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Iggy24874866doe1
Participating Frequently
August 8, 2024
Question

InDesign Script for Batch Creation

  • August 8, 2024
  • 2 replies
  • 4003 views

Hi there,

I'm looking to create a script that helps me to create blank InDesign documents based on a CSV file.

The data I would like to change is as follows:

  1. File name
  2. Height
  3. Width

 

Then, I would like to add an IF to the script that if larger than 5486.4 mm it will scale it down 50%, both Height and Width.

 

I got this far but I'm a bit stuck:

var file = File.openDialog("Document", undefined, false);
var folder = Folder.selectDialog("Document");
file.open("r");
var content = file.read().split("\n");

for (var i = 0; i < content.length - 1; i++) {
    var curLine = content[i].split("\t");
    var h = curLine[0];
    var w = curLine[1];
	 var mar = curLine[2];
	 var n = curLine[3];
    docName = n + "_" + h + "×" + w;
    try {
       var newDoc = app.documents.add(false);
       newDoc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = h;
       newDoc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = w;
       newDoc.marginPreferences.properties = {top: mar,left: mar,right: mar,bottom: mar};
       newDoc.save(new File(folder + "/" + docName + " .indd"));
       newDoc.close(SaveOptions.no)
       } catch(myError){}
    }
This topic has been closed for replies.

2 replies

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 9, 2024

Hi @Iggy24874866doe1 , To create a new document with specified properties, I create a temporary document preset—presets are read/write. Try this:

 

var content = readFile(File.openDialog("Please Choose a CSV file"));
var lns = content.split("\n");
app.scriptPreferences.measurementUnit = MeasurementUnits.MILLIMETERS;

//temp doc preset
var dp = app.documentPresets.add({name:"Temp-" + new Date().getTime()})
var da;
for (var i = 0; i < lns.length-1; i++){
    try {
        da = lns[i].split(",")
        dp.properties = {pageHeight:da[1], pageWidth:da[2], top:da[3], bottom:da[3], left:da[3], right:da[3]}
        nd = app.documents.add(true, dp);
        nd.name = da[0]
    }catch(e) {}  
};
dp.remove();
app.scriptPreferences.measurementUnit = AutoEnum.AUTO_VALUE;


/**
* Read a text file 
* @ thefile path 
* @ return the text 
*/
function readFile(p) {
    var f = new File(p);
    f.open("r");  
    var x = f.read();  
    f.close();
    return x; 
}
I
Iggy24874866doe1Author
Participating Frequently
August 9, 2024

Thank you @rob day this works!

 

At present, it creates an InDesign file based on a CSV, grabbing file name, width and height.

 

Would it be possible to automate this process with many files but auto-saving files in a specified folder?

 

Also, is it possible to extra an extra column for specified bleed (same amount of bleed on all 4 sides) and to scale to 50% if the file it's larger than 5600mm?

rob day
Community Expert
rob dayCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 9, 2024

You could save the files in the same directory as the .CSV like below. This also checks for a width or height that exceeds 5600. If you want to add ducument properties look at documentPreset and add to dp.properties object as needed:

 

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#DocumentPreset.html

 

var f = File.openDialog("Please Choose a CSV file")
var content = readFile(f);


var lns = content.split("\n");
app.scriptPreferences.measurementUnit = MeasurementUnits.MILLIMETERS;

//temp doc preset
var dp = app.documentPresets.add({name:"Temp-" + new Date().getTime()})
var da, w, h;
for (var i = 0; i < lns.length-1; i++){
    try {
        da = lns[i].split(",");
        h = da[1]
        if (h > 5600) {
            h = h*.5
        } 
        w = da[2]
        if (w > 5600) {
            w = w*.5
        } 
        //add other document properties like bleeds here
        dp.properties = {pageHeight:h, pageWidth:w, top:da[3], bottom:da[3], left:da[3], right:da[3]}
        nd = app.documents.add(true, dp);
        nd.name = da[0];
        nd.save(File(f.parent + "/" + da[0] + ".indd"))
        nd.close(SaveOptions.YES)
    }catch(e) {}  
};
dp.remove();
app.scriptPreferences.measurementUnit = AutoEnum.AUTO_VALUE;


/**
* Read a text file 
* @ thefile path 
* @ return the text 
*/
function readFile(p) {
    var f = new File(p);
    f.open("r");  
    var x = f.read();  
    f.close();
    return x; 
}
Robert at ID-Tasker
Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
August 8, 2024

documentPreferences and marginPreferences are read only:

 

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#Document.html

 

I
Iggy24874866doe1Author
Participating Frequently
August 8, 2024

Thank you!.

 

The only thing I am interested is file name, height, width and maybe bleed. Margins I don't need.

 

Is this possible?

Robert at ID-Tasker
Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
August 8, 2024

On the other hand - link in this post shows otherwise... 

 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-script-to-create-custom-sized-pages-from-data/m-p/13869665#M530475

 

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