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stevem49039051
Inspiring
November 3, 2021
Answered

InDesign Pathfinder Scripting

  • November 3, 2021
  • 2 replies
  • 661 views

I am writing a script that creates 2 intersecting boxes and then uses shape1.excludeOverlapPath(shape2); to subtract one shape from the other. The code works, but I would like to do more stuff with the resulting shape (change the fill color, add rounded corners, etc.), but I don't know how to select it.

 

I tried saving the result to override the original variable
shape1 = shape1.excludeOverlapPath(shape2);

I also tried to assign the result to a new variable

var newShape = shape1.excludeOverlapPath(shape2);

 

Neither of these ideas work; the errors either say the variable was changed or is undefined. Does anyone have any suggestions/advice about how to do this?


Thanks for your help!

 

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer stevem49039051

I got it to work!! This didn't work for me per se, but I used it as a guide and figured it out. Here is what worked:

 

//These variables are placeholders for testing

var rectHeight1 = 2;
var rectWidth1 = 4;

var rectHeight2 = 1;

var rectWidth2 = 5;

 

//Add rectangle 1

var rectangle1 = doc.rectangles.add ({geometricBounds:["0in", "0in", rectHeight1 + "in", rectWidth1 + "in"], contentType:ContentType.GRAPHIC_TYPE});

 

//Add rectangle 2

var rectangle2 = doc.rectangles.add ({geometricBounds:["0in", "0in", rectHeight2 + "in", rectWidth2 + "in"], contentType:ContentType.GRAPHIC_TYPE});

 

//Put rectangles in arrays

var r1 = [rectangle1];

var r2 = [rectangle2];

 

//Store pathfinder result as a new variable

var newShape = r1[0].excludeOverlapPath(rs[0]);

 

 

Thanks so much for your help!

2 replies

L
Community Expert
LaubenderCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 4, 2021

Hi Steve,

I always provide an array as argument for excludeOverlapPath().

The resulting shape is returned by the method and I see no issue to write it to a variable.

 

Have two objects on the first spread of a test document.

First draw a rectangle, then an oval overlapping the rectangle.

 

var doc = app.documents[0];
var oval = doc.spreads[0].ovals[0];
var rect = doc.spreads[0].rectangles[0];

var newShape = rect.excludeOverlapPath([oval]);
// newShape returns [object Oval]
// All is working as expected.
newShape.fillColor = "Yellow";

 

Note: The method still returns an [object Oval] even if the shape is something else entirely.

 

Before:

 



After running the code above:

 

 

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

    S
    stevem49039051AuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    November 4, 2021

    I got it to work!! This didn't work for me per se, but I used it as a guide and figured it out. Here is what worked:

     

    //These variables are placeholders for testing

    var rectHeight1 = 2;
    var rectWidth1 = 4;

    var rectHeight2 = 1;

    var rectWidth2 = 5;

     

    //Add rectangle 1

    var rectangle1 = doc.rectangles.add ({geometricBounds:["0in", "0in", rectHeight1 + "in", rectWidth1 + "in"], contentType:ContentType.GRAPHIC_TYPE});

     

    //Add rectangle 2

    var rectangle2 = doc.rectangles.add ({geometricBounds:["0in", "0in", rectHeight2 + "in", rectWidth2 + "in"], contentType:ContentType.GRAPHIC_TYPE});

     

    //Put rectangles in arrays

    var r1 = [rectangle1];

    var r2 = [rectangle2];

     

    //Store pathfinder result as a new variable

    var newShape = r1[0].excludeOverlapPath(rs[0]);

     

     

    Thanks so much for your help!

    M
    Mike Bro
    Legend
    November 4, 2021

    Hello @stevem49039051 

     

    Can you post the code you're using to subtract one shape from the other for us to test with?

     

    Regards,

    Mike

    S
    stevem49039051Author
    Inspiring
    November 4, 2021

    //These variables are placeholders for testing

    var rectHeight1 = 2;
    var rectWidth1 = 4;

    var rectHeight2 = 1;

    var rectWidth2 = 5;

     

    //Add rectangle 1

    var rectangle1 = doc.rectangles.add ({geometricBounds:["0in", "0in", rectHeight1 + "in", rectWidth1 + "in"], contentType:ContentType.GRAPHIC_TYPE});

     

    //Add rectangle 2

    var rectangle2 = doc.rectangles.add ({geometricBounds:["0in", "0in", rectHeight2 + "in", rectWidth2 + "in"], contentType:ContentType.GRAPHIC_TYPE});

     

    //Here is where I'm stuck. This code doesn't work.

    var newShape = rectangle1.excludeOverlapPath(rectangle2);

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