Markdown script...?

[Adam_Barnes1]

I'm looking for a way to convert the content in a Indesign file to markdown, is there a way to map this in a script?

The Indesign file is simple, with just 4 levels of heading, paragraphs and some bullets, italic and bold, but I am looking for a way to automate the process.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[nicolaik]

You can go through the file using the script and write out everything in Markdown. You would have to map them all in your script

If you tag all elements, you can also use  XML export with XSLT.

[Adam_Barnes1]

Hi Nicolaik, when you say the script, is there one that will help me make a start that you know of?

Thanks for you help!!

[nicolaik]

Sorry, Adam Barnes, did not come across such a script. I will try to put together a sample to demonstrate the idea.

Nioolai

[Adam_Barnes1]

Many thanks Nicolaik!! thats what I love about the Adobe community, the best in people and willingness to help!!

Thank you!

[nicolaik]

Adam,

As promised, I put the script together. It grabs a text frame, loops through the paragraphs and writes them to a text file on the desktop. The resulting file should be in markdown.

The next step would be adding the character styles and do the mapping with your existing styles. My InDesign file has only one text frame and seven paragraphs' styles. the styles are : Header1, Header2, Header3, italic, bold, blockquote and highlight

 #target indesign

var myFile= new File( '~/Desktop/markdown_test.txt');

myFile.open("w");

        myTextFarme = app.activeDocument.textFrames[0];

        myParagraphs = myTextFarme.paragraphs;

        totalparagraphs = myParagraphs.count();

        var i , tempContent ='', tempStyle='';

        for ( i= 0 ; i< totalparagraphs; i++)
         {
                try{
                      tempContent = myParagraphs.item(i).contents;

                      if (myParagraphs.item(i).contents != "\r") 
                      {
                           tempStyle = myParagraphs.item(i).appliedParagraphStyle.name;
                          }
                      else if (myParagraphs.item(i).contents != "\n") 
                      {
                          }
                      else
                      {
                          tempStyle ='';
                          }

                      //$.write(tempContent);
                      //$.write(tempStyle);

                      switch(tempStyle) {
                                case "Header1":
                                     tempContent= "#" + tempContent;
                                    break;
                                case "Header2":
                                    tempContent= "##" + tempContent;
                                    break;
                                 case "Header3":
                                    tempContent= "###" + tempContent;
                                    break;  
                               case "bold":
                                    tempContent= "**" + tempContent + "**";
                                    break;  
                              case "italic":
                                    tempContent= "*" + tempContent + "*";
                                    break;     
                             case "highlight":
                                    tempContent= "```" + tempContent + "```";
                                    break;  
                              case "blockquote":
                                    tempContent= ">" + tempContent;
                                    break;        
                                default:
                                    tempContent=tempContent;
                            }

                      myFile.write( tempContent);


                    }
                catch(err) {
                    $.write( err.message);
                    }

               tempContent = '';
               tempStyle = '';

            }


  myFile.close();

Nicolai

JS, ID5.5, MAC

[Adam_Barnes1]

Thank you Nicolaik, and @vamitul I'm out of the office today, but will look tonight, thanks for all you help!!!

[Adam_Barnes1]

Hi, looking good but its not getting the normal paragraph style, para, do I need a bit of code for them, as the done have any marks, I have tried adding this:

case "pars": 
tempContent= " " + tempContent; 
break; 

Getting this:

## Second

###Third

###Third

Should be:

## Second

###Third

para

para

###Third

para

para

Can you help? I might be thick!!

[nicolaik]

Hi Adam,

I assume you are talking about my sample code (sorry if I am wrong). The "default" in switch should pickup anything not mapped by switch, but your suggestion should also work. it works for me on my sample file. You do not need to add space at the beginning of the tempContent, use the same statement as default.

Nicolai

[Adam_Barnes1]

Goodness I am sorry for the questions, I know it was just an pointer, and feel bad for asking, but also it will only do one page, I am a little lost as how to get it to go through all pages?

So sorry to ask, and really don't want to take advantage! or "take the......" or anything else!

As for posting demo files, I am unsure, maybe an external link? and any demo you can send my way will surly help!!

And thank you!!

[nicolaik]

No problem, I will see what I can do and pm file to you.

You will need to loop through the pages and text frames.

[nicolaik]

OK, the short version of the idea:

Run GREP to insert the markdown tags for the character styles:

    app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;
    app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;
    // Set the grep options
         var myCharStyle = app.activeDocument.characterStyles.item("chBold"); 
         app.findGrepPreferences.appliedCharacterStyle=myCharStyle;
         app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = "(.+)";
         app.changeGrepPreferences.changeTo="**$1**";
    //Replace bold
         app.activeDocument.changeGrep();

   // Set the grep options for italic
    myCharStyle = app.activeDocument.characterStyles.item("chItalic"); 
    app.findGrepPreferences.appliedCharacterStyle=myCharStyle; 
    app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = "(.+)";
    app.changeGrepPreferences.changeTo="*$1*";
    //Replace italic
         app.activeDocument.changeGrep();

    // Clear the find/change preferences after the search
    app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;
    app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

Add code to loop through all text frames and export one paragraph at a time as before. Finally, add two undos at the end to reverse grep changes.

        app.activeDocument.undo();
        app.activeDocument.undo();

[Adam_Barnes1]

Hi

All working now, it was the para had a number at the start, I don't need that anyway, but the character styles and not being tagged with day *xxxx* or **xxxx** with in the paragraph, am I missing something?

Many thanks,

adam

[nicolaik]

Adam,

I did mention it is more of an idea and not a complete code. [Jongware] script has 2000 lines and takes everything into account, mine has 75 (half of them blank).

I would probably run a grep replacement before starting writing file out, search for character styles and replace the text with text plus markdown tags. Obviously you would have an issue with some of the tags, e.g. * for italic, but that's the next stage. Do you want me to put together another sample to demonstrate?

BTW, any advice on submitting sample files on this forum?

Nicolai

[Pickory]

Hello,

This might help.

https://www.rorohiko.com/wordpress/2014/12/23/indesign-markdown-export-crawler-id2md/

[Adam_Barnes1]

Hi,

Tried it, but it missed out random paragraphs..? just after a table or image, 3 to 6 paragraphs just are missing, so it could be a bit dangerous to use, without knowing what and why its doing that!!!

[Vamitul]

This might be what you need melchiorb/indesign-scripts · GitHub
(haven't tested it)

[Jongware]

No, that works the other way 'round.

... Nice dialog, but mine does a better job.