Scripting saving of [Converted] files

[baroncrimson]

We are about to update to CC 2015 here at work, I'm tasked with running the preliminary testing. I'm hoping to script away a problem that occurs with every update. When I open a [previous version of InDesign] file, it opens with "[Converted]" in the title bar. Then I have to save the converted file over the old file which includes navigating to the correct location on our servers (which it never seems to know). I'd like a startup script that would detect that a file been converted, and save it in its original location, over the old file, automatically. It's not mission critical, but with hundreds of files and a dozen designers it would save a lot of time and keep the machine running smoothly. My experience is mostly with AppleScript and at a very basic level. Mostly I've altered existing scripts through trial and error. If someone could point me towards a similar script I could tinker with, that would be great. Thanks for any help.

[County Journal]

I agree. It is annoying to have to re-save every file I open in InDesign because it has been "converted" from the previous software version. Our design department also has hundreds of .indd files on our server. To locate, open, and re-save each and every file is unreasonable, and would take countless hours to complete. So far, the only solutions I have found are this batch conversion script, but I am not comfortable using a script to convert all of our files...especially if I'm going to have to do it all again after the next CC update. The other option is to save each file as a previous version which, again, should not be necessary. Any other suggestions or solutions would be appreciated.

[AS Scripter]

> but I am not comfortable using a script to convert all of our files...

> especially if I'm going to have to do it all again after the next CC update

It's unreasonable *not to script this process, and the point of running a script is that the next time, all you have to do is run the script again. There are pretty good reasons for the default previous version opening behavior, so you should always keep copies of the original files.

[Peter Kahrel]

> but I am not comfortable using a script to convert all of our files.

That script simply uses InDesign to open the files and save them, doing exactly what you would do manually, only quicker. The result is exactly the same.

Peter

[Vamitul]

Peter's batch process script does that and a lot more. Free script Batch convert/export InDesign documents | Peter Kahrel

[baroncrimson]

I saw this script and it looks far more capable than what I'm looking for, but for our workflow it seems like it would actually require more interaction than what I'm doing now. Thanks to the way Mac OS X and Adobe handle file icons, I can't tell if a file needs to be converted until I open it.

[robertp9810078]

Is this link still any good.  Like many other links I've found for kahrel.plus.com - the pages never seem to load.  This frustrating given the number of pointers that indicate this site has many helpful resources for scripting InDesign.

[Vamitul]

Works for me: Down For Everyone Or Just Me -> Check if your website is down or up?

[Vamitul]

The script can batch process a folder (and it's subfolders) full of files, so there is no need to open each one. And if a file does not need converting, the script will just save it and move one. There is also an option to suppress the missing fonts and links dialogs that tend to pop up when opening a file by hand.

[baroncrimson]

Can't bog down the server. Needs to happen on the fly.

[baroncrimson]

It looks like the script everyone is recommending won't actually help me since all the source files are in their own folders. I tested the script with five files and I had to indicate the Input Folder and Output Folder for each file (i.e. run the script five times) which isn't any less work than what I'm doing now. Not a workable solution for hundreds of files. It would work if all the files were in one folder, but moving them there and moving them back after they're all converted would take even longer then just manually converting as needed. Which looks like what I'll have to do. Thanks for the ideas.

[Peter Kahrel]

You should read the text, and the relevant parts are also in the script's tooltips: If you check 'Include subfolders' and leave the 'Output folder' field empty, then all documents are saved in their originating folder.

[baroncrimson]

I don't want to run a script while other people may be accessing and modifying dozens of files. And I can't have my copy of InDesign converting all the files all day. I have to use it to do my job. Thanks for the info.

[AS Scripter]

> I don't want to run a script while other people may be accessing and modifying dozens of files.

> And I can't have my copy of InDesign converting all the files all day. I have to use it to do my job. Thanks for the info.

Most people who have run these scripts have scheduled them for a special time when those two factors are not operative.

[Vamitul]

Well, looks like you are dead set on not using the best solution available to you.

The way you want it to work would be like:

#targetengine autoUpdate
(function(){
var updateDoc=function(ev){
  var doc=app.documents[0];
  if (doc.converted){
  var fs=ev.fullName;
  doc.save(File(fs));
  }
};


var evListener=app.eventListeners.item('autoUpdate');
if (!evListener.isValid){
  evListener=app.eventListeners.add('afterOpen',updateDoc);
}
}());

But since the "afterOpen" event is broken (fires twice and before the document is actually ready), good luck with it.

[Laubender]

@Vamitul – would it help adding and removing something (a rectangle perhaps) in the opened document and save then?

Or saving could be done after a few seconds…

Uwe

[Vamitul]

Hi Uwe,

There a a number of workarounds (using the onIdle event to look for the converted files, for example, should work), but none of them are truly good. Even if the afterOpen would work properly, there is the issue of the missing fonts and links notifications, that should not be disabled, yet they will block the script.

Anyway, the OP said he wanted to script, so the snippet i posted should give him a place to start.

[Laubender]

Right.

If the OP, our Baron Crimson, is on Mac OSX, I would recommend a tool like "Default Folder" that hooks into OSX where you can easily navigate to the original file.

Default Folder X Features

The feature "Recents" in "Default Folder" should do what the OP wants, but I did not test it for his case.

Don't know if anything like this is available for Windows.

Uwe