InDesign CS5 PDF export status

OK, well, here we go. I hope people find it useful -- if so, I'l make an announcement thread so people are more inclined to see it.

You can also download it from here.  See How to Install InDesign Scripts for installation instructions. If you save it in the

Startup Scripts folder, it will run automatically when InDesign is started. Running it a second time disables it.

// exportPop.jsx -- pops up Background Tasks when you start an export
//   and a modal dialog when an export finishes.
// Beta version. Please post feedback at
//   http://forums.adobe.com/thread/822192
// John Hawkinson, 17 March 2011
// Save in STARTUP SCRIPTS folder to start automatically.

#targetengine session

(function() {
    var 
        old1 = app.eventListeners.itemByName("exportPop1"),
        old2 = app.eventListeners.itemByName("exportPop2");

    if (old1.isValid || old2.isValid) {
        if (old1.isValid) { old1.remove(); }
        if (old2.isValid) { old2.remove(); }
        alert("Export pop up window removed.\n"+
            "Indesign will behave as normal.");
        return;
    }

    app.addEventListener("beforeExport", function() {
        var 
            tasksPanel = app.panels.itemByName("Background Tasks");
        if (tasksPanel) { tasksPanel.visible=true; }
    }).name = "exportPop1";

    app.addEventListener("afterExport", function(ev1) {
        var task, listener;
        task = app.idleTasks.add({ name: "exportPop", sleep: 1000});
        listener = task.addEventListener(IdleEvent.ON_IDLE,
            function(ev2) {
                listener.remove();
                task.remove();
                alert(ev1.format+" export complete of "
                    +ev1.fullName+" at "+ev1.timeStamp);
            });
    }).name = "exportPop2";

    alert("Export pop up window installed\n"+
        "Background Tasks will appear the start of an export\n"+
        "and a dialog will appear after each export complete.");
}());

No, you can't turn background tasks off, but if you go to here you can find a script that will do it in the foreground.  I often use it for large documents when I am exporting them on a machine I'm not using, obviously you can't keep on working like you can if you do it in the background.