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sntm
Participating Frequently
November 17, 2022
Question

How can I select objects across multiple pages and align center on each respective page in Indesign?

  • November 17, 2022
  • 5 replies
  • 3379 views

Hello,

 

I'm creating a manual over 200 pages long with placed images in Indesign (version 18). I used the super handy script for that which is awesome. But now I'm trying to find out if there's a way to select all placed images and center align on each page. The worst-case scenario is manually select the image and align center and repeating that 200x. sounds egregious so hope someone has a better solution, perhaps a script that can execute and cut production time in half.

 

Your insight is most appreciated.

Thanks

sntm

This topic has been closed for replies.

5 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 17, 2022

Hi together,

I would say yes to Willi Adelberger's approach with an object style for position if there is only one image per page.

In case there are more one cannot use the object style, because all images on a page would share the same position. Also if you'd like to apply that object style to a group of graphic frames.

 

So a simple script could do this if the graphic frames are not positioned inside nested structures like groups.

Simply do a group of all graphic frames for every page and center the group on the page…

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

m1b
Community Expert
m1bCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 17, 2022

Hi @sntm, well here is a quick approach. - Mark

 

function main() {

    app.scriptPreferences.measurementUnit = MeasurementUnits.POINTS;

    var doc = app.activeDocument,
        items = doc.allGraphics;

    for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {

        try {

            var item = items[i].parent,
                itemCenter = [item.geometricBounds[1] + (item.geometricBounds[3] - item.geometricBounds[1]) / 2, item.geometricBounds[0] + (item.geometricBounds[2] - item.geometricBounds[0]) / 2],
                page = item.parentPage,
                pageCenter = [page.bounds[1] + (page.bounds[3] - page.bounds[1]) / 2, page.bounds[0] + (page.bounds[2] - page.bounds[0]) / 2];

            item.move(undefined, [pageCenter[0] - itemCenter[0], 0]);

        } catch (error) { }

    }

} // end main

app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Center All Graphics');

 

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 17, 2022

    @sntm said: "The worst-case scenario is manually select the image and align center and repeating that 200x. sounds egregious…"

     

    Hi @sntm ,

    this is faster done than writing a script for it; or looking for one on the web.

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender
    ( Adobe Community Expert )

    E
    Community Expert
    Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 17, 2022

    Hey @sntm 

    There's thread here with a few scripts you can try.

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/is-there-a-script-that-aligns-all-images-in-a-document-to-the-center-of-the-page/m-p/11877865

     

     

      Willi Adelberger
      Community Expert
      Willi AdelbergerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 17, 2022

      When you have anchored them, the anchor paragraph style should have auto leadin and center the alignement.

      If you have not anchored them, create an object style, in the section size and position options specify where you want to have the images. Apply that style to the images. You should work with object styles anyway.

      m1b
      Community Expert
      m1bCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 17, 2022

      I agree with @Willi Adelberger here. Objects styles are excellent for this. For example:

       

      And here's a version of script that uses this approach:

      function main() {

    var doc = app.activeDocument,
        items = doc.allGraphics,
        style = getByName(doc.allObjectStyles, 'Centered On Page');

    for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
        try {
            items[i].parent.appliedObjectStyle = style;
        } catch (error) { }
    }

    function getByName(styles, name) {

        for (var i = 0; i < styles.length; i++)
            if (styles[i].name == name)
                return styles[i];

    };

} // end main

app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, 'Center All Graphics');

      - Mark

      m1b
      Community Expert
      m1bCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 18, 2022

      Hi,

      I've tried using the script with .jsx extension but got an error message. This is what I placed on the text file:

      var doc = app.activeDocument,
        items = doc.allGraphics,
        style = getByName(doc.allObjectStyles, 'Centered On Page');

    for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
        try {
            items[i].parent.appliedObjectStyle = style;
        } catch (error) { }
    }

    function getByName(styles, name) {

        for (var i = 0; i < styles.length; i++)
            if (styles[i].name == name)
                return styles[i];
      and got this message:

       

      Is the information incorrect in the script?

       


      You are missing the closing brace for the getByName function. Add this line at end:

      };

       

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