Script to Export Multiple PDFs at Once

[rahulb1976]

Hi All

I’m trying to find out how to export two PDF's at once from Indesign CC. I'm aiming to get 1 PDFx-1a PDF (High res with crop and bleed) and 1 smallest File Size (Cropped, no marks)? Could you point me in the right direction or if anyone has a working script I could use that would be amazing. My brain is going to fall out my ears.

Many thanks

Rahul

[TᴀW]

Check this out:

https://www.id-extras.com/script-to-export-multiple-pdfs-at-once

Ariel

[rahulb1976]

Thank you however I've tried this but the coding is incorrect. Could you resupply it on here? I keep getting an error with it.

Want to test this today 20th April if possible. Many thanks.

[Jongware]

Why not share the error? It may help us help you.

[rahulb1976]

Got an error with it - I don't know anything about scripts, so any help or reconfiguration would be amazing!

// BS"D

// All rights reserved (c) 2015 by Id-Extras.com

// Free to use and modify but do not delete this copyright attribution.

// This script will export 2 pdfs of the current document

// Choose the PDF presets by altering their names below

// The second PDF gets a suffix added to its name.

// Modify the line below beginning name2 = to change the suffix.

// For more InDesign scripts: www.Id-Extras.com

d = app.activeDocument;

// Here you can choose the PDF preset

preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("200dpi");

preset2 = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("300dpi");

if (!(preset1.isValid && preset2.isValid)){

alert("One of the presets does not exist. Please check spelling carefully.");

exit();

}

if (d.saved){

thePath = String(d.fullName).replace(/\..+$/, "") + ".pdf";

thePath = String(new File(thePath).saveDlg());

}

else{

thePath = String((new File).saveDlg());

}

thePath = thePath.replace(/\.pdf$/, "");

name1 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "LR")+".pdf";

name2 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "HR") +".pdf";

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name1), false, preset1);

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2);

[Peter Kahrel]

Looks as if you're treating this as an AppleScript. But it's JavaScript.

[rahulb1976]

Hi Peter thanks for this. If it does work - I know its a silly question but how do I make this work with indesign? I know nothing about scripts - apple or java. Does this script work?

[Peter Kahrel]

Copy the script to InDesign's script folder, then run it from InDesign's Scripts panel. See here for details:

https://indesignsecrets.com/how-to-install-scripts-in-indesign.php

P.

[rahulb1976]

Peter - great work - however can you tell me what im doing wrong. I'm almost there but not sure about the characters for the indesign pdf presets.

d = app.activeDocument;

// Here you can choose the PDF preset

preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.[HighQualityPrint]("300dpi");

preset2 = app.pdfExportPresets.[Smallest File Size]("100dpi");

if (!(preset1.isValid && preset2.isValid)){

alert("One of the presets does not exist. Please check spelling carefully.");

exit();

}

if (d.saved){

thePath = String(d.fullName).replace(/\..+$/, "") + ".pdf";

thePath = String(new File(thePath).saveDlg());

}

else{

thePath = String((new File).saveDlg());

}

thePath = thePath.replace(/\.pdf$/, "");

name1 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "LR")+".pdf";

name2 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "HR") +".pdf";

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name1), false, preset1);

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2);

Cheers for your help so far, greatly appreciated.

[Peter Kahrel]

You'll have to specify PDF presets that exist on your disk. This one:

preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.[HighQualityPrint]("300dpi");

should be this:

preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.item ('[High Quality Print]');

and for preset2 you should use a similar format.

(mind the spaces). The ones in Ariel's script are specific for his system (sorry, Ariel, I seem to have hijacked this thread. . .)

P.

[rahulb1976]

Okay - so the script worked! Yay! however its only creating one pdf - not two and its not renaming _LR _HR. I dont have a clue why it's working completley. Ive created two presets myself Print 1 and Lowres as test presets. Only one is working. See Code. I'm happy to wait on this, but just really need it by the end of next week. So close I can feel it!

d = app.activeDocument;

// Here you can choose the PDF preset

preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.item ('Print1');

preset2 = app.pdfExportPresets.item ('Lowres');

if (!(preset1.isValid && preset2.isValid)){

alert("One of the presets does not exist. Please check spelling carefully.");

exit();

}

if (d.saved){

thePath = String(d.fullName).replace(/\..+$/, "") + ".pdf";

thePath = String(new File(thePath).saveDlg());

}

else{

thePath = String((new File).saveDlg());

}

thePath = thePath.replace(/\.pdf$/, "");

name1 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "LR")+".pdf";

name2 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "HR") +".pdf";

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name1), false, preset1);

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2);

[rahulb1976]

Okay - so the script worked! Yay! however its only creating one pdf - not two and its not renaming _LR _HR. I dont have a clue why it's working completly. Ive created two presets myself Print 1 and Lowres as test presets. Only one is working. See Code. I'm happy to wait on this, but just really need it by the end of this week. So close I can feel it!

d = app.activeDocument;

// Here you can choose the PDF preset

preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.item ('Print1');

preset2 = app.pdfExportPresets.item ('Lowres');

if (!(preset1.isValid && preset2.isValid)){

alert("One of the presets does not exist. Please check spelling carefully.");

exit();

}

if (d.saved){

thePath = String(d.fullName).replace(/\..+$/, "") + ".pdf";

thePath = String(new File(thePath).saveDlg());

}

else{

thePath = String((new File).saveDlg());

}

thePath = thePath.replace(/\.pdf$/, "");

name1 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "LR")+".pdf";

name2 = thePath.replace(/AW$/, "HR") +".pdf";

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name1), false, preset1);

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2);

[Peter Kahrel]

Looks as if the script expects the names of the InDesign files to end in AW. Try this:

name1 = thePath + "LR.pdf";
name2 = thePath + "HR.pdf";

[rahulb1976]

Fantastic - Thanks very much for your help! Greatly appreciated!

