I get this:

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Because it should be "c <" - not "m <".

No error, but I get this:

By @rob day

I think that's correct? 

Unless, the goal is to style unmerged cells - in a row WITH merged cells - as well? 

As per @stevecole opening post:

The problem is some cells are split horizontally and the lower part of the ROW on that cell does get the cell style.