Please help! Infuriating issue with printer presets and javascript

Report · Mar 22, 2017

Hello world,

I have an issue that is driving me insane. I am trying to make a script that will either install or modify/update a printer preset and this is my current code:

	try { //Install
	var SNAPPI_C654_8point5x11 = app.printerPresets.add();
		with (SNAPPI_C654_8point5x11) {
		name = "SNAPPI_C654_8.5x11";
		printer = "Bizhub C654e PS";
		pagePosition = PagePositions.centered;
		printBlankPages = true;
		cropMarks = false;
		pageRange = PageRange.ALL_PAGES;
		pageWidth = "8.5in";
		pageHeight = "11in";
		paperSize = PaperSizes.CUSTOM;
		colorOutput = ColorOutputModes.COMPOSITE_CMYK;
	}

}

catch (err) { //Update

	with (app.printerPresets.itemByName("SNAPPI_C654_8.5x11")) {
		printer = "Bizhub C654e PS";
		pagePosition = PagePositions.centered;
		printBlankPages = true;
		cropMarks = false;
		pageRange = PageRange.ALL_PAGES;
		pageWidth = "8.5in";
		pageHeight = "11in";
		paperSize = PaperSizes.CUSTOM;
		colorOutput = ColorOutputModes.COMPOSITE_CMYK;
	}

}

I have also tried:

with (app.printerPresets.item("SNAPPI_C654_8.5x11")) {

as my catch.

The first time I run the script, everything works flawlessly. If I run it again with no catch, it crashes. If I run it again with a catch, it continues CREATING NEW PRESETS with default names (printer preset 1, 2, ....). Why does it keep creating NEW presets each time it is ran when I am EXPLICITLY referencing a preset that ALREADY EXISTS and do not have a command to .add?!?

This is essentially the installer script for a larger project I am working on and this one is driving me crazy. Any help is deeply appreciated!!!!!!

Report · Mar 22, 2017

Just this time:

var SNAPPI_C654_8point5x11 = app.printerPresets.item('SNAPPI_C654_8.5x11');
if (!SNAPPI_C654_8point5x11.isValid) {
  SNAPPI_C654_8point5x11 = app.printerPresets.add({
    name: "SNAPPI_C654_8.5x11",
    printer: "Bizhub C654e PS",
    pagePosition: PagePositions.centered,
    printBlankPages: true,
    cropMarks: false,
    pageRange: PageRange.ALL_PAGES,
    pageWidth: "8.5in",
    pageHeight: "11in",
    paperSize: PaperSizes.CUSTOM,
    colorOutput: ColorOutputModes.COMPOSITE_CMYK
  });
}

Down the line, do yourself and those that might have to work after you with your code and read up a bit on JS conventions and style guides to see why you should not name your variables like "SNAPPI_C654_8point5x11" or use "with"

Report · Mar 23, 2017

Thanks! This is my first scripting project so I am still very new to all of this. Do you have any particular references or sites you would recommend? I only use with because I am not aware of another way to accomplish the same effect, how does isValid work, is it checking if the name is already a valid reference or if creating a new entry with that name is a valid action?

Also, will this code also work to update the existing preset if ran more than once? The values may change in future versions and I want it to be able to update the presets to reflect possible changes. Thanks again for helping a newbie!