Rahul

[TᴀW]

Thanks for the help, Peter!

The script that rahul1976 is posting here has been modified (possibly by me for someone else). The original version on the website that I linked to initially should work fine as is (see my initial post above).

Ariel

[schuba]

Hello

Im looking for a way to iprove this script a little - that it will

- save pdfs in current indd document location

- add active layer name to output name - filename_layername_LR

anyone could help me with it ?

[crazyPanda]

Hello

Im looking for a way to iprove this script a little - that it will

- save pdfs in current indd document location

- add active layer name to output name - filename_layername_LR

anyone could help me with it ?

d = app.activeDocument;
preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("[PDF/X-1a:2001]");
preset2 = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("[Smallest File Size]");
if (!(preset1.isValid && preset2.isValid))
{
     alert("One of the presets does not exist. Please check spelling carefully.");
     exit();
}
thePath = d.filePath + "/" + d.name.replace(".indd", "") + "_" + d.activeLayer.name;
name1 = thePath + "_HR.pdf";
name2 = thePath + "_LR.pdf";
//export PDFs as Background Tasks
d.asynchronousExportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name1), false, preset1); //Hi-Res PDF
d.asynchronousExportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2); //Lo-Res PDF

[schuba]

Thank you very much. it is working, you've made my day

[Rough Design]

Thank you so much, this is a lifesaver for me. Is there a way to save the files into separate folders on your HD?

[shayla888]

This is freaking fantastic!! I adjusted the code (below) to save out 3 PDFs at once and it works. YAY! What a time saver.

// BS"D

// All rights reserved (c) 2015 by Id-Extras.com

// Free to use and modify but do not delete this copyright attribution.

// This script will export 3 pdfs of the current document

// Choose the PDF presets by altering their names below

// The second PDF gets a suffix added to its name.

// Modify the line below beginning name2 = to change the suffix.

// For more InDesign scripts: www.Id-Extras.com

d = app.activeDocument;

// Here you can choose the PDF preset

preset1 = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("PRINT");

preset2 = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("PRESS");

preset3 = app.pdfExportPresets.itemByName("[Smallest File Size]");

if (!(preset1.isValid && preset2.isValid)){

alert("One of the presets does not exist. Please check spelling carefully.");

exit();

}

if (d.saved){

thePath = String(d.fullName).replace(/\..+$/, "") + ".pdf";

thePath = String(new File(thePath).saveDlg());

}

else{

thePath = String((new File).saveDlg());

}

thePath = thePath.replace(/\.pdf$/, "");

name1 = thePath+"_PRINT.pdf";

// Here you can set the suffix at the end of the name

name2 = thePath+"_PRESS.pdf";

name3 = thePath+"_DIGITAL.pdf";

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name1), false, preset1);

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2);

d.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name3), false, preset3);

[briann57175377]

hi,

Can the output pdf not override another pdf with the same name?

I have two files, when the name is stripped with regex, ends up with the same file name. When I export the pdfs:

with...

doc.asynchronousExportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2);

i get: Cannot save to the file because it is in use by one of more background tasks/

---because the first pdf is being generated by indesign.---

if i do,

doc.exportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, new File(name2), false, preset2);

It just overwrites the first file with the second file.

Can it check for the existence of a file name and append a number? instead of replacing the first pdf.

i think a file name check has to be created at the name2

name2 = thePath+ ".pdf"; 

or is there an easier way? instead of new File(name2)...

any pointer would be appreciated.

[crazyPanda]

Here is an example that will export the current document as Test.pdf on the desktop. If the file(s) already exists it will add an counter: Test_1.pdf, Test_2.pdf, ...

var myPDFpreset = app.pdfExportPresets[0];
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var saveFolder = "~/desktop/";
var name = "Test";
var versionCounter = 1;
var pdf_fullname = new File (saveFolder + name + ".pdf");
while (pdf_fullname.exists)
    {
        pdf_fullname = File (saveFolder + name + "_" + versionCounter + ".pdf"); 
        versionCounter++;
    }
doc.asynchronousExportFile(ExportFormat.PDF_TYPE, pdf_fullname, false, myPDFpreset);

[briann57175377]

thank you!

i can adapt this to my needs.

[crazyPanda]

fyi:

when I omit the while part in my sample script it will overwrite the existing file without any problems when using the asynchronousExportFile function. I don't know why it doesn't work in your own script.

[briann57175377]

My same-named pdfs are created almost simultaneously, almost within the same second—as they are batched.

it works now with the ExportFile, the only downside is that it locks up InDesign. Which I can live with.

If i can insert a pause or a event listener, then maybe I can use asynchronousExportFile.

I might also be able to use asynchronousExportFile if the same named pdfs are not in the queue in a sequential order Like when these same named pdfs are part of a larger group, I think indesign prints them randomly.

Or print one set first, then the other set.

An even listener might be the more elegant approach, i need to look into it.