Script to place pdf file pages in indesign with its page size

[r36058804bwut]

Hi 

Iam beginner in indesign and wanted a script that place pdf pages with page range into indesign file with pdf page size .

I already reached to a script by asking chat gpt but  ( the problem is that the first page is empty )

Can you fix this problem please

here is the code 

---------------------------------------------

#target indesign

function main() {
// Suppress alert dialogs
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.NEVER_INTERACT;

try {
// Create a dialog
var dialog = new Window("dialog", "Place PDF Pages");

// Add a panel for PDF selection
var pdfPanel = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Select PDF");
pdfPanel.orientation = "row";

// Add a button to select the PDF
var selectPDFBtn = pdfPanel.add("button", undefined, "Select PDF");

// Add a static text to display the selected PDF path
var pdfPathText = pdfPanel.add("statictext", undefined, "No file selected");
pdfPathText.size = [300, 20];

// Add a panel for page range input
var rangePanel = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Page Range (e.g., 1-5, 7, 9-10)");
var rangeInput = rangePanel.add("edittext", undefined, "");
rangeInput.size = [300, 20];

// Add an OK and Cancel button
dialog.add("button", undefined, "OK");
dialog.add("button", undefined, "Cancel");

// Handle the PDF selection button click
selectPDFBtn.onClick = function () {
var pdfFile = File.openDialog("Select a PDF file");
if (pdfFile) {
pdfPathText.text = pdfFile.fsName;
}
};

// Show the dialog and get the result
if (dialog.show() != 1) return;

// Get the selected PDF file path
var pdfFilePath = pdfPathText.text;
if (pdfFilePath == "No file selected") return;

// Parse the page range
var pagesToPlace = parsePageRange(rangeInput.text);
if (!pagesToPlace.length) {
alert("Invalid page range.");
return;
}

var pdfFile = new File(pdfFilePath);
var pdfPlaceOptions = app.pdfPlacePreferences;
var doc = app.documents.add(); // Create a new document

// Use the first page of the document for the first PDF page
var firstPage = doc.pages[0];
pdfPlaceOptions.pageNumber = pagesToPlace[0];

// Place the first PDF page on the first InDesign page
var pdfPage = firstPage.place(pdfFile)[0];

// Get the dimensions of the placed PDF
var pdfBounds = pdfPage.geometricBounds;
var pdfWidth = pdfBounds[3] - pdfBounds[1];
var pdfHeight = pdfBounds[2] - pdfBounds[0];

// Adjust the document page size to match the PDF page size
doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = pdfWidth;
doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = pdfHeight;

// Ensure there are no margin issues
firstPage.marginPreferences.properties = { top: 0, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0 };

// Center the placed PDF on the page
pdfPage.fit(FitOptions.FRAME_TO_CONTENT);
pdfPage.move([0, 0]);

// Loop through the remaining pages, placing them one by one
for (var i = 1; i < pagesToPlace.length; i++) {
try {
var pageNumber = pagesToPlace[i];
pdfPlaceOptions.pageNumber = pageNumber;

// Add a new page for each remaining PDF page
var newPage = doc.pages.add();

// Place the PDF page on the new InDesign page
pdfPage = newPage.place(pdfFile)[0];

// Get the dimensions of the placed PDF
pdfBounds = pdfPage.geometricBounds;
pdfWidth = pdfBounds[3] - pdfBounds[1];
pdfHeight = pdfBounds[2] - pdfBounds[0];

// Adjust the document page size to match the PDF page size
doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = pdfWidth;
doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = pdfHeight;

// Ensure there are no margin issues
newPage.marginPreferences.properties = { top: 0, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0 };

// Center the placed PDF on the page
pdfPage.fit(FitOptions.FRAME_TO_CONTENT);
pdfPage.move([0, 0]);

} catch (e) {
alert("Error placing page number " + pageNumber + ": " + e.message);
}
}
} catch (e) {
alert("An error occurred: " + e.message);
} finally {
// Restore the original user interaction level
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.INTERACT_WITH_ALL;
}
}

// Function to parse the page range input
function parsePageRange(rangeStr) {
var pages = [];
var ranges = rangeStr.split(/,\s*/);

for (var i = 0; i < ranges.length; i++) {
var range = ranges[i].split("-");
if (range.length == 1) {
pages.push(parseInt(range[0]));
} else if (range.length == 2) {
var start = parseInt(range[0]);
var end = parseInt(range[1]);
for (var j = start; j <= end; j++) {
pages.push(j);
}
}
}

return pages;
}

// Execute the main function
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, "Place Multiple PDF Pages");

-------------------------------

Thanks

[r36058804bwut]

Any help Here !!!!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

There is Place Multipage PDF script included with InDesign. 

