Text variable to add swatch names to text box.

[denisep726548]

Does anyone know how to create a text variable to add the swatch names to a text box to be used as part of a slug line for the document?

[brian_p_dts]

Can you describe a little more what you need. A list of all swatches in the doc? 

[denisep726548]

I actually would like to create a text box for a print proof file that lists things like the file name, any USED swatches in the document, trim size...that sort of thing.

And that text box would be in a slug area outside of the trim box.

[brian_p_dts]

I think something like this should work. Haven't tested since my machine is tied up running a big process. Let me know if any bugs. 

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var swatches = doc.swatches;
var i = swatches.length;
var s = "Swatches Used: ";
var a = [];
while (i-- && i > 0) {
    app.findColorPreferences.findWhat = swatches[i];
    if (doc.findColor() > 0) {
         a.push(swatches[i].name);
    } 
}
a.sort();
s+= a.join(", ");
var tv;
try {
    tv = doc.textVariables.itemByName("Swatches");
    tv.variableOptions.contents = s;
} catch(e) {
    tv = doc.textVariables.add({
        variableType: VariableTypes.CUSTOM_TEXT_TYPE,
        name: "Swatches"
    });
    tv.variableOptions.contents = s;
}

[denisep726548]

Thank you so much for your help.

I am in Indesign 2022

Getting this error

[brian_p_dts]

Edited the code. Try again.

[denisep726548]

Getting another line of error. Almost there!

[brian_p_dts]

Updated the code. Should know better than to write without testing. Tried it on my other machine and it worked. 

[denisep726548]

Thanks for helping me. I have no clue what I am doing really.

I ran it an nothing appears on my Indesign page.

I put it in my scripts folder.

Am I doing it correctly?

[brian_p_dts]

It should have created a text variable called Swatches for you. The other info you requested could be easily filled out. 

[denisep726548]

Oh silly me. It did! That is pretty awesome.

Can you give me an example line where I could tell it to NOT include certain swatches like Paper or White?

[denisep726548]

you seem very knowledgeable about javascript.

I have a cool script I found but it uses the old jsxbin file.

I have no clue how to even read it to allow me to edit it. Do you?

[brian_p_dts]

jsxbin is binary, meaning the author intentionally encoded the code so as to not allow it to be edited. 

If you want to exclude the top 4 swatches in your list (None, Paper, White, Black), change the line that says 

i-- && i > 0

to 

i-- && i > 3

[denisep726548]

So I have this one that adds the text to the box rather than having to create the text variable each time.

Is it possible to do it this way so I can just run the javascript each time I open a doc?

The text variable does not stay if I open a new doc

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var label = "";

with (doc.documentPreferences) {
label += "W x H: " + pageWidth + " x " + pageHeight;
}

var tf = app.selection[0];
tf.contents = label;

[brian_p_dts · Accepted solution]

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var swatches = doc.swatches;
var i = swatches.length;
var s = "Swatches Used: ";
var a = [];
while (i-- && i > 3) {
    app.findColorPreferences.findWhat = swatches[i];
    if (doc.findColor() > 0) {
         a.push(swatches[i].name);
    } 
}
a.sort();
s+= a.join(", ");
var label = "";
with (doc.documentPreferences) {
    label += "W x H: " + pageWidth + " x " + pageHeight + "; " + s;
}
var tf = app.selection[0];
tf.contents = label;

[denisep726548]

Sorry. I may have confused things. I am not sure what the last script is supposed to do.

Your original script is nice, but I do not want to have to run it to create a text variable in the menu each time I open a doc. I need a script that can just be saved and run to fill in the used swatches in a document.

The end goal is to have something that can be used over and over to add a "label" of file content in the slug line each time I prepare a print file.

[brian_p_dts]

The last script would add the used swatch list after the page height width and fill a selected text frame with that information, like the original script you posted does, jusr with swatches, too. 

[denisep726548]

Getting this error. Thank you in advance

[brian_p_dts]

You need to have a text frame selected, like you had to do with your pageHeight/width script. 

[denisep726548 · Accepted solution]

Duh. Sorry about that.

thank you so much! I think this will work perfectly!!!!

[brian_p_dts]

Sure. As a bit of future advice, please describe your problem more clearly next time and what you are trying to achieve. The title asked for a Text Varaiable as swatches. Posting that source code at the onset would have helped get you the solution more expeditiously. We are just volunteers. Have a good weekend. 

[denisep726548]

I appreciate the help.

In my head it made sense to me. Sometimes hard to describe.

Have a great weekend too.

[Laubender]

Hi @denisep726548 ,

why do you run that script from a Version 6.0 Scripts folder?

That would reset and restrict all scripting features to InDesign CS4 from about 14 years ago.

Do not do that with a recent version of InDesign and script code that is meant for that version.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Professional )

[denisep726548]

thanks