Python Indesign script _ How to insert a picture into a page and autofit the size?

[conningldi]

I need to find a way to insert pictures into an InDesign project through a python script. But the code doesn't work.

myPage = myDocument.Pages.Item(1)
myRectangle = myPage.Rectangles.Add()
myRectangle.GeometricBounds = [7, 1, 9, 7]
import matplotlib.image as mpimg 
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
img_path = r'C:\...\In-Design Project\AA.jpg'img = mpimg.imread(img_path)
img = mpimg.imread(img_path)
myRectangle.Place(img) **# Error**

The error is :

com_error: (-2147352567, 'Exception occurred.', (35869, 'C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Adobe InDesign 2020\\InDesign.exe', 'Cannot create the link resource from the given URI.', None, 0, 0), None)

I found some functions that might be helpful as below but still haven't found a solution

Whether the picture is inserted into an existed frame or into a new frame doesn't matter. I just really need a feasible way to achieve it. Thanks.

[brian_p_dts]

I don't know the first thing about Python scripting for InDesign, but from what I can tell 

mpimg.imread(img_path)

returns an array of the image data it read. Rectangle.place() needs a File object to place in its first argument. Not sure how you would return a Javascript File object from Python, but that's where I'd investigate. It could be just as simple as creating one out of your img path. Also looks like you are calling img = mpimg.imread(img_path) twice; once in its own line and once in the line above it at the end. That might also be causing problems. 

[conningldi]

Great thanks. Currently what within Rectangle.place() is not a File object. Do you know how to read in an image as a File object in python? Thanks.

[brian_p_dts]

Not sure. You could try: 

myRectangle.Place('C:\...\In-Design Project\AA.jpg')

You could also open the path:

fileobj = ('C:\...\In-Design Project\AA.jpg','r')

myRectangle.Place(filobj)

[Peter Kahrel]

In

myRectangle.Place(img)

'img' must be a file object. I don't know if that's the case in your script.

[conningldi]

Thanks Peter! But do you know how to read in an image as a File object in python? Thanks.

[Peter Kahrel]

No, I don't. You'd have to check in the Python documentation. It's probably something like

img = File ('C:\...\In-Design Project\AA.jpg')

or

img = new File ('C:\...\In-Design Project\AA.jpg'i)

Another thing: mind the backslashes. Either escape them ('c:\\dir') or use forward slashes ('c:/dir'). Again, there's lots of Python documentation around.

[Dirk Becker]

For an example have a look at any property that yields a file.

In the JavaScript binding many properties with the name "fullName" actually return a file, e.g. app.fullName.

For Python point your favorite OLE/COM object viewer to the TLB (type library) of InDesign to find candidates.

As an alternative investigate the app.doScript() method, that way your Python program can invoke JavaScript.