[r36058804bwut]

multipage pdf included in indesign place pdf pages in indesign default page size ( A4 )

This script place pdf pages with their orginal size

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

multipage pdf included in indesign place pdf pages in indesign default page size ( A4 )

This script place pdf pages with their orginal size

By @r36058804bwut

You can use your open / active document - so you can set whatever page size you want.

[r36058804bwut]

I'm sorry 

I want page range

multipdf script included in indesign start with page 1 only

there is no page range

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

You are welcome.

[r36058804bwut]

Any help here

[r36058804bwut]

Any help here to chech the above code that make the first page is blank

[sak95456465]

great but there is no (all) choise and page number 1 is not placed correctly for me

[r36058804bwut · Accepted solution]

That is my problem also , I tried to fix it but failed

Can you try to fix it ?

the first page appears outside indesign page ( above ) and I should make its fitting ( frame proportionlly ) to apear

look at the screenshot

[r36058804bwut]

problem solved by this script

----------------------------------------------------

function main() {
// Suppress alert dialogs
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.NEVER_INTERACT;

try {
// Create a dialog
var dialog = new Window("dialog", "Place PDF or InDesign Pages");

// Add a panel for file selection
var filePanel = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Select PDF or InDesign File");
filePanel.orientation = "row";

// Add a button to select the file
var selectFileBtn = filePanel.add("button", undefined, "Select File");

// Add a static text to display the selected file path
var filePathText = filePanel.add("statictext", undefined, "No file selected");
filePathText.size = [300, 20];

// Add a panel for page range input
var rangePanel = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Page Range (e.g., 1-5, 7, 9-10)");
var rangeInput = rangePanel.add("edittext", undefined, "");
rangeInput.size = [300, 20];

// Add an OK and Cancel button
dialog.add("button", undefined, "OK");
dialog.add("button", undefined, "Cancel");

// Handle the file selection button click
selectFileBtn.onClick = function () {
var file = File.openDialog("Select a PDF or InDesign file", "*.pdf;*.indd", false);
if (file) {
filePathText.text = file.fsName;
}
};

// Show the dialog and get the result
if (dialog.show() != 1) return;

// Get the selected file path
var filePath = filePathText.text;
if (filePath == "No file selected") return;

// Parse the page range
var pagesToPlace = parsePageRange(rangeInput.text);
if (!pagesToPlace.length) {
alert("Invalid page range.");
return;
}

var file = new File(filePath);
var fileType = file.name.split('.').pop().toLowerCase();

var doc = app.documents.add(); // Create a new document with default settings
var docPreferences = doc.documentPreferences;
docPreferences.facingPages = false;

// Handle the first page separately
var firstPage = doc.pages[0];
firstPage.marginPreferences.properties = { top: 0, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0 };

if (fileType === "pdf") {
placePDF(file, pagesToPlace, doc, firstPage);
} else if (fileType === "indd") {
placeINDD(file, pagesToPlace, doc);
} else {
alert("Unsupported file type.");
return;
}

// Clear and reset the first page content
firstPage = doc.pages[0];
firstPage.pageItems.everyItem().remove();
placeContentOnPage(file, 0, doc, firstPage, fileType);

} catch (e) {
alert("An error occurred: " + e.message);
} finally {
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.INTERACT_WITH_ALL;
}
}

// Function to place content on a page
function placeContentOnPage(file, pageNumber, doc, page, fileType) {
if (fileType === "pdf") {
var pdfPlaceOptions = app.pdfPlacePreferences;
pdfPlaceOptions.pageNumber = pageNumber + 1;
var pdfPage = page.place(file)[0];
var pdfBounds = pdfPage.geometricBounds;
var pdfWidth = pdfBounds[3] - pdfBounds[1];
var pdfHeight = pdfBounds[2] - pdfBounds[0];

doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = pdfWidth;
doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = pdfHeight;

pdfPage.geometricBounds = [0, 0, pdfHeight, pdfWidth];
pdfPage.fit(FitOptions.FRAME_TO_CONTENT);
} else if (fileType === "indd") {
var inddDocument = app.open(file, false); // Open the InDesign file without showing the document
var inddPage = inddDocument.pages[pageNumber];
inddPage.pageItems.everyItem().duplicate(page);

var inddBounds = page.pageItems[0].geometricBounds;
var inddWidth = inddBounds[3] - inddBounds[1];
var inddHeight = inddBounds[2] - inddBounds[0];

doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = inddWidth;
doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = inddHeight;

page.pageItems.everyItem().geometricBounds = [0, 0, inddHeight, inddWidth];
page.pageItems.everyItem().fit(FitOptions.FRAME_TO_CONTENT);

inddDocument.close(SaveOptions.NO); // Close the InDesign document without saving
}
}

