Target InDesign Script Labels with text variables from one dialogue box

[rickt38612460]

I am trying update a cover page on all open InDesign documents using javascript and Script Labels on text boxes. The cover page is the first page in each document with individual text boxes & Script Labels for each variable.

The script I have captures the variables, one at a time, from the user inputs then updates the text boxes with the corresponding Script Label.

// Prompt for variables
var campaign = prompt("Enter Campaign:", "");
var jobNumber = prompt("Enter Job Number:", "");
var offerStartDate = prompt("Enter Offer Start Date:", "");
var cm = prompt("Enter CM:", "");
var ticketOperator = prompt("Enter Ticket Operator:", "");

// Loop through all open documents
for (var i = 0; i < app.documents.length; i++) {
  var doc = app.documents[i];
  
  // Find and replace text content in text frames
  for (var j = 0; j < doc.textFrames.length; j++) {
    var textFrame = doc.textFrames[j];
    var scriptLabel = textFrame.label;
    
    // Replace text content based on script label
    switch (scriptLabel) {
      case "campaign":
        textFrame.contents = campaign;
        break;
      case "jobNumber":
        textFrame.contents = jobNumber;
        break;
      case "offerStartDate":
        textFrame.contents = offerStartDate;
        break;
      case "CM":
        textFrame.contents = cm;
        break;
      case "ticketOperator":
        textFrame.contents = ticketOperator;
        break;
      default:
        break;
    }
  }
}

alert("Text replacement completed in all open documents.");

I would like help amending the script so it collects all the variables from one dialogue similar to screenshot below.

Is this possible? Any help appreciated.

[Manan Joshi · Accepted solution]

Try the following, it will prompt the values entered by the user. You can add your code in the if block where I have added the alter statement.

var myDialog = app.dialogs.add({ name: "Variable Input" });
var column = myDialog.dialogColumns.add();

var r1 = column.dialogRows.add()
var cmpgLbl = r1.staticTexts.add({ staticLabel: "Campaign:" });
var cmpg = r1.textEditboxes.add();

r1 = column.dialogRows.add()
var jnLbl = r1.staticTexts.add({ staticLabel: "Job Number:" });
var jn = r1.textEditboxes.add();

r1 = column.dialogRows.add()
var offrLbl = r1.staticTexts.add({ staticLabel: "Offer Start Date:" });
var offr = r1.textEditboxes.add();

r1 = column.dialogRows.add()
var tktLbl = r1.staticTexts.add({ staticLabel: "Ticket Operator:" });
var tkt = r1.textEditboxes.add();

// Display the dialog
var dialogResult = myDialog.show();

// Check if the user clicked OK
if (dialogResult == true) {
  alert("Entered text: " + cmpg.editContents + " " + jn.editContents + " " + offr.editContents + " " + tkt.editContents);
}

-Manan

[rickt38612460]

Thanks @Manan Joshi this works great and the dialog results is a nice addition for the user to check afterwards.

Is there also a way to make the variable input boxes longer?

This would be usefull on the Campaign box as it can be quite wordy and easier for the user to see what they are typing.

[Manan Joshi]

Hi @rickt38612460,

Yes, you can change the width of the editbox by setting the value of minWidth property. Something like the following should work

cmpg.minWidth = 300

-Manan

[Laubender]

Hi @rickt38612460 ,

see into DOM documentation for dialog and dialogs:

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

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

As you can see from Manan's script, you first need a dialogColumn and then you could add a dialogRow.

So also inspect dialogColumn and dialogRow:

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

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

Also be aware that the dialog's appearance could be a bit different with InDesign on macOS vs Windows.

Here a screenshot of Mana's dialog from macOS of my German InDesign 2023. The buttons are automatically using the German localized contents:

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Peter Kahrel]

Rob Day posted a nice sample script (a cheat sheet, as it were) that illustrates how to use all the dialog items:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-folder-to-jpg-folder-exporter-the-scrip...

[rickt38612460]

Thanks @Peter Kahrel I will bookmark that cheat sheet for future reference.