2 Correct answers
Hi @99drine, Here is an example script, that matches anchored items to the selected anchored item, and applies a -2 baseline shift to each. You can adjust this to suit your needs. Let me know if it's useful!
@Eugene Tyson, @brian_p_dts for cases like this—matching an object—I often create my own "stringify" function customized just for that purpose. Here I compare lengths of paths and pathpoints, which in OP's case should be enough.
- Mark
/**
* @file Adjust Matching Anchored Items.js
Simplistic Script for a simplistic matter:
Select the icon you want to correct (here, I just want to modify the "Décalage sur Y" (in french) :
and play this Script:
var myDoc = app.activeDocument;
// Select An Icon With The Right Inline AnchorYoffset You Want:
var mySel = app.selection[0];
// Various Checks:
var mySelInline = mySel.anchoredObjectSettings.anchoredPosition;
var mySelHeight = (mySel.geometricBounds[2]-mySel.geometricBounds[0]).toFixed(10);
var mySelAnchorYOffset = mySel.anchoredO
18
Replies
Hi @99drine, Here is an example script, that matches anchored items to the selected anchored item, and applies a -2 baseline shift to each. You can adjust this to suit your needs. Let me know if it's useful!
@Eugene Tyson, @brian_p_dts for cases like this—matching an object—I often create my own "stringify" function customized just for that purpose. Here I compare lengths of paths and pathpoints, which in OP's case should be enough.
- Mark
/**
* @file Adjust Matching Anchored Items.js
*
* Usage:
* 1. Edit script to suit, especially the `adjuster` function.
* 2. In Indesign, select an anchored item.
* 3. Run Script.
*
* Script will apply the `adjuster` function to each matching anchored item.
*
* @author m1b
* @version 2025-10-14
* @discussion https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/grep-searching-for-a-specific-anchored-object/m-p/15544328
*/
function main() {
/**
* Makes an adjustment to an item.
* @param {PageItem} item - the item to adjust.
* @returns {Boolean} - return true if you want to collect this item (optional).
*/
function adjuster(item) {
// edit this to suit your needs
item.baselineShift = -2;
// this is just for reporting purposes
counter++;
};
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var anchoredItemCharacter = doc.selection[0];
if (
anchoredItemCharacter
&& 'Character' !== anchoredItemCharacter.constructor.name
&& 'Character' === anchoredItemCharacter.parent.constructor.name
)
// we want the character, not the item itself
anchoredItemCharacter = anchoredItemCharacter.parent;
if (
!anchoredItemCharacter
|| 'Character' !== anchoredItemCharacter.constructor.name
)
return alert('Please select an anchored item and try again.');
// find all anchored items in document
app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;
app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = '~a';
var allAnchoredItems = doc.findGrep();
var counter = 0;
// perform the matching and adjusting
matchItems(anchoredItemCharacter, allAnchoredItems, adjuster);
alert('Adjusted ' + counter + ' anchored items.');
};
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Adjust Matching Anchored Items');
/**
* Matches `items` with `matchMe` using a custom stringify function and applies a filter function
* @author m1b
* @version 2025-10-14
* @param {PageItem} matchMe - the item to match.
* @param {Array<PageItem>} items - the items to search through.
* @param {Function} [filter] - a filter function (default: no filter).
* @returns {Array<PageItems>} - the matched (and filtered) items.
*/
function matchItems(matchMe, items, filter) {
var id = stringify(matchMe);
var matching = [];
for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
if (
stringify(items[i]) === id
&& (!filter || filter(items[i]))
)
matching.push(items[i]);
}
return matching;
};
/**
* Generate a string just for the purpose
* of identifying a particular item.
* @author m1b
* @version 2025-10-14
* @param {*} thing - an Indesign DOM thing.
* @returns {String}
*/
function stringify(thing) {
var str = '';
addStringFor('contents', undefined, 40);
addStringFor('length');
addStringFor('itemLink|filePath');
addChildrenOf('allPageItems');
addChildrenOf('paths');
addChildrenOf('pathPoints');
addChildrenOf('graphics');
return str;
/** Stringifies `key` property. */
function addStringFor(key, otherThing, len) {
var _str;
var target = otherThing || thing;
var keys = key.split('|');
key = keys.shift();
if (
target.hasOwnProperty(key)
&& 'undefined' !== typeof target[key]
) {
_str = String(target[key]);
if (len)
_str = _str.slice(0, len);
str += _str;
if (keys.length)
addStringFor(keys.join('|'), target[key]);
}
};
/** Stringifies each element of `key` property. */
function addChildrenOf(key) {
if (
!thing.hasOwnProperty(key)
|| 0 === thing[key].length
)
return;
str += key + thing[key].length;
for (var i = 0; i < thing[key].length; i++)
str += stringify(thing[key][i]);
};
};
Simplistic Script for a simplistic matter:
Select the icon you want to correct (here, I just want to modify the "Décalage sur Y" (in french) :
and play this Script:
var myDoc = app.activeDocument;
// Select An Icon With The Right Inline AnchorYoffset You Want:
var mySel = app.selection[0];
// Various Checks:
var mySelInline = mySel.anchoredObjectSettings.anchoredPosition;
var mySelHeight = (mySel.geometricBounds[2]-mySel.geometricBounds[0]).toFixed(10);
var mySelAnchorYOffset = mySel.anchoredObjectSettings.anchorYoffset;
// Loop:
app.findGrepPreferences = app.findChangeGrepOptions = null;
app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = '~a';
var myFound = myDoc.findGrep();
for ( var i = 0; i < myFound.length; i++ ) if ( (myFound[i].pageItems[0].anchoredObjectSettings.anchoredPosition === mySelInline) && ((myFound[i].pageItems[0].geometricBounds[2]-myFound[i].pageItems[0].geometricBounds[0]).toFixed(10) === mySelHeight) ) myFound[i].pageItems[0].anchoredObjectSettings.anchorYoffset = mySelAnchorYOffset;
app.findGrepPreferences = app.findChangeGrepOptions = null;
alert("Done! …")
(^/) The Jedi
AdChoices
