Script to prevent exporting when a layer is present

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

Hi, I want to create a script that will prevent a user from exporting any pdf when unwanted Layers are present. eg: Layer1, Layer Copy

[Sunil Yadav]

You just want to match names of layer to some specific texts & if it matches you want to stop them from exporting?

Sunil

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

Well, is it possible that if a layer doesnt match to a list of my specific layers, then it will stop me from exporting.

[Sunil Yadav]

You need to add event listner.

So that it should be invoked before exporting PDF & that script should check layer names & if your requirement doesn't fullfills it should prevent the default action.

Sunil

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

Thank you, do you have any samples of that script? Im still a newb 

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

I found this script, I just dont know how to change it as an export function, and where to put the Layer finder.

#target Indesign

#targetengine "closeConfirmation"

app.addEventListener("beforeClose", confirmClose);

function confirmClose(e) {

if(e.parent.constructor.name !== "LayoutWindow") return;

if (confirm ("Did you proof your page?") === false) {

e.stopPropagation();

e.preventDefault();

}

}

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

This is the script Ive done so far, unfortunately, it displays all the present Layers on the document.

#target indesign

#targetengine "session"

main();

function main(){

var myBeforeExportEvList = app.addEventListener("beforeExport", checkLayer, false);

function checkLayer(myEvent){

alert("Unwanted Layers is present:"+"\r"+app.activeDocument.layers.everyItem().name.join("\r"));

}

}

[Sunil Yadav · Accepted solution]

Try this below snippet:

#target indesign
#targetengine "session"
main();
function main(){
    var myBeforeExportEvList = app.addEventListener("beforeExport", checkLayer, false);
    }
function checkLayer(e){
    // Here this is your list of layer names to be matched === If matches code will stop export of pdf
    var listOfLayerNames = ["Layer", "Layer Copy", "Test Layer"];
    var match = false;
    for(var i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++){
        for(var j = 0; j < listOfLayerNames.length; j++){
            if(listOfLayerNames[j] == app.activeDocument.layers[i].name){
                match = true;
                break;
                }
            }
        if(match) break;
        }
    if(match){
        e.stopPropagation();
        e.preventDefault();
        }
    }

Best

Sunil

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

This is perfect! thank you so much. How can I create an alert showing all the unwanted layers?

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

Plus, how can I activate the script without actually clicking it? Thanks in advance

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

I modified the script youve sent,"if it matches the list of layers" then it will continue exporting. The only thing I need now is it will display all the unwanted layers that doesnt matched the list and the script will automatically run without manually activating it.

#target indesign

#targetengine "session"

main();

function main(){

var myBeforeExportEvList = app.addEventListener("beforeExport", checkLayer, false);

}

function checkLayer(e){

// Here this is your list of layer names to be matched === If matches code will stop export of pdf

var listOfLayerNames = ["N-Spacing", "Specification Box", "Dieline", "FPO/Variable Area", "ARTWORK", "Pre-Printed Artwork", "Substrate - for foil/clear plastic", "Technical Details"];

var match = true;

for(var i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++){

for(var j = 0; j < listOfLayerNames.length; j++){

if(listOfLayerNames[j] == app.activeDocument.layers[i].name){

match = false;

break;

}

}

if(match) break;

}

if(match){

var r = confirm("Unwanted Layers is present:"+"\r"+app.activeDocument.layers.everyItem().name.join("\r"));

if (r == true)

{

}

else {

e.stopPropagation();

e.preventDefault();

}

}

}

[Sunil Yadav]

You can put this script in start up folder instead of script panel. So every time your application restarts this script will be executed.

Best

Sunil

[Sunil Yadav]

Try this code sample :

#target indesign
#targetengine "session"
main();
function main(){
    var myBeforeExportEvList = app.addEventListener("beforeExport", checkLayer, false);
    }
function checkLayer(e){
    // Here this is your list of layer names to be matched === If matches code will stop export of pdf
    var listOfLayerNames = ["N-Spacing", "Specification Box", "Dieline", "FPO/Variable Area", "ARTWORK", "Pre-Printed Artwork", "Substrate - for foil/clear plastic", "Technical Details"];
    var match = "";
    for(var i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++){
        for(var j = 0; j < listOfLayerNames.length; j++){
            if(listOfLayerNames[j] == app.activeDocument.layers[i].name){
                match += app.activeDocument.layers[i].name+"\n";
                }
            }
        }
    if(match != ""){
        if (!confirm("Unwanted Layers is present:"+"\r"+match)){
            e.stopPropagation();
            e.preventDefault();
            }
        }
    }

Best

Sunil

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

Hi @Sunil Yadav I tried the code youve sent, It shows the matched layers(listOfLayerNames) on the dialog box. Is there a way that it will show whats not on the list? Thank you so much 

[Sunil Yadav]

Sure,

Try this snippet :

#target indesign
#targetengine "session"
main();
function main(){
    var myBeforeExportEvList = app.addEventListener("beforeExport", checkLayer, false);
    }
function checkLayer(e){
    var listOfLayerNames = ["N-Spacing", "Specification Box", "Dieline", "FPO/Variable Area", "ARTWORK", "Pre-Printed Artwork", "Substrate - for foil/clear plastic", "Technical Details"];
    var match = "";
    var outOfList = "";
    for(var i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++){
        for(var j = 0; j < listOfLayerNames.length; j++){
            if(listOfLayerNames[j] == app.activeDocument.layers[i].name) match += app.activeDocument.layers[i].name+"\n";
            else outOfList += app.activeDocument.layers[i].name+"\n";
            }
        }
    if(match != ""){
        if (!confirm("Unwanted Layers is present:"+"\r"+outOfList)){
            e.stopPropagation();
            e.preventDefault();
            }
        }
    }

Best

Sunil

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

Hello @Sunil Yadav  im having this error. The higlighted layers are those whose not on the list, but when I scrolled down the dialg box, it still shows all the layer names

[Sunil Yadav · Accepted solution]

Just one more validation added. Now you check & see:

#target indesign
#targetengine "session"
main();
function main(){
    var myBeforeExportEvList = app.addEventListener("beforeExport", checkLayer, false);
    }
function checkLayer(e){
    var listOfLayerNames = ["N-Spacing", "Specification Box", "Dieline", "FPO/Variable Area", "ARTWORK", "Pre-Printed Artwork", "Substrate - for foil/clear plastic", "Technical Details"];
    var match = "";
    var outOfList = "";
    for(var i = 0; i < app.activeDocument.layers.length; i++){
        var found = false;
        for(var j = 0; j < listOfLayerNames.length; j++){
            if(listOfLayerNames[j] == app.activeDocument.layers[i].name){
                match += app.activeDocument.layers[i].name+"\n";
                found = true;
                break;
                }
            }
        if(!found) outOfList += app.activeDocument.layers[i].name+"\n";
        }
    if(match != ""){
        if (!confirm("Unwanted Layers is present:"+"\r"+outOfList)){
            e.stopPropagation();
            e.preventDefault();
            }
        }
    }

Best

Sunil

[Joseph Christian5C7F]

This is perfect! thank you so much!