// Function to place PDF pages
function placePDF(pdfFile, pagesToPlace, doc, firstPage) {
for (var i = 0; i < pagesToPlace.length; i++) {
var page = i === 0 ? firstPage : doc.pages.add();
placeContentOnPage(pdfFile, pagesToPlace[i] - 1, doc, page, "pdf");
}
}

// Function to place InDesign pages
function placeINDD(inddFile, pagesToPlace, doc) {
for (var i = 0; i < pagesToPlace.length; i++) {
var page = i === 0 ? doc.pages[0] : doc.pages.add();
placeContentOnPage(inddFile, pagesToPlace[i] - 1, doc, page, "indd");
}
}

// Function to parse the page range input
function parsePageRange(rangeStr) {
var pages = [];
var ranges = rangeStr.split(/,\s*/);

for (var i = 0; i < ranges.length; i++) {
var range = ranges[i].split("-");
if (range.length == 1) {
pages.push(parseInt(range[0]));
} else if (range.length == 2) {
var start = parseInt(range[0]);
var end = parseInt(range[1]);
for (var j = start; j <= end; j++) {
pages.push(j);
}
}
}

return pages;
}

// Execute the main function
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, "Place PDF or InDesign Pages");

[sak95456465]

Thanks It is fixed but please add (all pages) choise.

[r36058804bwut]

Sorry , I am a begiiner , I created this script with chat gpt , if you can add ( select all pages ) do it

Thanks

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thanks It is fixed but please add (all pages) choise.

By @sak95456465

You can just enter "1-N" - where N is the number of pages in the document. 

[Laubender]

Hi @r36058804bwut ,

here is another script that should do what you want ( and perhaps more ) :

ID-MultiPageImporter
Script for automating the placing (import) of PDF and InDesign files inside Adobe InDesign

Curated by Mike Edel, originally written by Scott Zanelli
https://github.com/mike-edel/ID-MultiPageImporter

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[r36058804bwut]

Hi laubender

Thanks for your help , but the script you attached doesn't contain page range

[Laubender]

Hi @r36058804bwut ,

hm, ID-MultiPageImporter has a page range and also a starting page option where the first imported PDF page or InDesign page should be placed.

Well, but it seems that there is no way to give a range like "place the following PDF pages":

1-4,6-10

Or to place the PDFs at pages 3-4 and then 10-15 of a given InDesign document.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[r36058804bwut]

yes , that's excatly I mean

[r36058804bwut]

Hi

--------------------

I tried with chat gpt to make an option to select all pages at once but must write the total number of pdf file pages and select all pages

--------------------------

function main() {
// Suppress alert dialogs
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.NEVER_INTERACT;

try {
// Create a dialog
var dialog = new Window("dialog", "Place PDF or InDesign Pages");

// Add a panel for file selection
var filePanel = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Select PDF or InDesign File");
filePanel.orientation = "row";

// Add a button to select the file
var selectFileBtn = filePanel.add("button", undefined, "Select File");

// Add a static text to display the selected file path
var filePathText = filePanel.add("statictext", undefined, "No file selected");
filePathText.size = [300, 20];

// Add a panel for page range input
var rangePanel = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Page Range (e.g., 1-5, 7, 9-10)");
rangePanel.orientation = "row";

// Add a checkbox to select all pages
var selectAllCheckbox = rangePanel.add("checkbox", undefined, "Select All Pages");

// Add a text input for custom page ranges
var rangeInput = rangePanel.add("edittext", undefined, "");
rangeInput.size = [200, 20];
rangeInput.enabled = false; // Disable initially

// Enable/Disable range input based on checkbox state
selectAllCheckbox.onClick = function () {
rangeInput.enabled = !selectAllCheckbox.value;
};

// Add a panel to input total pages (only visible for PDFs)
var totalPagesPanel = dialog.add("panel", undefined, "Total Pages in PDF");
var totalPagesInput = totalPagesPanel.add("edittext", undefined, "");
totalPagesInput.size = [50, 20];
totalPagesPanel.visible = false; // Initially hidden

// Add an OK and Cancel button
dialog.add("button", undefined, "OK");
dialog.add("button", undefined, "Cancel");

// Handle the file selection button click
selectFileBtn.onClick = function () {
var file = File.openDialog("Select a PDF or InDesign file", "*.pdf;*.indd", false);
if (file) {
filePathText.text = file.fsName;
var fileType = file.name.split('.').pop().toLowerCase();
totalPagesPanel.visible = (fileType === "pdf");
}
};

// Show the dialog and get the result
if (dialog.show() != 1) return;

