Scripting help with Place text from a specific directory

[larryp22136904]

Hello:
I've written a script to format the Horoscope for our newspaper. But when I run it, the place feature opens the last folder InDesign used, as it normally does. But I want it to open a specific directory. I've tried several versions of place, but none seem to work.
(The script deletes the text we don't need, formats the other text, and saves the finished text box as a snippet in a directory. We use TownNews for pagination, so we can auto import the snippet when needed.)

I did get the script to work if I use the Folder feature, but it places the new text file over the current text file on the document. Of course, I can make the script delete the current text box and then place.
But I would like to have the script "place..." and open a specifiic directory.
I've tried everything I know of to get the "Place..." to open a specific directory, but no luck.
Here is a copy of the script.
I would appreciate any feedback/help anyone can offfer.
Thanks. 
Larry

  var allPgs = app.activeDocument.pages;

    for(var pCnt = 0; pCnt < allPgs.length; pCnt++)

        var pg = allPgs[pCnt];

        var masItms = pg.masterPageItems;

app.menuActions.itemByName('Place...').invoke();

app.findTextPreferences = app.changeTextPreferences = null;  

main();

function main() {

if (app.layoutWindows.length == 0) return;

if (app.selection.length != 1 || !app.selection[0].hasOwnProperty('changeGrep')) {

alert('Please select only one textframe or text range!');

return;

}

var changeObject = app.selection[0].parentStory;

if (changeObject.hasOwnProperty('characters') && changeObject.characters.length == 0) return;

var doc = app.documents[0];

var style;

var options = app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties;

app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

// Query [[8Horoscope_Find_From_Beginning_To_ARIES]] -- If you delete this comment you break the update function

try {

app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties = ({includeFootnotes:true, kanaSensitive:true, widthSensitive:true});

app.findGrepPreferences.properties = ({findWhat:"(\\A.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r(?=ARIES))|(\\A.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r(?=ARIES))"});

app.changeGrepPreferences.properties = ({});

changeObject.changeGrep();

} catch (e) {alert(e + ' at line ' + e.line)}

app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

// Query [[6Horoscope_Find_Delete_Bottom]] -- If you delete this comment you break the update function

try {

app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties = ({includeFootnotes:true, kanaSensitive:true, widthSensitive:true});

app.findGrepPreferences.properties = ({findWhat:"(\\rFOR\\sTODAY\\’S\\sBIRTHDAY.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+)|(\\rFOR\\sTODAY\\’S\\sBIRTHDAY.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+)|(\\rFOR\\sTODAY\\’S\\sBIRTHDAY.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+)|(\\rFOR\\sTODAY\\’S\\sBIRTHDAY.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+\\r.+)"});

app.changeGrepPreferences.properties = ({});

changeObject.changeGrep();

} catch (e) {alert(e + ' at line ' + e.line)}

app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

// Query [[7Horoscope_Find_Change_Signs_To_Bold]] -- If you delete this comment you break the update function

try {

app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties = ({includeFootnotes:true, kanaSensitive:true, widthSensitive:true});

app.findGrepPreferences.properties = ({findWhat:"ARIES\\r.+\\r|TAURUS\\r.+\\r|GEMINI\\r.+\\r|CANCER\\r.+\\r|LEO\\r.+\\r|VIRGO\\r.+\\r|LIBRA\\r.+|SCORPIO\\r.+\\r|SAGITTARIUS\\r.+\\r|(?#)CAPRICORN\\r.+\\r|AQUARIUS\\r.+\\r|PISCES\\r.+\\r"});

app.changeGrepPreferences.properties = ({appliedFont:"News Gothic T", fontStyle:"Bold"});

changeObject.changeGrep();

} catch (e) {alert(e + ' at line ' + e.line)}

app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

// Query [[9Horoscope_Delete_Return_At_Bottom]] -- If you delete this comment you break the update function

try {

app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties = ({includeFootnotes:true, kanaSensitive:true, widthSensitive:true});

app.findGrepPreferences.properties = ({findWhat:"\\Z\\r"});

app.changeGrepPreferences.properties = ({});

changeObject.changeGrep();

} catch (e) {alert(e + ' at line ' + e.line)}

app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties = options;

app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

// Query [[Horoscope_NEW_Delate_Text_After_Pisces_0422]] -- If you delete this comment you break the update function

try {

app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties = ({includeFootnotes:true, kanaSensitive:true, widthSensitive:true});

app.findGrepPreferences.properties = ({findWhat:"\\rFOR TODAY’S BIRTHDAY\\r.+\\rBirthdate of:.+\\r.+\\r.+"});

app.changeGrepPreferences.properties = ({});

changeObject.changeGrep();

} catch (e) {alert(e + ' at line ' + e.line)}

app.findChangeGrepOptions.properties = options;

app.findGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;

app.changeGrepPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING;    

};

function getStyleByString(docOrGroup, string, property) {

if (string == '[No character style]') return docOrGroup[property][0];

if (string == '[No paragraph style]') return docOrGroup[property][0];

if (string == 'NormalParagraphStyle') return docOrGroup[property][1];

stringResult = string.match (/^(.*?[^\\]):(.*)$/);

var styleName = (stringResult) ? stringResult[1] : string;

styleName = styleName.replace (/\\:/g, ':');

remainingString = (stringResult) ? stringResult[2] : '';

var newProperty = (stringResult) ? property.replace(/s$/, '') + 'Groups' : property;

var styleOrGroup = docOrGroup[newProperty].itemByName(styleName);

if (remainingString.length > 0 && styleOrGroup.isValid) styleOrGroup = getStyleByString (styleOrGroup, remainingString, property);

return styleOrGroup;

};

var dir = Folder("/\\10.10.1.15/tcms/tcms_purged/mdjonline_com/autoflow\\/");  

     var myFile = dir.saveDlg('This is always the same folder?','',false);

     //var myFile = File.saveDialog();

    // if (!myFile) return;

     if (!myFile.toString().match(/\.idms$/)) myFile = File(myFile + ".idms");

     if (app.selection.length > 1){ 

          var myObj = app.activeWindow.activePage.groups.add(app.selection);

          myObj.exportFile(ExportFormat.INDESIGN_SNIPPET, myFile, false); 

          myObj.ungroup(); 

     }

      else{ 

           app.selection[0].exportFile(ExportFormat.INDESIGN_SNIPPET, myFile, false);

 }

[James Gifford—NitroPress]

It's possible there's a specific and helpful answer here, but if not/in the meantime: would it not be a simpler solution to keep the daily content file (for this item, at least) in one folder? Or is it essential that all of a day's content be held within a unique daily folder?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@larryp22136904 

You mean something like this?

var myFolder = Folder.selectDialog("Please select folder containing snippets", ""); 

[larryp22136904]

Thanks, Robert:
That opens the dialog box but it doesn't place the text file I'm going for.
I think there should be a way to designate a specific folder to place from using the "Place..." menu item fuction. 
I've tried several different methods, but none seem to work.
I can get text to import and go into the document using:
var dir = Folder("/\\10.10.1.9/Copydesk/Horoscope_Files_Originals\\/");
var files = dir.openDlg('This is always the same folder?','',true); //This will open the folder at the location specified in the previous line
if(files && files.length > 0) //We need to check if the user did select and did not cancel the dialog

placedItem = myPage.place(files[0]);

But this creates a new text box in the doc. 
I can make this though delete the old text box first, then place the new one and run the rest of that script.
Thanks for your help and feedback.
Larry

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

@larryp22136904 

You are almost there.

When you want to place something - you are not limited to Pages - you can place inside an object that you've created - and the way to do it is exactly the same as when you place it on a page:

var myInsertionPoint = app.activeDocument.stories[0].insertionPoints[-1];
myInsertionPoint.place(name_of_your_file);

or

var myRectangle = app.activeDocument.pages[0].rectangles.add();
myRectanngle.geometricBounds = [0,0,100,100];
myRectangle.place(name_of_your_file);

https://www.indesignjs.de/extendscriptAPI/indesign-latest/#InsertionPoint.html#d1e518510__d1e526414

And use SEARCH in the top-right corner - type "place" - you'll get a long list of all objects that accept place() method.

[larryp22136904]

Thanks, again, Robert.
I appreciate your help.
That worked.
I didn't know about the search for "place" to help with placing items.
So that will help me in the future too.
Thanks for taking the time to respond back. 
Much appreicated.
Larry

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@larryp22136904

You're welcome.