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The software company where I work runs a .jsx script to set all Preferences in InDesign.
InDesign CS 5.5 has an option under General for Object Editing named Prevent Selection of Locked Objects.
We need to have this turned off every time a user creates a new document.
Can some provide the code to this that we can add to our existing script? Thank you.
1 Correct answer
Whew! You guys are serious about your preferences. You should insert the new one in the with block that starts at line 154:
...//General preference panel
with(app.generalPreferences){
pageNumbering = PageNumberingOptions.section; // Page Numbering, View
toolTips = ToolTipOptions.normal; // Tool Tips
// toolsPalette = ToolsPaletteOptions.doubleColumn; // Floating Tool Palette
completeFontDownloadGlyphLimit = 2000; // Always Subset Fonts...
preventS
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That's an application preference, not a document preference, so I don't understand why you would need to set it every time someone makes a new document.
app.generalPreferences.preventSelectingLockedItems = false;
is what you want. We can't tell you where to put it in your existing script unless you provide it.
Jeff
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Thanks for the quick response. Here is our current Java script, in full. Thought it references CS2 in a comment at the top, we have run it successfully with CS2, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5
----------------------------------------
//ApplicationTextDefaults
//An InDesign CS2 JavaScript
//Sets the application text defaults, which will become the text defaults for all
//new documents. Existing documents will remain unchanged.
with(app.textDefaults){
alignToBaseline = false; // align to baseline grid
try {
// appliedFont = app.fonts.item("Times New Roman");
appliedFont = app.fonts.item("Helvetica");
}
catch (e) {}
try {
fontStyle = "Medium";
}
catch (e) {}
autoleading = 100;
balanceRaggedLines = false;
baselineShift = 0;
capitalization = Capitalization.normal;
composer = "Adobe Paragraph Composer";
desiredGlyphScaling = 100;
desiredLetterSpacing = 0;
desiredWordSpacing = 100;
dropCapCharacters = 0;
if (dropCapCharacters != 0) {
dropCapLines = 3;
//Assumes that the application has a default character style named "myDropCap"
//dropCapStyle = app.characterStyles.item("myDropCap");
}
fillColor = app.colors.item("Black");
fillTint = 100;
firstLineIndent = "0pt";
// firstLineIndent = "14pt";
gridAlignFirstLineOnly = false;
horizontalScale = 100;
hyphenateAfterFirst = 3;
hyphenateBeforeLast = 4;
hyphenateCapitalizedWords = false;
hyphenateLadderLimit = 1;
hyphenateWordsLongerThan = 5;
hyphenation = true;
hyphenationZone = "3p";
hyphenWeight = 9;
justification = Justification.leftAlign;
keepAllLinesTogether = false;
keepLinesTogether = true;
keepFirstLines = 2;
keepLastLines = 2;
keepWithNext = 0;
kerningMethod = "Optical";
kerningValue = 0;
leading = 6.3;
// leading = 14;
leftIndent = 0;
ligatures = true;
maximumGlyphScaling = 100;
maximumLetterSpacing = 0;
maximumWordSpacing = 160;
minimumGlyphScaling = 100;
minimumLetterSpacing = 0;
minimumWordSpacing = 80;
noBreak = false;
otfContextualAlternate = true;
otfDiscretionaryLigature = true;
otfFigureStyle = OTFFigureStyle.proportionalOldstyle;
otfFraction = true;
otfHistorical = true;
otfOrdinal = false;
otfSlashedZero = true;
otfSwash = false;
otfTitling = false;
overprintFill = false;
overprintStroke = false;
pointSize = 6.3;
// pointSize = 11;
position = Position.normal;
rightIndent = 0;
ruleAbove = false;
if(ruleAbove == true){
ruleAboveColor = app.colors.item("Black");
ruleAboveGapColor = app.swatches.item("None");
ruleAboveGapOverprint = false;
ruleAboveGapTint = 100;
ruleAboveLeftIndent = 0;
ruleAboveLineWeight = .25;
ruleAboveOffset = 14;
ruleAboveOverprint = false;
ruleAboveRightIndent = 0;
ruleAboveTint = 100;
ruleAboveType = app.strokeStyles.item("Solid");
ruleAboveWidth = RuleWidth.columnWidth;
}
ruleBelow = false;
if(ruleBelow == true){
ruleBelowColor = app.colors.item("Black");
ruleBelowGapColor = app.swatches.item("None");
ruleBelowGapOverprint = false;
ruleBelowGapTint = 100;
ruleBelowLeftIndent = 0;
ruleBelowLineWeight = .25;
ruleBelowOffset = 0;
ruleBelowOverprint = false;
ruleBelowRightIndent = 0;
ruleBelowTint = 100;
ruleBelowType = app.strokeStyles.item("Solid");
ruleBelowWidth = RuleWidth.columnWidth;
}
singleWordJustification = SingleWordJustification.leftAlign;
skew = 0;
spaceAfter = 0;
spaceBefore = 0;
startParagraph = StartParagraph.anywhere;
strikeThru = false;
if(strikeThru == true){
strikeThroughColor = app.colors.item("Black");
strikeThroughGapColor = app.swatches.item("None");
strikeThroughGapOverprint = false;
strikeThroughGapTint = 100;
strikeThroughOffset = 3;
strikeThroughOverprint = false;
strikeThroughTint = 100;
strikeThroughType = app.strokeStyles.item("Solid");
strikeThroughWeight = .25;
}
strokeColor = app.swatches.item("None");
strokeTint = 100;
strokeWeight = 0;
tracking = 0;
underline = false;
if(underline == true){
underlineColor = app.colors.item("Black");
underlineGapColor = app.swatches.item("None");
underlineGapOverprint = false;
underlineGapTint = 100;
underlineOffset = 3;
underlineOverprint = false;
underlineTint = 100;
underlineType = app.strokeStyles.item("Solid");
underlineWeight = .25
}
verticalScale = 100;
}
//
//Units & Increments preference panel
//Must do this to make sure our units that we set are in points. The vert and horiz
//units that get set default to the current measurement unit. We set it to points
//so we can be sure of the value. We'll reset it later to the desired setting.
