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M Prewitt at IIW
M Prewitt at IIW
Known Participant
November 17, 2015
Answered

Sort color swatches in InDesign

  • November 17, 2015
  • 3 replies
  • 8915 views

Some of the larger publications that I work on accumulate a gazillion color swatches, and I would like to be able to sort them. In the past I've done this manually, by CMYK value. But this is time-consuming and often results in visually convoluted arrangements. The greens are not all together, there are pastels up in the reds and yellows, etc. I would like to do this with a script, to save time and make it more perceptually pleasing and useful.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Or if you're a scripting angel, maybe you'd like to write it for me. I've written scripts before, but I'm not sure the best way to iterate through the swatches, or how to sort them into folders or group them.

The basic sorting method I want is to group the swatches in folders like so (each bullet point would be a separate folder in the Swatches palette — or maybe just grouped together in a flat list — could be an option in the script ... and the formula that follows each bullet points describes the criteria for the colors in that group and how they would be sub-sorted):

  • Magentas: If M >127 and CYK <64, sort by density
  • Reds: If MY >127 and CK <64, and M>=Y, sort by density
  • Oranges: If MY >127 and CK <64, and Y>M, sort by density
  • Yellows: If Y >127 and CMK <64, sort by density
  • Warm Greens: If CY >127 and MK <64, and Y>=C, sort by density
  • Cool Greens: If CY >127 and MK <64, and C>Y, sort by density
  • Cyans: If C >127 and MYK <64, sort by density
  • Blues: If CM >127 and YK <64, and C>=M, sort by density
  • Purples: If CM >127 and YK <64, and M>C, sort by density
  • Darks: All values are >85, sort by dominant CMY, then by density
  • Pastels: All values are <15, sort by dominant CMY, then by density
  • Grays: Any where the CMY values are +/- 5 from their average (which also includes CMY=0), sort by dominant CMY value then by density.
  • Everything else: Sort by dominant CMY then by density


(In the above section, "If MY >127" means, "If M and Y are both individually less than 127", etc.)


For gray calculation: Average = (C+M+Y)/3


For density sorting: Density = L from (L * a * b), or other formula to calculate lightness/darkness value such as: Density = (C * 0.49) + (M * 0.6) + (Y * 0.07) + (K * 0.91)


For RGB swatches, convert RGB colors and process as CMYK?


Drop all spot colors in their own folder (or at top of list).


Drop all gradients in their own folder (or at end of list).

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Marc Autret

The intent of that was to sub-sort those swatches so the ones where the C value is highest are together, the ones where the M value is highest are together, and ones where the Y value are highest are together. This would group them by hue (roughly), as opposed to merely sorting by brightness, etc.


Hi MPrewitt,

Having fun with your idea although I still get a huge number of unassigned swatches in the 'Others' category (last group).

My script allows to play with the thresholds you've provided, you'll probably want to restore the original values.

Anyway here is the code so far:

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////


//


//  SWATCH SORTER for InDesign - v.1.001b - indiscripts.com


//


////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////




#targetengine 'SwatchSorter1001b'




$.global.hasOwnProperty('ProgressBar')||(function(H/*OST*/,S/*ELF*/,I/*NNER*/)


{


    H = function ProgressBar(/*str*/title, /*uint*/width, /*uint*/height)


    {


        (60<=(width||0))||(width=340);  


        (40<=(height||0))||(height=60);  


      


        var H = 22,  


            Y = (3*height-2*H)>>2,  


            W = new Window('palette', ' '+title, [0,0,width,height]),  


            P = W.add('progressbar', { x:20, y:height>>2, width:width-40, height:12 }, 0,100),  


            T = W.add('statictext' , { x:0, y:Y, width:width, height:H }),  


            __ = function(a,b){ return localize.apply(null,a.concat(b)) };  


      


        this.pattern = ['%1'];  


      


        W.center();  


      


