Make a text box attribute non-printing in InDesign v20.1 using JavaScript

[WCMProduction]

I had so much success with my 1st post (question) Thanks @rob day Next question. Have a text box at top of page that is the document version. For proofing to client, I need this to print so client can see what version they are looking at. But when printing the live print I need to make this texy box non-printing. Looking for a script that can make text box non-print.  I have tried this script:

document.textFrames.item("version").nonprinting = true;

I have the text box labeled using script label as “version” (with no quotes).

I am getting below error:

I also tried the below script:

var version = doc.textFrames.itemByName("version");

version.nonprinting = true;

Getting this error:

Again Thanks VERY MUCH for all help and comments!

[leo.r]

Are you sure you really do have a text frame named "version"? Your second script does work for me, unless I'm using a non-existent name, in which case it returns the same "Object is invalid" error.

[WCMProduction]

I am no expert but I am about 95% sure Text box is labeled version.

[leo.r]

I am no expert but I am about 95% sure Text box is labeled version

By @WCMProduction

As @Robert at ID-Tasker has already mentioned, then you need to check the label property of your text frames. In your original post, I missed that you were using Script Label (sorry!), I thought that "version" was the name assigned in the Layers panel.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@WCMProduction

I'm not JS guy - but maybe you've more than one "version" object in your document?

[WCMProduction]

Thanks for input, but there are no other script labels in Doc.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks for input, but there are no other script labels in Doc.

By @WCMProduction

Then it would be best if you iterate through all TFs - or only for a particular layer - and check "label" property. 

[rob day]

I don’t think you can avoid the loop. This doesn’t throw an error, but the returned textFrame object has no properties:

var ver = app.activeDocument.textFrames.item("version")
$.writeln(ver) //returns [object TextFrame] but with no properties

[rob day]

Hi @WCMProduction , As @Robert at ID-Tasker  suggests I thnk you will have to loop through the textFrames—.getElements() converts the Collection into an Array.

var ver = app.activeDocument.textFrames.everyItem().getElements();
for (var i = 0; i < ver.length; i++){
    ver[i].nonprinting = true;
};  

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rob day

But you're not checking for "version"?

[Eugene Tyson]

Hope this helps - run it again it switches it off and on 

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var frames = doc.textFrames.everyItem().getElements();

for (var i = 0; i < frames.length; i++) {
    if (frames[i].label === "version") {
        frames[i].nonprinting = !frames[i].nonprinting;
        alert("Text frame with script label 'version' is now set to " + (frames[i].nonprinting ? "non-printing." : "printing."));
        break;
    }
}

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@WCMProduction

Overall, instead of switching this one property for each TextFrame with the label - move them ONCE to a layer - then it will be a single click on the Layers pallet...

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@WCMProduction

As you're a Windows user - would you like to try full version of my tool for a few days?

You can sort & filter by any of the 1000+ object properties, or you can find TextFrames by their (partial) contents abd / or text properties - 400+.

Then, if you need to do more - you can export PDF/JPEG/ePUB/etc. file(s).

So, if your workflow requires turning on/off visibility of some objects / layers and then export PDF(s) - you can have it done with one click. 

Or you can process in bulk whole folder with subfolders - of course, you can filter files first as well 😉 

And if you don't need to export after creating / editing each document - you want to save time - you can edit them first and then export PDF(s) later in bulk - during a lunch break 😉  

Exporting to a designated folder included. 

[Laubender]

Hi @WCMProduction ,

in your specific case I would avoid the Script Label panel.

Instead I would simply name the text frame "version". Either do this using the Layers panel or by scripting when the text frame is selected:

app.selection[0].name = "version";

Then your code will work as expected:

app.documents[0].textFrames.itemByName("version").nonprinting = true ;

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )