Script UI - hyperlink with Static text

Report · Aug 03, 2022

Hi guys,

I've started to script and struggle finding how I can make a static text act as an hyperlink?

Here is the code I've done, and the interface I've done so far.

I'd like to be able to clic and access to proper website from the two static texts at the bottom of the window. How can I achieve that ?

Thanks for the help

var myEan14Site = w.add ("group");
var myEan14web = w.add ("group");
myEan14Site.add ("statictext", undefined, "https://www.free-barcode-generator.net/ean-14/");

Report · Aug 03, 2022

You'd have to write a plugin or use VBScript or Applescript probably to achieve that. Extendscript doesn't really call outside programs like a web browser on its own. You could turn the static text into a button the onclick use app.doScript that passes the text as an argument. But not exactly trivial. Maybe someone else has a better idea.

Report · Aug 03, 2022

Hi @-Dain-

Regarding the web launcher, use a temporary webloc (Mac) or url (Win) file and execute it. Many examples already exist on this forum I guess. See also:
https://github.com/indiscripts/IdExtenso/blob/master/etc/Web/%24%24.Browser.jsxinc
Regarding the StaticText thing, here is a super raw draft coded in ten minutes… so do not expect a perfect result, but this illustrates the basic principle:
https://gist.github.com/indiscripts/a8e526ab12f05f5ffade353676228d41

Best,

Marc

Report · Aug 04, 2022

Thanks @Marc Autret

I understand it was not as simple as put a tag 'link:' …

Thanks for the link, I have something on my plate to think about now.

Report · Aug 04, 2022

Marc outstripped me while I was preparing my sample script.
Here's how I do this:

var scriptName = "My Test";
CreateDialog();

function CreateDialog() {
	var tmpFileName = scriptName.replace(/\-\s\d+\.\d+$/, "").replace(/\s+/g, "_").toLowerCase();
	var w = new Window("dialog", scriptName);
	
	w.p = w.add("panel", undefined, "Panel:");
	w.p.orientation = "column";
	w.p.alignment = "fill";
	w.p.alignChildren = "left";
	
	w.p.g = w.p.add("group");
	w.p.g.orientation = "row";
	w.p.g.st = w.p.g.add("statictext", undefined, "Click me");
	w.p.g.st.graphics.foregroundColor =w.p.g.st.graphics.newPen(w.p.g.st.graphics.PenType.SOLID_COLOR, [0, 0, 1], 1);
/*
	var wgx = w.graphics,
	linePen = wgx.newPen(wgx.PenType.SOLID_COLOR,[0,0,1], 1);

	w.p.g.st.preferredSize[1] += 3;

	w.p.g.st.onDraw = function() {
		var gx = this.graphics,
		sz = this.preferredSize,
		y = sz[1]-1;

		gx.drawOSControl();
		gx.newPath();
		gx.moveTo(0, y);
		gx.lineTo(sz[0],y);
		gx.strokePath(linePen);
	};
*/
	w.p.g.st.addEventListener("click", JumpToLink);

	// Buttons
	w.bts = w.add("group");
	w.bts.orientation = "row";   
	w.bts.alignment = "center";
	w.bts.ok = w.bts.add("button", undefined, "OK", {name:"ok"});
	w.bts.cancel = w.bts.add("button", undefined, "Cancel", {name:"cancel"});
	
	var showDialog = w.show();
	
	if (showDialog == 1) {
		Main();
	}	
}

function JumpToLink() {
	var tmpFolder = new Folder(Folder.temp.absoluteURI + "/InDesignScripts");
	tmpFolder.create();
	tmpFolder.create();
	var linkJumper = File(tmpFolder.absoluteURI + "/" + tmpFileName + "_temp.html");

	if (!linkJumper.exists) {
		linkJumper.open("w");
		var linkBody = '<html><head><META HTTP-EQUIV=Refresh CONTENT="0; URL=https://www.free-barcode-generator.net/ean-14/"></head><body> <p></body></html>'
		linkJumper.write(linkBody);
		linkJumper.close();
	}

	linkJumper.execute();
}

function Main() {
	alert("Finished.", scriptName);
}

When you click the 'quasi-link' (static text), the JumpToLink function creates a simple web page with the target URL in the temp folder and executes it.

In older InDesign versions (and currently in ESTK), we could go even further and add an underline so it looks like a real hyperlink:

But in recent versions, something went broken in Script UI and it doesn't work anymore: the static text gets hidden.

I included but out-commented the part of the code that makes the underline. By the way, it was created by Marc.

Report · Aug 04, 2022

Thanks Kasyan !

After declaring var tmpFileName with the proper url, it worked as a charm !

This step is done !

I'm progressing ^^

Thanks a lot

Report · Aug 04, 2022

Hey,

As it happens, opening a web page worked fine the first time but

somehow, even if I change the url, the script keeps opening the first url without taking into account the new one.

I believe we have to implement a way to delete the temporary html file for being able to re-create a new one which will take into account the new url, right ?

Report · Aug 04, 2022

never mind, it's actually because of the use of "ScriptName" variable…

I should be able to work something out ^^

Report · Aug 04, 2022

You can add the version number to the scriptName variable so every time you update the script a new html file will be created and opened.

Script UI - hyperlink with Static text

1 Correct answer