with(app.viewPreferences){
horizontalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.points; // Ruler Units, horizontal
verticalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.points; // Ruler Units, vertical
}
//
//General preference panel
with(app.generalPreferences){
pageNumbering = PageNumberingOptions.section; // Page Numbering, View
toolTips = ToolTipOptions.normal; // Tool Tips
// toolsPalette = ToolsPaletteOptions.doubleColumn; // Floating Tool Palette
completeFontDownloadGlyphLimit = 2000; // Always Subset Fonts...
}
//
//Type preference panel
with (app.textEditingPreferences){
tripleClickSelectsLine = true; // Triple Click to Select a Line
smartCutAndPaste = true; // Adjust Spacing Automatically when Cutting and Pasting Words
dragAndDropTextInLayout = false; // Enable in Layout View
allowDragAndDropTextInStory = true; // Enable in Story Editor
}
with(app.textPreferences){
typographersQuotes = true; // Use Typographer's Quotes
useOpticalSize = true; // Automatically Use Correct Optical Size
scalingAdjustsText = true; // Adjust Text Attributes when Scaling
useParagraphLeading = false; // Apply Leading to Entire Paragraphs
linkTextFilesWhenImporting = false; // Create Links when Placing Text and Spreadsheet Files
}
// Missing following (Font Preview Size, Past All Information/Text Only)
//
//Advanced Type preference panel
with(app.textPreferences){
superscriptSize = 58.3; // Superscript, size
superscriptPosition = 33.3; // Superscript, position
subscriptSize = 58.3; // Subscript, size
subscriptPosition = 33.3; // Subscript, position
smallCap = 70; // Smallcap
}
with(app.imePreferences){
inlineInput = false; // Use Inline Input for Non-Latin Text
}
//Composition preference panel
with(app.textPreferences){
highlightKeeps = false; // Keep Violations
highlightHjViolations = false; // H&J Violations
highlightCustomSpacing = false; // Custom Tracking/Kerning
highlightSubstitutedFonts = true; // Substituted Fonts
highlightSubstitutedGlyphs = false; // Substituted Glyphs
justifyTextWraps = false; // Justify Text Next to an Object
abutTextToTextWrap = true; // Skip by Leading
zOrderTextWrap = false; // Text Wrap Only Affects Text Beneath
}
//
//Units & Increments preference panel
with(app.viewPreferences){
rulerOrigin = RulerOrigin.spreadOrigin; // Ruler Units, origin
// These are set at the end of the script after all the changes have been made
// horizontalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.points; // Ruler Units, horizontal
// verticalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.inches; // Ruler Units, vertical
pointsPerInch = 72; // Point/Pica Size, Points/Inch
cursorKeyIncrement = 1; // Keyboard Increment, Cursor Key
}
with(app.textPreferences){
baselineShiftKeyIncrement = 2; // Keyboard Increment, Baseline Shift
leadingKeyIncrement = 2; // Keyboard Increment, Size/Leading
kerningKeyIncrement = 20; // Keyboard Increment, Kerning
}
//
//Grids preference panel
with(app.gridPreferences){
baselineColor = UIColors.lightBlue; // Baseline Grid, Color
baselineStart = 48; // Baseline Grid, Start
baselineDivision = 6; // Baseline Grid, Increment Every
baselineViewThreshold = 50; // Baseline Grid, View Threshold
baselineGridRelativeOption = BaselineGridRelativeOption.topOfPageOfBaselineGridRelativeOption; // Baseline Grid, Relative To
gridColor = UIColors.lightGray; // Document Grid, Color
horizontalGridlineDivision = 12; // Document Grid, Horizontal, Gridline Every
horizontalGridSubdivision = 12; // Document Grid, Horizontal, Subdivisions
verticalGridlineDivision = 12; // Document Gird, Vertical, Gridline Every
verticalGridSubdivision = 12; // Document Grid, Vertical, Subdivisions
gridsInBack = true; // Grids in Back
//
documentGridSnapto = false; // snap to grid or not
documentGridShown = false; // show document grid
}
//
//Guides & Pasteboard preference panel
with(app.documentPreferences){
marginGuideColor = UIColors.violet; // Color, Margins
columnGuideColor = UIColors.magenta; // Color, Columns
}
with(app.pasteboardPreferences){
bleedGuideColor = UIColors.fiesta; // Color, Bleed
slugGuideColor = UIColors.gridBlue; // Color, Slug
previewBackgroundColor = UIColors.lightGray; // Color, Preview Background