        // ---  


        // API  


        // ---  


         


        this.msg = function(/*str*/s,  v)  


        // ---------------------------------  


        {  


            s && (T.location = [(width-T.graphics.measureString(s)[0])>>1, Y]);  


            


            T.text = s;


            W.update();


        };  


      


        this.show = this.reset = function(/*str*/s, /*uint*/v)  


        // ---------------------------------  


        {  


            if( s && s != localize(s,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9) )  


                {  


                this.pattern[0] = s;  


                s = __(this.pattern, [].slice.call(arguments,2));  


                }  


            else  


                {  


                this.pattern[0] = '%1';  


                }  


             


            P.value = 0;  


            P.maxvalue = v||0;  


            P.visible = !!v;  


      


            this.msg(s);  


            


            W.show();


            W.update();


        };  


      


        this.hit = function(x)  


        // ---------------------------------  


        {  


            ++P.value;  


            ('undefined' != typeof x) && this.msg(__(this.pattern, [].slice.call(arguments,0)));


            W.update();


        };  


      


        this.hide = function()  


        // ---------------------------------  


        {  


            W.hide();  


        };  


         


        this.close = function()  


        // ---------------------------------  


        {  


            W.close();  


        };  


    };




})($.global,{toString:function(){return 'ProgressBar'}},{});






$.global.hasOwnProperty('SwatchSorter')||(function(H/*OST*/,S/*SELF*/,I/*NNER*/)


{


    H = S;


    


    //======================================================


    // DATA AND SHORTCUTS


    //======================================================




    I.O_ROOT = app;


    I.O_LOCKED = { 'None':1, 'Black':1,'Paper':1, 'Registration':1 };




    I.CM_MIX =     +ColorModel.MIXEDINKMODEL;


    I.CM_PROCESS = +ColorModel.PROCESS;


    I.CM_REG =     +ColorModel.REGISTRATION;


    I.CM_SPOT =    +ColorModel.SPOT;


    


    I.CS_CMYK =    +ColorSpace.CMYK;


    I.CS_LAB =     +ColorSpace.LAB;


    I.CS_MIX =     +ColorSpace.MIXEDINK;


    I.CS_RGB =     +ColorSpace.RGB;


    


    // Keep colors and tints together.


    I.O_ORDER = { 'Color':1, 'Tint':1, 'Gradient':3, 'MixedInk':4 };


    


    I.BUILD_CLUSTERS = 1;


    I.CLUSTER_MASK = 0xF000;


    I.O_CLUSTERS = {


        '_0'     : 'Magentas',    // 0x0000


        '_4096'  : 'Reds',        // 0x1000


        '_8192'  : 'Oranges',     // 0x2000


        // ---


        '_16384' : 'Yellows',     // 0x4000


        '_20480' : 'Warm Greens', // 0x5000


        '_24576' : 'Cool Greens', // 0x6000


        // ---


        '_32768' : 'Cyans',       // 0x8000


        '_36864' : 'Blues',       // 0x9000


        '_40960' : 'Purples',     // 0xA000


        // ===


        '_49152' : 'Grays',       // 0xC000


        '_53248' : 'Darks',       // 0xD000


        '_57344' : 'Pastels',     // 0xE000


        '_61440' : 'Others',      // 0xF000


        };


    


    //======================================================


    // CMYK ROUTINES


    //======================================================




    I.F_APPLY_CMYK_TINT = function(/*0..100[4]&*/CMYK, /*]0,1]*/t)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        CMYK[0] *= t;


        CMYK[1] *= t;


        CMYK[2] *= t;


        CMYK[3] *= t;


    };




    I.F_TO_CMYK_KEY = function F(/*0..100[4]*/CMYK,  d,a,v,i,t)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        const mABS = Math.abs,


              mMIN = Math.min,


              mMAX = Math.max;


        


        const INK_MIN = 50,


              INK_MAX = 35,


              GRAY_VAR = 5,


              DARK_MIN = 70,


              PASTEL_MAX = 25;


        


        F.DENSITY || (F.DENSITY=[49,60,7,91]);


        F.BUFFER || (F.BUFFER=[0,0,0,0]);


    


        for( d=0, a=F.BUFFER, v=F.DENSITY, i=-1 ; ++i < 4 ; (d+=v*(t=CMYK)), a=-(INK_MAX>t)||+(INK_MIN<t) );


        


        d >>>= 3; // <= 0xA1B


        


        for( t=(0<=a[3]), i=-1 ; (!t) && (++i < 3) ; t = 0 > a && 0 < a[(1+i)%3] && a[(2+i)%3] );


        


        if( 3 > (i&=3) )


            {


            // CMY CLASSES (0x0000 -> 0xAA1B).


            // ---------------------------------------------


            //              DOM SUB DENSITY(12b)


            //                


            // ---------------------------------------------


            // Magentas:    00  00  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // Reds:        00  01  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // Oranges:     00  10  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // ---------------------------------------------


            // Yellows:     01  00  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // Warm Greens: 01  01  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // Cool Greens: 01  10  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // ---------------------------------------------


            // Cyans:       10  00  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // Blues:       10  01  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // Purples:     10  10  xxxx xxxx xxxx


            // ---------------------------------------------




            ++t && (t -= CMYK[(2+i)%3] <= CMYK[(1+i)%3] );


            t |= (i<<2);


            return d | (t<<12);


            }




        // ---


        // Darks, pastels, grays, others


        // ---




        d >>>= 2;


        i = 0;


        t = 3;


        while( v = CMYK[0] + CMYK[1] + CMYK[2] )


            {


            // Other classes (0xC000 -> 0xFFFF)


            // ---------------------------------------------


            //              MK  CTG DOM  DENSITY(10b)


            //                     


            // ---------------------------------------------


            // Grays   (M)  11  00  00   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Grays   (Y)  11  00  01   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Grays   (C)  11  00  10   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Grays   (K)  11  00  11   xx xxxx xxxx


            // ---------------------------------------------


            // Darks   (M)  11  01  00   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Darks   (Y)  11  01  01   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Darks   (C)  11  01  10   xx xxxx xxxx


            // ---------------------------------------------


            // Pastels (M)  11  10  00   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Pastels (Y)  11  10  01   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Pastels (C)  11  10  10   xx xxxx xxxx


            // ---------------------------------------------


            // Others  (M)  11  11  00   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Others  (Y)  11  11  01   xx xxxx xxxx


            // Others  (C)  11  11  10   xx xxxx xxxx


            // ---------------------------------------------




            v /= 3;


            t = ( CMYK[1] < CMYK[2] || CMYK[1] < CMYK[0] ) << ( CMYK[2] < CMYK[0] );


            


            // Grays


            // ---


            if( GRAY_VAR >= mMAX(mABS(CMYK[0]-v),mABS(CMYK[1]-v),mABS(CMYK[2]-v)) ) break;


            


            // Darks


            // ---


            if( ++i && DARK_MIN < mMIN.apply(null,CMYK) ) break;


            


            // Pastels


            // ---


            if( ++i && PASTEL_MAX > mMAX.apply(null,CMYK) ) break;


            


            // Others


            // ---


            ++i; break;


            }


      


        t |= 0x30 | (i<<2);


        return d | (t<<10);


    };




    I.F_CONVERT_TO_CMYK = function(/*Color*/o,/*ColorSpace*/cs,/*ColorValue*/cv,  r)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        try {


            // Convert to cmyk space if possible.


            // This might fail due to imported swatches.


            // ---


            o.space = I.CS_CMYK;


            r = o.colorValue;




            // Revert to initial color props.


            // ---


            o.properties = { space:cs, colorValue:cv };


            }


        catch(_)


            {


            // Not implemented


            // if( I.CS_RGB==cs && 3==cv.length ) r = I.FN_RGB_TO_CMYK_APPROX(cv);


            }




        return r || false;


    };




    I.F_COLOR_TO_CMYK = function(/*Color*/o,  r,cv,cs)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        r = false;


        


        if( I.CM_MIX == +o.model ) return r;


        


        cv = o.colorValue;


        cs = +o.space;


        


        r = I.CS_CMYK == cs ? cv : I.F_CONVERT_TO_CMYK(o,cs,cv);


        


        return r;


    };




    //======================================================


    // PARSING


    //======================================================




    I.F_TO_FULL_KEY = function(/*uint*/order,/*[c,m,y,k]*/CMYK,/*str*/name,/*uint*/id)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        return String.fromCharCode(0x40+order,I.F_TO_CMYK_KEY(CMYK)) +


               name + '\x01' + id;


    };




    I.F_PARSE_Color = function(/*Color*/o,/*str*/name,/*uint*/id,  a,k)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        if( I.O_LOCKED.hasOwnProperty(name) ) return '';


        


        if( !(a=I.F_COLOR_TO_CMYK(o)) ) return '';


        


        return I.F_TO_FULL_KEY(I.O_ORDER['Color'],a,name,id);


    };


    


    I.F_PARSE_Tint = function(/*Tint*/o,/*str*/name,/*uint*/id,  bc,a,k)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        bc = o.baseColor;




        if( I.O_LOCKED.hasOwnProperty(bc.name) ) return '';




        if( !(a=I.F_COLOR_TO_CMYK(bc)) ) return '';




        I.F_APPLY_CMYK_TINT(a,o.tintValue/100);




        return I.F_TO_FULL_KEY(I.O_ORDER['Tint'],a,name,id);


    };


    


    I.F_PARSE_Gradient = function(/*Color*/o,/*str*/name,/*uint*/id)


    //----------------------------------


    // Not implemented


    {


        return '';


    };




    I.F_PARSE_MixedInk = function(/*Color*/o,/*str*/name,/*uint*/id)


    //----------------------------------


    // Not implemented


    {


        return '';


    };




    //==========================================================================


    // ORDERING


    //==========================================================================




    I.F_APPLY_ORDER_CLUSTERS = function(/*ProgressBar*/PB,/*str{}*/data,/*Swatches*/coll,  n,o,i,k,s,t)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        const CM = I.CLUSTER_MASK,


              OC = I.O_CLUSTERS;


        


        n = data.length;


        PB.reset("Assigning groups... (%1 / %2)",n);




        o = {};




        for( i = 0 ; i < n ; ++i )


            {


            PB.hit(1+i,n);


            if( !(k=data) ) continue;


            


            s = '_' + (CM & k.charCodeAt(1));


            if( !OC.hasOwnProperty(s) ) continue;


            s = OC;


            


            k = k.substr(2).split('\x01');


            if( !(t=coll.itemByID(parseInt(k[1],10))).isValid ) continue;


            


            (o||(o=[])).push(t);


            }




        n = o.__count__;


        i = 0;


        t = I.O_ROOT.colorGroups;


        PB.reset("Creating group %1... (%2 / %3)",n);


        for( k in o )


            {


            if( !o.hasOwnProperty(k) ) continue;


            PB.hit(k,++i,n);


            t.add(k,o);


            o.length = 0;


            }


    };




    I.F_APPLY_ORDER_FLAT = function(/*ProgressBar*/PB,/*str{}*/data,/*Swatches*/coll,  n,i,k,t,o,d)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        n = data.length;


        PB.reset("Reordering swatches... (%1 / %2)",n);




        for( i = 0 ; i < n ; ++i )


            {


            PB.hit(1+i,n);


            if( !(k=data) ) continue;


            k = k.substr(2).split('\x01');


            if( !(t=coll.itemByID(parseInt(k[1],10))).isValid ) continue;


            


            t = t.getElements()[0]; // !important!




            switch( t.constructor.name )


                {


                case 'Color':


                    o = t.duplicate();


                    t.remove(o);


                    o.name = k[0];


                    break;


                case 'Tint':


                    o = t.properties;


                    d = o.tintValue > 50 ? -.001 : +.001;


                    o.tintValue += d;


                    o = I.O_ROOT.tints.add(o);


                    t.remove(o);


                    o.tintValue -= d;


                    break;


                default:


                    // not implemented


                }


            }


    };






    I.F_PROCESS_ALL_SWATCHES = function(/*ProgressBar*/PB,/*Swatches*/coll,  ei,a,names,ids,i,n,t,k)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        ei = coll.everyItem();


        


        a = ei.getElements();


        names = ei.name;


        ids = ei.id;


        


        i = n = a.length;


        


        // Parsing swatches


        // ---


        PB.reset("Parsing swatches... (%1 / %2)",n);


        while( i-- )


            {


            PB.hit(n-i,n);


            t = a;


            k = 'F_PARSE_' + t.constructor.name;


            a = I.hasOwnProperty(k) ? I(t,names,ids) : '';


            }




        // Sorting


        // ---


        PB.reset("Sorting colors...");


        a.sort();




        // Reordering swatches


        // ---


        I['F_APPLY_ORDER_' + ((I.BUILD_CLUSTERS && 'colorGroups' in app) ? 'CLUSTERS' : 'FLAT')](PB,a,coll);


        


        a.length = 0;


    };




    //==========================================================================


    // IDLE MANAGER


    //==========================================================================




    (I.F_IDLE_TASK = ('idleTasks' in app) ?


    function F(/*?fct*/callback,  t)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        t = app.idleTasks.length;




        // Cleanup


        // ---


        if( t && (t=app.idleTasks.itemByName(F.Q.name)).isValid )


            {


            t.eventListeners.everyItem().remove();


            t.remove();


            }


        


        // Set callback (if any)


        // ---


        if( 'function' == typeof callback )


            {


            app.idleTasks.add({ name:F.Q.name, sleep: F.Q.rate }).


                addEventListener(IdleEvent.ON_IDLE, callback, false);


            }


    }:


    function F(/*fct*/callback)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        if( 'function' == typeof callback ) callback();


    }


    ).Q = {name:'Task'+S, rate:25};




    (I.F_EXIT_PROCESS = function F()


    //----------------------------------


    {


        // Stop the task


        // ---


        I.F_IDLE_TASK();


        


        // Close the PB


        // ---


        F.Q && (F.Q.close());


        


    }).Q = 0;




    //==========================================================================


    // API


    //==========================================================================




    S.run = function(/*?Document*/doc,/*bool=0*/NO_CLUSTERS,  PB,t)


    //----------------------------------


    {


        I.BUILD_CLUSTERS = +!NO_CLUSTERS;




        PB = new ProgressBar(S + ' \xA9indiscripts.com',400,100);




        if( ('panels' in app) && (t=app.panels.itemByName('$ID/Swatches')).visible ) t.visible = false;


        


        doc || (doc=app.properties.activeDocument);




        if( doc instanceof Document )


            {


            doc.preflightOptions.properties = { preflightOff: true };


            t = doc;


            }


        else


            {


            t = app;


            }


        


        if( ('colorGroups' in app) && 1 < t.colorGroups.length )


            {


            t.colorGroups.itemByRange(1,-1).ungroup();


            }


        


        I.O_ROOT = t;


        


        app.doScript('I.F_PROCESS_ALL_SWATCHES(PB,t.swatches);',


            ScriptLanguage.javascript,


            undefined,


            UndoModes.entireScript,


            ''+S


            );


        


        PB.reset("Refreshing the GUI. Please, wait...");




        if( 'panels' in app )


            {


            app.panels.itemByName('$ID/Swatches').visible = true;


            }




        I.F_EXIT_PROCESS.Q = PB;


        I.F_IDLE_TASK(I.F_EXIT_PROCESS);


    };


    


})($.global,{toString:function(){return 'SwatchSorter'}}, {});






SwatchSorter.run();

@+

Marc

3 replies

M Prewitt at IIW
M Prewitt at IIWAuthor
Known Participant
December 14, 2015

I just tested Marc's script. It works great, but I will try some tweaks (see comments below).

Turns out I had more colors than I thought. In this one magazine I would have guessed 50-60 colors, but there was actually 128. I use the list view, and there are more colors than there seemed to be.

I found I got much better results, with far fewer 'other' colors, using these values:

INK_MIN = 25, 

INK_MAX = 60, 

GRAY_VAR = 20, 

DARK_MIN = 70, 

PASTEL_MAX = 30; 

The main remaining issues with the auto-sorting seems to be with ink density.

  • For example, I have a color C0 M90 Y100 K0. The script categorizes it as an orange, because the yellow has the highest value. But visually it is more like red. The issue is that the M ink is so intense, it overpowers the Y ink even though the Y ink percentage is higher.
  • The cyan color is a tricky beast too. For example, C51 M100 Y0 K47 is grouped with magentas, but looks more purple. It doesn't take much cyan to throw the magentas toward purple.
  • C97 M9 Y54 K9 is grouped with cyans, but looks like a cool green. It doesn't take much yellow to throw the cyans and blues toward green.
  • C90 M90 Y30 K50 is grouped with blues, but looks like a purple.
  • Grays contains only the very lightest and darkest grays/blacks. It's missing a lot of colors that are grayish, like C70 M71 Y43 K52, which was put in the purple group, and C63 M52 Y47 K37, which was put in the cyan group.
  • Some light yellows and light blues got classed as 'other' even though visually they fall in the pastel range.

I will keep experimenting.

Marc Autret
Marc Autret
Legend
November 24, 2015

Hi MPrewitt,

Provided that CMYK values belong to 0..100, what is the meaning of a criteria such as M > 127?

Is the script supposed to rescale 0..100 into 0..255?

@+

Marc

M Prewitt at IIW
M Prewitt at IIWAuthor
Known Participant
November 24, 2015

Oops, you are right. I was using 0-255 ranges, except when I got to the rules for darks and pastels, which are based on 0-100. So for the first nine rules, all the "127"s should be 50, and all the "64"s should be 25.

M Prewitt at IIW
M Prewitt at IIWAuthor
Known Participant
November 24, 2015

Here is the (non-functional, probably buggy) script so far:

// Description: SortSwatches v. 0.1. Script to sort InDesign swatches by color value


// Copyright © 2015, Michael Prewitt.


// This script is provided "as-is" and the author takes no responsibility whatsoever for results of its use.




/*


- Magentas: If M >50 and CYK <25, sort by density


- Reds: If MY >50 and CK <25, and M>=Y, sort by density


- Oranges: If MY >50 and CK <25, and Y>M, sort by density


- Yellows: If Y >50 and CMK <25, sort by density


- Warm Greens: If CY >50 and MK <25, and Y>=C, sort by density


- Cool Greens: If CY >50 and MK <25, and C>Y, sort by density


- Cyans: If C >50 and MYK <25, sort by density


- Blues: If CM >50 and YK <25, and C>=M, sort by density


- Purples: If CM >50 and YK <25, and M>C, sort by density


- Darks: All values are >85, sort by dominant CMY, then by density


- Pastels: All values are <15, sort by dominant CMY, then by density


- Grays: Any where the CMY values are +/- 10 from their average (which also includes CMY=0), sort by dominant CMY then by density.


- Everything else: Sort by dominant CMY then by density





Drop all spot colors in their own folder?





Drop all gradients in their own folder?


