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Bedazzled532
Bedazzled532
Inspiring
May 2, 2024
Answered

Thread Frames through script

  • May 2, 2024
  • 3 replies
  • 3734 views

I have some circled textframes which I want to thread together using script and in each text frame I would like to place a counter of my choice. The counter is a number which I want to give manually.

 

Some examples of the counter is:

ex1: A-2234 onwards ...eg A-2235, A2236, A-2237 respectively in separate text frames.

ex2: B-0001 onwards...eg B-0002, B-0003, B-0004 respectively in separate text frames.

 

I have written a script to thread the frames but its threading hapazardly.

I have attached a screenshot with before and after run of the script. Also when the script ends, it gives an error.

 

Here is the script. It just threads. Once threading is perfect, I will place the counters using a variable.

 

frames = app.selection;
//alert(frames.length);
for(i=0;i<frames.length;i++){
frames[i].nextTextFrame = frames[i+1];
}

 

 

Currently the matter is in one page. It may run through multiple pages.

 

What mistake am I doing ?

 

Thanks

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Robert at ID-Tasker

    @Robert at ID-Tasker I have come up with the following script where I have followed process mentioned by @Laubender and assigned the story to frame by the process suggested by you, but still it shows only 1 \n char in first frame only. I have tried with 5 textframes only for testing. Screenshot of the output is attached.

     

     

    var output = String('\n', 5);
var textFramesSelected = app.selection;
for( n=1; n<textFramesSelected.length; n++ )
{
textFramesSelected[n].previousTextFrame = textFramesSelected[n-1];
};
textFramesSelected[0].contents=output;

     

     


    quote

    @Robert at ID-Tasker I have come up with the following script where I have followed process mentioned by @Laubender and assigned the story to frame by the process suggested by you, but still it shows only 1 \n char in first frame only. I have tried with 5 textframes only for testing. Screenshot of the output is attached.

    var output = String('\n', 5);

     

    By @Bedazzled532

     

    Looks like this doesn't work as per example I've found on some website, sorry.

    And you should use '\r' rather than '\n'.

     

    This should work:

     

     

    var output = new Array(5).join('\r');
var textFramesSelected = app.selection;
for( n=1; n<textFramesSelected.length; n++ )
{
textFramesSelected[n].previousTextFrame = textFramesSelected[n-1];
};

app.selection[0].contents = output;
app.selection[0].parentStory.appliedParagraphStyle = app.activeDocument.paragraphStyles.item('qqq');

     

     

     

     

     

     

    If you want to start not from "1", then you need to set Mode->Start At:

     

    then switch back to Continue:

     

     

    3 replies

    L
    Community Expert
    LaubenderCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 3, 2024

    Hi @Bedazzled532 ,

    if you are working with a selection of text frames your script will work in the order you have selected the frames.

    So, if you want the order from left to right and top to bottom select the frames one by one in that order using the Shift key with click.

     

    FWIW: performance is no issue with a couple of text frames.

    But in case you want to accelerate your script's performance use property previousTextFrame instead of nextTextFrame.

    var textFramesSelected = app.selection;

for( n=1; n<textFramesSelected.length; n++ )
{
	textFramesSelected[n].previousTextFrame = 
	textFramesSelected[n-1];
};

     

    Regards,
    Uwe Laubender
    ( Adobe Community Expert )

    Bedazzled532
    Bedazzled532Author
    Inspiring
    May 8, 2024

    @Laubender Thanks.  I am using few text frames with only a counter that would run from 1 to 200 or A-0001 to A-0200.

    I will try your method of previousTextFrame also. Currently I am stuck with generation of counters and applying a style to them.

    Thanks

    Robert at ID-Tasker
    Robert at ID-Tasker
    Legend
    May 8, 2024
    quote

    Currently I am stuck with generation of counters and applying a style to them.


    By @Bedazzled532

     

    What's the problem? 

     

    rob day
    Community Expert
    rob dayCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 2, 2024

    Hi @Bedazzled532 , The error is happening because your loop is from 0 to the frames.length—it should be 0 to frames.length-1:

     

    frames = app.selection;
//alert(frames.length);
for(i=0;i<frames.length-1;i++){
    frames[i].nextTextFrame = frames[i+1];
}

     

    This works with the IDML you shared:

     

     

    But note that your loop is threading via the text frame index (your i variable), and the index is determined by the order the frames were added to the page. So, if I cut and paste the center circle its index becomes 0 and i get this:

     

      Bedazzled532
      Bedazzled532Author
      Inspiring
      May 2, 2024

      First of all thank you so much for the correction.

      Secondly, I know about the gridify feature.  Actually I am making one circle then applying object style. Then I am using gridify feature to create the grid of circles. Then I will run the script to thread the frame and then the last step would be to populate the circles with the counters.

       

      I made the corrections and it worked. However, one thing is bothering me. When I select the circle one by one and then run the script, it threads perfectly. But when I do a select all OR select it by using the mouse drag, the threading again acts weirdly.

       

      What modification do I need to do so that if I do a select all or select using mouse drag, the threading is perfect.

       

      If I want to thread by order of creation, what modification do I need to do ?

      Thanks

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      May 2, 2024
      quote

      [...] If I want to thread by order of creation, what modification do I need to do ?


      By @Bedazzled532

       

      You don't want to thread by creation order - but rather by location - if all objects are on the same Page / Spread - you need to build an Array or Collection with PosX, PosY, ID - then sort it by PosX+PosY or PosY+PosX - depends if you need to thread top-to-bottom or left-to-right.

       

      If objects are on multiple spreads - then you need to add PageIndex in front. 

       

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      May 2, 2024

      You can create a "grid" using InDesign - and all TextFrames will be threaded automatically:

      https://creativepro.com/tip-week-gridify-magic/

       

       

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