minimumSpaceAboveAndBelow = 72; // Minimum Vertical Offset
}
with(app.viewPreferences){
guideSnaptoZone = 4; // Snap to Zone
}
with(app.guidePreferences){
guidesInBack = false; // Guides in Back
}
//
//Dictionary preference panel
with(app.dictionaryPreferences){
composition = ComposeUsing.both; // Hyphenatin Exceptions, Compose Using
mergeUserDictionary = false; // Merge User Dictionary into Document
recomposeWhenChanged = true; // Recompose All Stories When Modified
}
// Missing (Lang, Hyph, Spelling, Double Quotes, Single Quotes)
//
//Spelling preference panel
with(app.spellPreferences){
checkMisspelledWords = true; // Find, Misspelled Words
checkRepeatedWords = true; // Find, Repeated Words
checkCapitalizedWords = true; // Find, Uncapitalized Words
checkCapitalizedSentences = true; // Find, Uncapitalized Sentences
dynamicSpellCheck = true; // Enable Dynamic Spelling
misspelledWordColor = UIColors.red; // Color, Misspelled Words
repeatedWordColor = UIColors.green; // Color, Repeated Words
uncapitalizedWordColor = UIColors.green; // Color, Uncapitalized Words
uncapitalizedSentenceColor = UIColors.green; // Color, Uncapitalized Sentences
}
//
//Autocorrect preference panel
with(app.autoCorrectPreferences){
autoCorrect = true; // Enable Autocorrect
autoCorrectCapitalizationErrors = false; // Autocorrect Capitalization
}
// Missing (Language, Misspelled word pairs)
//
//Display Performance preference panel
with(app.displayPerformancePreferences){
defaultDisplaySettings = ViewDisplaySettings.typical; // Preserve Object-Level
persistLocalSettings = false;
}
// Missing (antialiasiing, greek below
//
//Story Editor Display preference panel
with(app.galleyPreferences){
textColor = InCopyUIColors.black; // Text Color
backgroundColor = InCopyUIColors.white; // Background
smoothText = true; // Enable Anti-Aliasing
antiAliasType = AntiAliasType.grayAntialiasing; // Type
cursorType = CursorTypes.standardCursor; // Cursor Type
blinkCursor = true; // Blink
}
// Missing (Font, Size, Line Spacing & Theme)
//
//File Handling preference panel
with(app.generalPreferences){
includePreview = true; // Always Save Preview Images with Doc
previewSize = PreviewSizeOptions.medium; // Preview Size
}
with(app.clipboardPreferences){
preferPDFWhenPasting = false; // Prefer PDF When Pasting
copyPDFToClipboard = true; // Copy PDF to Clipboard
preservePdfClipboardAtQuit = false; // Preserve PDF Data at Quit
}
// Missing (Enable Version Cue)
//
//
//
// Optical margin (hanging punctuation, outside margins)
with(app.storyPreferences){
opticalMarginAlignment = false;
opticalMarginSize = 12; // pts
}
//Wrap Up (do at end of script)
//Units & Increments preference panel
//Must do this to make sure our units that we set are in points. The vert and horiz
//units that get set default to the current measurement unit. We set it to points
//so we can be sure of the value. We'll reset it later to the desired setting.
with(app.viewPreferences){
horizontalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.picas; // Ruler Units, horizontal
verticalMeasurementUnits = MeasurementUnits.inches; // Ruler Units, vertical
}
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Whew! You guys are serious about your preferences. You should insert the new one in the with block that starts at line 154:
//General preference panel
with(app.generalPreferences){
pageNumbering = PageNumberingOptions.section; // Page Numbering, View
toolTips = ToolTipOptions.normal; // Tool Tips
// toolsPalette = ToolsPaletteOptions.doubleColumn; // Floating Tool Palette
completeFontDownloadGlyphLimit = 2000; // Always Subset Fonts...
preventSelectingLockedItems = false;
}
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Thanks for all your help. Our company writes software in Java that integrates with InDesign (or QuarkXPress) for selling and making the content of newspaper advertising -- everything from a single-line, text-only ad in the classifieds to double-truck, full-page ads for car dealers. We lock down the preferences for maximum efficiency with what our users do.
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If
hyphenateAfterFirst = 3;
hyphenateBeforeLast = 4;
Then
hyphenateWordsLongerThan = 5; // Will/Shoule be 7 right?

