How do you run VB from JSX and return a value?

[Justin Putney]

Anyone know how to do this?

$.writeln('result:\r' + app.doScript('wsh.echo "test"', ScriptLanguage.VISUAL_BASIC));

Both wsh and wscript give an 'Object Required' error. Same script works fine as vbs file.

It sounds like those objects just aren't available when running from doScript, but is there some other way to return a value?

[Harbs.]

I remember struggling with a similar problem a long time ago, but I don't remember details.

Did you try GetObject()?

Harbs

[Harbs.]

FWIW, to return a value from VB using doScript, you need returnValue = SomeValue at the end of your VB script.

[Justin Putney]

Harbs. wrote:

FWIW, to return a value from VB using doScript, you need returnValue = SomeValue at the end of your VB script.

I know that's the case with a Sub or a Function...is that how it works at the end of a script as well?

Harbs. wrote:

Did you try GetObject()?

Interesting. Hadn't heard of that before. I can't quite tell how it would apply from the documentation so far.

[Harbs. · Accepted solution]

Justin Putney wrote:

Harbs. wrote:

FWIW, to return a value from VB using doScript, you need returnValue = SomeValue at the end of your VB script.

I know that's the case with a Sub or a Function...is that how it works at the end of a script as well?

To answer your questions, here's a working snippet I have which gets the current file from Excel:

var vbs = 'Set MyXL = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")\r' +
'Set ActiveXL = MyXL.activeworkbook\r'+
'returnValue = ActiveXL.Path';
var path = app.doScript(vbs,ScriptLanguage.VISUAL_BASIC);

[Justin Putney]

Harbs. wrote:


Justin Putney wrote:


Harbs. wrote:

FWIW, to return a value from VB using doScript, you need returnValue = SomeValue at the end of your VB script.

I know that's the case with a Sub or a Function...is that how it works at the end of a script as well?
 
To answer your questions, here's a working snippet I have which gets the current file from Excel:

1. var vbs = 'Set MyXL = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")\r' + 
2. 'Set ActiveXL = MyXL.activeworkbook\r'+ 
3. 'returnValue = ActiveXL.Path'; 
4. var path = app.doScript(vbs,ScriptLanguage.VISUAL_BASIC); 

var vbs = 'Set MyXL = GetObject(, "Excel.Application")\r' +
'Set ActiveXL = MyXL.activeworkbook\r'+
'returnValue = ActiveXL.Path';
var path = app.doScript(vbs,ScriptLanguage.VISUAL_BASIC);

Ah, I thought returnValue was a hypothetical, but it has to be exactly "returnValue". Thanks for the example, Harbs! Is that documented anywhere? I couldn't seem to find it.

[Harbs.]

Justin Putney wrote:

Ah, I thought returnValue was a hypothetical, but it has to be exactly "returnValue". Thanks for the example, Harbs! Is that documented anywhere? I couldn't seem to find it.

To tell you the truth, I do not remember where I got that from. It might have been trial and error. I do remember going crazy trying to figure it out...

[Justin Putney]

I can imagine.

Thanks for sharing it!

[grefel]

it has to be returnValue !

thanks for sharing.

stole me also one hour #headbanging

[Hauke30377645zwrc]

Why isn't that documented?? In case someone doesn't figure out herself: Obviously returnValue needs to be declared inside the vbs, like

dim resultValue

[Justin Putney]

It looks like this will work:

var scriptArr = [
'Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")',
'myInDesign.insertLabel "myLabel", "text msg goes here"  '];
app.doScript(scriptArr.join('\r'), ScriptLanguage.VISUAL_BASIC);
$.writeln('stored value: ' + app.extractLabel('myLabel'));
//result = stored value: text msg goes here

Run the vb code, set a script label there, then retrieve it in extendscript.

My only concern with this solution is the uncertainty about which version of InDesign the vbscript is targeting.

I'm going to look through the vbscript documentation to see if there's way to target a specific version of InDesign (didn't see it on first glance), but I'd welcome suggestions.

[Justin Putney]

This seems to work just as well:

var scriptArr = [
'Set myInDesign = CreateObject("InDesign.Application")',
'myInDesign.ScriptArgs.SetValue "myLabel", "text msg goes here"  '];
app.doScript(scriptArr.join('\r'), ScriptLanguage.VISUAL_BASIC);
$.writeln('stored value: ' + app.scriptArgs.getValue('myLabel'));

Still have the issue about targeting the exact version of InDesign (in case more than one version is open). The documentation says this will target the last version ID that was launched. It seems there's a way to use InDesign.Application.CS6, but I haven't found an equivalent for CC versions.

[Vamitul]

InDesign.Application.CS6

InDesign.Application.CC

InDesign.Application.CC.2014

InDesign.Application.CC.2015

And 'myInDesign.ScriptArgs.SetValue' is the proper way to go.

[Justin Putney]

Perfect. Tested and it works on my end. Thanks, Vamitual!

Vamitul wrote:

InDesign.Application.CS6

InDesign.Application.CC

InDesign.Application.CC.2014

InDesign.Application.CC.2015

And 'myInDesign.ScriptArgs.SetValue' is the proper way to go.