Search and replace text with a Metadata caption

[lucas_maximus]

I have a document with a placed image in the center. I want to create a metadata caption beneath it displaying the Author of the image. I have my text box set up touching the placed image with “Replace this text” temporarily.

I choose

Type > Text Variables > Define > New

I enter the Name: Author, choose Type as Metadata Caption, and choose Author from the Metadata dropdown menu and hit OK so Author appears in my list of text Variables.

I then highlight “Replace this text” and Insert the Author text Variable to replace it, so that the caption shows the Author of whatever image I import into that graphic frame.

Anyway…..my question is - can I script this so that Javascript automatically searches the document for any instances of “Replace this text” and replaces it with a Author metadata caption?

This is my attempt, I know this is probably way off but it might make it clear what I’m trying to do.

——————————————————————

app.findTextPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing; 

app.changeTextPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing; 

app.findTextPreferences.findWhat = “Replace this text”; 

app.changeTextPreferences.changeTo = myDocument.textVariableInstances.add({associatedTextVariable:”Author”}); 

//this will show changes count 

alert(app.activeDocument.changeText().length); 

app.activeDocument.changeText(); 

————————————————————

I'm sure its the 4th line down where I'm going wrong - Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Luke

[Jump_Over]

Hi,

Script should add new textVariableInstances for each found text separately (using a loop).

For example:

app.findTextPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;
app.changeTextPreferences = NothingEnum.nothing;

app.findTextPreferences.findWhat = "Replace this text";
var
     mDoc = app.activeDocument,
     mTextVar = mDoc.textVariables.item("Author"),
     mFound = mDoc.findText(),
     cText;

if (mTextVar.isValid)
     while (cText = mFound.pop()) {
          cText.contents = "";
          cText.textVariableInstances.add(LocationOptions.AT_BEGINNING, {associatedTextVariable: mTextVar})
          }

textVariable should be created already.

Jarek

[lucas_maximus]

Thank you so much! It works perfectly!