Saving PDF using the Layer name

[Mitchell5E84]

Right now Indesign gives you the option to use the document name as the export documentname.

But I'd like to have the option or a script that enables me to do an export of the active layer and it automatically using the layers name. Does anyone have an idea how to achieve this?

[brian_p_dts · Accepted solution]

Maybe try Page Exporter Utility script to see if it can solve your needs: 

https://creativepro.com/page-exporter-utility-peu-5-script-updated-for-cs3/

[Mitchell5E84]

Thanks I'll give it a try!

[Mike Bro · Accepted solution]

Hello Mitchel,

The below script will export a pdf of the initial "selected" active layer. The pdf will be named by the layer name and exported to the same location as the InDesign Document.

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var myFolder = doc.filePath;

export_preset = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("[High Quality Print]");

if (!(export_preset.isValid)){ 
    alert('The PDF export preset does not exist.'); 
    exit(); 
   }

function myGetVisibleLayers(){
 var myVisibleLayers = new Array;
  for (var i = 0; i < doc.layers.length; i++){
   if (doc.layers[i].visible == true) {   
    myVisibleLayers.push(doc.layers[i].index);
      }
   }
      return myVisibleLayers;
  }

var myVisibleLayers = myGetVisibleLayers();

myActiveLayerName = doc.activeLayer.name;
myActiveLayerIndex = doc.activeLayer.index;

  doc.layers.everyItem().visible = false;

  doc.layers[myActiveLayerIndex].visible = true; 

  app.pdfExportPreferences.pageRange = PageRange.ALL_PAGES

  doc.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, File(myFolder +'/'+ myActiveLayerName + ".pdf"), false, export_preset);

  doc.layers.everyItem().visible = false;

  for (var i = 0; i < myVisibleLayers.length; i++){  
    var myLayers = myVisibleLayers[i];
    doc.layers[myLayers].visible =  true; 
    }
    alert('Done Exporting the Layer '+'"'+ myActiveLayerName +'"'+ ' to a PDF!');

Regards,

Mike

[Mitchell5E84]

Hi Mike!

I tried the script but it throws a "The PDF export preset does not exist" message.

[Mike Bro]

Hello Mitchel,

Do you not have the preset [High Quality Print] on your machine? It not you can edit the script and use whatever preset you like.

Just know it must be written just as it appears in InDesign with or without the square brackets.

Maybe post the preset you would like to use and I can repost the code.

Regards,

Mike

[Mitchell5E84]

var doc = app.activeDocument; var myFolder = doc.filePath; export_preset = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("(MODERNA_1v4_IND4)"); if (!(export_preset.isValid)){ alert('The PDF export preset does not exist.'); exit(); } function myGetVisibleLayers(){ var myVisibleLayers = new Array; for (var i = 0; i < doc.layers.length; i++){ if (doc.layers[i].visible == true) { myVisibleLayers.push(doc.layers[i].index); } } return myVisibleLayers; } var myVisibleLayers = myGetVisibleLayers(); myActiveLayerName = doc.activeLayer.name; myActiveLayerIndex = doc.activeLayer.index; doc.layers.everyItem().visible = false; doc.layers[myActiveLayerIndex].visible = true; app.pdfExportPreferences.pageRange = PageRange.ALL_PAGES doc.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, File(myFolder +'/'+ myActiveLayerName + ".pdf"), false, export_preset); doc.layers.everyItem().visible = false; for (var i = 0; i < myVisibleLayers.length; i++){ var myLayers = myVisibleLayers[i]; doc.layers[myLayers].visible = true; } alert('Done Exporting the Layer '+'"'+ myActiveLayerName +'"'+ ' to a PDF!');

[Mike Bro]

I see the preset appears like this in what you posted

export_preset = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("(MODERNA_1v4_IND4)");

What does the preset look like InDesign??

With no square brackets.

export_preset = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("MODERNA_1v4_IND4");

With square brackets.

export_preset = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("[MODERNA_1v4_IND4]");

[Mitchell5E84]

Okay somehow it is working now. Might have missed a character or something.

But now I noticed I made a mistake in my initial post. The situation is this. 

I have 1 Base layer (images) and 10 language layers. In my current situation what I need is that the script does what it does now but It needs to be able to include any other active layer as well.

Is that at all possible or am I being to difficult?

[Mike Bro]

Not difficult as long as you can be consistent with the Base layer naming, otherwise you'll need to update the script each time the Base layer name changes.

[Mitchell5E84]

It's always named 

BASE Basis

[Mike Bro]

Sorry.....

BASE Basis?? or BASE?

[Mitchell5E84]

BASE Basis

[Mike Bro]

Add the line below before the "app.pdfExportPreferences.pageRange = PageRange.ALL_PAGES" line.....

doc.layers.item("BASE Basis").visible = true;

No need to have the BASE Basis layer active "selected"

Regards,

Mike