Script to find Variable Text and Convert to Text

Hi MadMac55,

also look into this post where I repaired the damaged code:

select every Variable Text Frame and turn it to static
Laubender, Feb 21, 2018

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/select-every-variable-text-frame-and-turn-it-to-static/m-p/9657363#M86849

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Fascinating approach, both of you.  So fast.  And flexible for other text variables as well.  Can't say thank you enough for sharing your expertise.   🙂

Hi MadMac55,

if you try to use a menu action you have to select every of the found texts before you invoke it.

With your code you convert all text variable instances of all kind in your selection you started with.

Note: Texts have a collection of textVariableInstances you could loop. GREP is not necessary.

// Start with selected text:
var text = app.selection[0];

// Collect all text variable instances of all kind in this selected text:
var textVarInstances = text.textVariableInstances.everyItem().getElements();

// Loop the found text variable instances:
for( var n=0; n<textVarInstances.length; n++ )
{
	// Test if a particular one is of type Modification Date:
	if( textVarInstances[n].associatedTextVariable.variableType == VariableTypes.MODIFICATION_DATE_TYPE )
	{
		// Then convert that instance to text:
		textVarInstances[n].convertToText();
	};
};

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

Try the following

main();
function main() {
// Find variable text by Modificaton Date
app.findGrepPreferences.findWhat = "~o";
var a = app.selection[0].parentStory.findGrep();
app.select(a)

// Convert variable to text
app.menuActions.item("$ID/Convert Variable to Text").invoke();

}

-Manan