// Get the selected file path
var filePath = filePathText.text;
if (filePath == "No file selected") return;

var file = new File(filePath);
var fileType = file.name.split('.').pop().toLowerCase();

var doc = app.documents.add(); // Create a new document with default settings
var docPreferences = doc.documentPreferences;
docPreferences.facingPages = false;

var totalPages;
if (fileType === "pdf") {
totalPages = parseInt(totalPagesInput.text);
if (isNaN(totalPages) || totalPages <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid number of total pages.");
return;
}
} else if (fileType === "indd") {
var inddDocument = app.open(file, false);
totalPages = inddDocument.pages.length;
inddDocument.close(SaveOptions.NO);
}

// Parse the page range
var pagesToPlace;
if (selectAllCheckbox.value) {
pagesToPlace = [];
for (var i = 0; i < totalPages; i++) {
pagesToPlace.push(i + 1);
}
} else {
pagesToPlace = parsePageRange(rangeInput.text);
if (!pagesToPlace.length) {
alert("Invalid page range.");
return;
}
}

// Handle the first page separately
var firstPage = doc.pages[0];
firstPage.marginPreferences.properties = { top: 0, bottom: 0, left: 0, right: 0 };

if (fileType === "pdf") {
placePDF(file, pagesToPlace, doc, firstPage);
} else if (fileType === "indd") {
placeINDD(file, pagesToPlace, doc);
} else {
alert("Unsupported file type.");
return;
}

// Clear and reset the first page content
firstPage = doc.pages[0];
firstPage.pageItems.everyItem().remove();
placeContentOnPage(file, 0, doc, firstPage, fileType);

} catch (e) {
alert("An error occurred: " + e.message);
} finally {
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.INTERACT_WITH_ALL;
}
}

// Function to place content on a page
function placeContentOnPage(file, pageNumber, doc, page, fileType) {
if (fileType === "pdf") {
var pdfPlaceOptions = app.pdfPlacePreferences;
pdfPlaceOptions.pageNumber = pageNumber + 1;
var pdfPage = page.place(file)[0];
var pdfBounds = pdfPage.geometricBounds;
var pdfWidth = pdfBounds[3] - pdfBounds[1];
var pdfHeight = pdfBounds[2] - pdfBounds[0];

doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = pdfWidth;
doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = pdfHeight;

pdfPage.geometricBounds = [0, 0, pdfHeight, pdfWidth];
pdfPage.fit(FitOptions.FRAME_TO_CONTENT);
} else if (fileType === "indd") {
var inddDocument = app.open(file, false); // Open the InDesign file without showing the document
var inddPage = inddDocument.pages[pageNumber];
inddPage.pageItems.everyItem().duplicate(page);

var inddBounds = page.pageItems[0].geometricBounds;
var inddWidth = inddBounds[3] - inddBounds[1];
var inddHeight = inddBounds[2] - inddBounds[0];

doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = inddWidth;
doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = inddHeight;

page.pageItems.everyItem().geometricBounds = [0, 0, inddHeight, inddWidth];
page.pageItems.everyItem().fit(FitOptions.FRAME_TO_CONTENT);

inddDocument.close(SaveOptions.NO); // Close the InDesign document without saving
}
}

// Function to place PDF pages
function placePDF(pdfFile, pagesToPlace, doc, firstPage) {
for (var i = 0; i < pagesToPlace.length; i++) {
var page = i === 0 ? firstPage : doc.pages.add();
placeContentOnPage(pdfFile, pagesToPlace[i] - 1, doc, page, "pdf");
}
}

// Function to place InDesign pages
function placeINDD(inddFile, pagesToPlace, doc) {
var inddDocument = app.open(inddFile, false);
for (var i = 0; i < pagesToPlace.length; i++) {
var page = i === 0 ? doc.pages[0] : doc.pages.add();
placeContentOnPage(inddFile, pagesToPlace[i] - 1, doc, page, "indd");
}
inddDocument.close(SaveOptions.NO);
}

// Function to parse the page range input
function parsePageRange(rangeStr) {
var pages = [];
var ranges = rangeStr.split(/,\s*/);

for (var i = 0; i < ranges.length; i++) {
var range = ranges[i].split("-");
if (range.length == 1) {
pages.push(parseInt(range[0]));
} else if (range.length == 2) {
var start = parseInt(range[0]);
var end = parseInt(range[1]);
for (var j = start; j <= end; j++) {
pages.push(j);
}
}
}

return pages;
}

// Execute the main function
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, "Place PDF or InDesign Pages");

--------------------------------

please , If anyone can remove box to write the total number of pages , I'll be thank him

thanks

[r36058804bwut]

Any help here ????????????????????????????

[Peter Spier]

It looks like from the comments above that you want to place multiple page ranges at once, and the script recommended by @Laubender  (and me) can handle only one range. If that's the case, I would approach this by creating a file for each page range, then move the pages into one file.