Quicky: Test if style with given name already exists JS CS4

[TᴀW]

Hi,

Could someone please help me? I need my script to create a new character style only if a style with that name doesn't already exist. What would be the best way of checking for this?

In plain(ish) English, I need something like:

if app.activeDocument.characterStyles already contains a style named "ScriptItalics" etc. etc.

Can I do this without actually looping through every item?

Thank you,

Ariel

[Jongware]

try { newstyle = app.activeDocument.characterStyles.add({name:"Cursief"}); } catch (e) { alert ("No Can Do."); }

[TᴀW]

Thanks! What I'll do then is a slight modification of Jongware's suggestion, just so that I end up with the same result whether or not the style exists, i.e.:

try { newstyle = app.activeDocument.characterStyles.add({name:"Cursief"}); } catch (e) {newstyle = app,activeDocument.characterStyles.name("Cursief")}

Of course, this stills risks crashing if the error was thrown for a different reason than the character style with that name already exists, though I can't think what that might be..

Thanks again,

Ariel

[Jongware]

Yes, this is exactly what I generally do. It's difficult to imagine another error than "already exists" -- but if it does happen, well, no problem, as the script will halt on the next line (asking for a style with that name while it still does not exist).

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

you need to use try ... catch() and try to get reference to CharStyle with your name - if it doesn't exist - you will raise error and you can react to this error

but I'm not JS man so you need to search forum for example

robin

www.adobescripts.co.uk

[Kasyan Servetsky · Accepted solution]

You can also do this like so:

var myDoc = app.activeDocument;

if (myDoc.characterStyles.item("ScriptItalics") == null) {

      var myCharStyle = myDoc.characterStyles.add({name:"ScriptItalics"});

}

else {

      var myCharStyle = myDoc.characterStyles.item("ScriptItalics");

}

And since you are on CS4, you can use isValid property to check if an object specifier resolves to a valid object:

if (!myDoc.characterStyles.item("ScriptItalics").isValid) {

      var myCharStyle = myDoc.characterStyles.add({name:"ScriptItalics"});

}

[TᴀW]

Thank you Kasyan. IsValid seems to be the most concise (haven't tried it yet though). Null is also a good idea.

Thanks,

Ariel