Grouped object - ungroup - Pathfinder Add - Convert to Rectangle

[Eugene Tyson]

Playing with scripting and finding it very frustrating but this one would save me a good bit of time 

I just want to ungroup an object - leave it selected

I figured that out

var ungroupMenuItem = app.menuActions.item("$ID/Ungroup");

if (ungroupMenuItem.isValid) {
    // Invoke the menu item
    ungroupMenuItem.invoke();
} else {
    alert("The Ungroup menu item was not found.");
}

Seems to work - maybe not the best way

But can't access

Object>Path>add

Then next step is

Object>Convert to Shape>Rectangle

All the while leaving the object selected while running through

1 out of 3 ain't bad... 

Ultimately - I have 2 of these objects on every page that need to be ungrouped

Ideally I'd like to just make them a link - as I'm replacing them with an image anyway 

If they were converted to links that would be ideal 
So I would select the objects on the page in 1 selection - then run the script - it makes them a link

Then I can just relink them

But given that I can't convert the group to a rectangle by scripting I feel the former and latter part of my plan is beyond me.

Any help is much appreciated.

[rob day]

From @Eugene Tyson ’s 2nd post:

But imagine say a simple logo - and it's pasted into InDesign

All I want to do is convert that to rectangle - then I place the logo into the frame - same size etc.

And why do you keep combining paths

Because it’s a simple command, doesn’t require making anything.

We are working blind here.

[Eugene Tyson]

I don't understand.

I'm getting there with what I want.

Currently I think I've been very clear .

Thanks for all the help so far.

If there's anything I can be clearer about let me know

[rob day]

If there's anything I can be clearer about let me know

I’ve been guessing what the contents of your group is and where the linked logo is coming from. Not sure why you need the loops, I thought your selection was a single group object? A sample ID file would help.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rob day 

I still think the Group is just a mockup that should be replaced with a new link... 

And yes, you are right, in your code you are using two lines which will be faster than creating Rectangle and all the additional steps - but as @Eugene Tyson needs rotation - I think you should un-rotate it first? 

So the final Rectangle will envelop the Group - not it's bounding box?

[rob day]

@Eugene Tyson needs rotation - I think you should un-rotate it first? 

The rotation part is not clear to me, and I did not realize the link that needs to be placed was not part of the group, but this:

var s = app.activeDocument.selection[0];
if (s.constructor.name == "Group") {
    var f = File.openDialog("Select the file", "*.jpg;*.jpeg;*.png;*.gif");
    if (f != null) {
        s.pageItems[0].addPath(s.allPageItems)
        s.pageItems[0].convertShape(ConvertShapeOptions.CONVERT_TO_RECTANGLE);
        s.pageItems[0].place(f);
        s.pageItems[0].fit(FitOptions.FILL_PROPORTIONALLY);
        s.ungroup();
    } 
} 

Does this:

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rob day

So you've solved the puzzle in full!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rob day

One more thing - I'm on my phone so can't check - but in the end, there will be bunch of separate objects - s.ungroup(), right?

I'm sure Eugene would appreciate if the rest of the Objects from the Group would be removed?

Maybe s.pageItems[0].duplicate() instead and then s.remove()?

[rob day]

The group gets removed via s.ungroup(), all that’s left is a rotated rectangle with the placed link, which you can see in the Layers panel:

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

The group gets removed via s.ungroup(), all that’s left is a rotated rectangle with the placed link, which you can see in the Layers panel:

By @rob day

So this line:

s.pageItems[0].addPath(s.allPageItems)

will destroys all other elements in the group?

(I think ";" is missing at the end of the line?)

But in that case - it's no longer a group but a PageItem/Rectangle?

As you are not declaring/envorcing a type - you won't get an error for different type?

Then there is no need to call ungroup()?

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#Rectangle.html#d1e217687__d1e219657

But as it returns new object - and you are not assigning it to s.pageItems[0] - how can the rest of the code work?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

A bit strange - and disturbing...

Conversion to Rectangle - doesn't change internal type - it's a square Oval...

But if you convert it from Toolbox - everything is OK:

[rob day]

Conversion to Rectangle - doesn't change internal type - it's a square Oval...

Right, same happens if you convert corner points or use Pathfinder via the UI.

alert(app.activeDocument.selection[0].constructor.name)

In the case of Pathfinder looks like the item at the back determines the class of the combined paths.

[Eugene Tyson]

That's amazingly simpler and a lot shorter than what I am coming up - very simple.

Only problem, and my fault for not saying anything earlier, but sometimes the objects are rotated and I need to keep them rotated at the angle they are at whether it's 0, 90, -90, or 180

And when testing I couldn't figure out a way (although you probably can do it) to keep the same place and same rotation.

But again - it's an eye opener for me.
Thanks

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Eugene Tyson

If you want to apply rotation - and the rest of transformations - you can get them from the Group and apply to the Rectangle.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rob day

I sometimes get notifications about replies that I've just posted?

And no notifications about private messages...

[Eugene Tyson]

I've no idea where we are on replies the forums is a mess

Thank you @Robert at ID-Tasker  @rob day 

I'll sort through it all and report back

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I've no idea where we are on replies the forums is a mess

By @Eugene Tyson

Yeah - after 2nd level there is no way to know to which post the reply is...

[Eugene Tyson]

Thanks for the help @Robert at ID-Tasker @rob day 

I'm 99% there with what I want to 

That is to replace the grouped object(s) with a link - which I set out at first.

I did limit myself by just wanting to convert to a rectangle at the start.

But then possibilities opened up and the idea expanded.

Now, I am at the point of replacing every object on the page that's selected with the link. 

Which is great, only thing is I have to select the link how many times it's being replaced, if there's 4 objects it's 4 clicks to replace the link. 

As I can't figure out a way to just have 1 link.

Not a big deal - but I'm far closer to when I started. 

I'll further revise on Monday when I can test properly.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Eugene Tyson

You mean you have Nx Groups?

I'm pretty sure it won't be a big deal for @rob day to change the code.

[rob day · Accepted solution]

You want to open the file outside of the loop, so I think this might work:

var s = app.activeDocument.selection;

var f = File.openDialog("Select the file", "")
if (f != null) {
    for (var i = 0; i < s.length; i++){
        if (s[i].constructor.name == "Group") {
            s[i].pageItems[0].addPath(s[i].allPageItems);
            s[i].pageItems[0].convertShape(ConvertShapeOptions.CONVERT_TO_RECTANGLE);
            s[i].pageItems[0].place(f)
            s[i].pageItems[0].fit(FitOptions.FILL_PROPORTIONALLY);
            s[i].ungroup();
        } else {
            s[i].place(f)
            s[i].pageItems[0].fit(FitOptions.FILL_PROPORTIONALLY);
        } 
    }
}  

[Eugene Tyson]

Thanks I'll give it a go

[Eugene Tyson]

This is what is working for me at the moment - all good - after lots of exploration and trials and errors this is what I needed in the end.
Thanks