*/





// For reference, see http://jongware.mit.edu/idcs5js/index_Color%20Suite.html





(function(){


  sortSwatches();


});





function sortSwatches(){


  // Alert: Script will convert RGB to CMYK ... OK or cancel


  // Alert: Does not currently support custom mixed ink swatches or custom registration swatches





  // Load current swatches into arrays (RGB/CMYK, spot, gradient) ... convert RGB to CMYK in the process ??? may not be necessary


  allSwatches = app.activeDocument.swatches.everyItem();


  allSwatches.splice(0,4); // Don't sort None, Registration, Paper, Black




  for (i=0; i<allSwatches.length; i++) {


       if ( allSwatches instanceof Swatch.Color ) {


            swatchType = allSwatches.model;


            switch(swatchType) {


                 case model.SPOT:


                      arraySpot[arraySpot.length] = allSwatches;


                      break;


                 case model.PROCESS:


                      arrayCMYK[arrayCMYK.length] = allSwatches;


                      break;


            }


       } else if ( allSwatches instanceof Swatch.Gradient ) {


            arrayGradient[arrayGradient.length] = allSwatches;


       }




       /*


       else if ( allSwatches instanceof Swatch.MixedInk ) { }


       else if ( allSwatches instanceof Swatch.MixedInkGroup ) { }


       */


  }




  // Sort spot array by name


  arraySpot.sort(); // This likely needs to be more complex; each item is an object, and 'name' might not be the primary index




  // Sort CMYK array by color


  for (i=0; i<arrayCMYK.length; i++) {


       color = arrayCMYK;


       color.space = ColorSpace.CMYK;


       var c = color.colorValue[0];


       var m = color.colorValue[1];


       var y = color.colorValue[2];


       var k = color.colorValue[3];




       // Determine the density value


       var density = c*0.49 + m*0.6 + y*0.07 + k*0.91;




       // Determine the average value of CMY


       var avgValue = (c+m+y)/3;




       // Sort all colors into arrays such as magentas, blues, grays


       // Then sort those arrays by density, etc., as explained in rules above


  }





  // Sort gradient array by name


  arrayGradient.sort(); // This likely needs to be more complex; each item is an object, and 'name' might not be the primary index





  // Dump spot, CMYK, gradient values back into the palette


  // Remember to skip None, Registration, Paper, Black





}
Peter Kahrel
Community Expert
Peter KahrelCommunity Expert
Community Expert
November 18, 2015

Google is your friend: Ajar Productions » Sort Swatches in Adobe InDesign

M Prewitt at IIW
M Prewitt at IIWAuthor
Known Participant
November 23, 2015

Thanks, but that script merely alphabetizes the list. I wanted them

sorted by color.

Trevor:
Trevor:
Legend
November 23, 2015

Hi

You are very much asking for a custom script. There are several freelances who frequent the forum (including myself) who are available for custom scripts. Contrary to the name "freelances" the services are not free or even partially cheep.

What you are looking for is not that simple, also there is a difference on what the definition of a "gazillion".  I have quite a bit of experience of working  with various color conversion and swatch functions processing  documents with thousands of swatches.

There is a very big difference between working with documents with 1000 - 5000 swatches to documents with 5000 - 11000 and 11,000+ swatches at 14,000+ it gets really tough but either way one has to know what one is dealing with.

There are at least 4 basic approaches to what you are after.

1) The standard mess around with the swatches - create, delete, apply new swatch which will reorder the swatches in a destructive manner.

2) SUI based palette which will leave the swatches alone but display the swatches in any order you like and allow the swatches to be selected from that panel, (The gradient swatches would be a challenge for that).

3) A html (extension based) palette that would replace the built in swatch palette, it would look the same just with the added functionality.

4) A SDK c++ solution that would add the sort function to the built in swatch palette.

Solution 1 would change the index of the current swatches, 2 and 3 wouldn't, 4 could go either way but more likely would.

None of the solutions would be particularly cheep with the higher numbered solutions being more not cheep than the lower ones

I personally would recommend solution 3 as the most practical.

In short quality costs.

HTH

Trevor

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