How to script in InDesign to attach some shape markers to text?

This process can be quite intricate, but I'll outline the basic steps and a simple example to get you started:

Open the Scripting Panel: In InDesign, go to Window > Utilities > Scripts to open the Scripts panel.

Create a New Script: Right-click on the User folder and select New Script. Choose JavaScript as the language. This will open a text editor where you can write your script.

Script Basics: InDesign scripts typically start with referencing the active document and then perform actions on it. For attaching shapes to text, you'll need to locate the text and create shapes at the desired positions.

Example Script:

var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
var myTextFrames = myDocument.textFrames;

// Assuming you have at least one text frame
if (myTextFrames.length > 0) {
    var myTextFrame = myTextFrames[0]; // Using the first text frame

    // Loop through each character in the text frame
    for (var i = 0; i < myTextFrame.contents.length; i++) {
        var myCharacter = myTextFrame.characters.item(i);
        
        // Create a shape for each character
        var myOval = myDocument.ovals.add();
        myOval.geometricBounds = [
            myCharacter.baseline - 5, // y1 position
            myCharacter.horizontalOffset - 5, // x1 position
            myCharacter.baseline + 5, // y2 position
            myCharacter.horizontalOffset + 5  // x2 position
        ];
    }
}

Save and Run the Script: After writing your script, save it and run it from the Scripts panel in InDesign. The script above will create small oval shapes at the baseline of each character in the first text frame of your document.

Customization: You can customize the script to fit your specific needs, like changing the shape type, size, or position relative to the text.

Debugging: If the script doesn't work as expected, check the JavaScript Console (Window > Utilities > JavaScript Console) for error messages.

Remember, this is a basic example. Depending on your specific needs, such as if you want to attach shapes to specific words or phrases, or if you want to use different shapes or positions, the script will need to be more complex. Additionally, mastering InDesign scripting requires a good understanding of JavaScript and the InDesign scripting environment. Adobe provides extensive documentation on InDesign scripting, which can be very helpful for more advanced scripting tasks.

Hello @RDI33054067w5ck 

From the screenshots, what you're looking for is indesign's "Track Changes". The marks are indications of the type of changes that have been made and are recorded in the document. That's why you said "they don't leave the document"...
.
There are basically three panel, configuration and editing points for the tool:
a) Windows " Editorial " Track Changes
b) Control(win)/Command(mac) + K " Track Changes
c) View in Stories Editor (Control(win)/Command(mac) + Y)
.
When you edit in the layout the marks are "hidden" but when you access the stories editor there they are!
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I don't have any great tools for your answer, but I'll give you some guidance: what you're looking for is "Track Changes", not "shape markers". I think that makes it much easier for you to find something. Perhaps simply activating the tool will solve your problem...

Prints below:

 In Stories Editor, on-off in panel Track Changes

in Preferences » Track Changes

 to Panel Track Changes

Hi @RDI33054067w5ck, it always helps if you can provide screen shots of what you want.

The requirement that they "cannot be selected, edited, undone, or redone within Indesign" is potentially difficult, because Indesign allows editing of pretty much everything that you can place on a page (even if the only possible edit is to remove it). Perhaps this ability would be part of the magic of the plugin?

And to clarify—you are asking if anyone knows the name of a plugin like that?

- Mark