Getting the longest physical width of text in a cell column and use it as reference for tab stop.

[Martin PH]

Hello,

I need help. I am working with columns. I need to find the longest character width and create a tabstop aligning (character alignment: ")" ) all the figures to the longest character in the selected column.

This is the unformatted: (in center align)

   

This is formatted with tab stop: (character align: ")", left-justified)

 

This is the script that I'm using. It only applies to individual cells so basically, it just center-aligns every cell. 

var textsArray = app.selection[0].cells.everyItem().texts.everyItem().getElements();
var tabStopProperties =
{
    alignment : TabStopAlignment.CHARACTER_ALIGN ,
    alignmentCharacter : ")"
};

for(var n=0;n<textsArray.length;n++)
{
    start = textsArray[n].insertionPoints[0].horizontalOffset;
    end = textsArray[n].insertionPoints[-1].horizontalOffset;
    distance = end - start;

    var widthA = app.selection[0].cells[0].width;
    var widthB = distance;
    var widthC = widthA - widthB;
    var widthD = widthC/2
    var position = widthA - widthD;
    
    textsArray[n].tabStops.everyItem().remove();
    textsArray[n].tabStops.add();
    textsArray[n].tabStops[0].properties = tabStopProperties;
    textsArray[n].tabStops[0].position = position;
    textsArray[n].justification = Justification.LEFT_ALIGN;

};

Thanks,

Martin

[brianp311]

You need to iterate through each cell, not use everyItem in this case. (But I don't know why you just wouldn't use right align for the text and save yourself the trouble?)

var cells = app.selection[0].cells;
for (var i = 0; i < cells.length; i++) {
   var texts = cells[i].texts.everyItem().getElements();
   ...
}

[FRIdNGE · Accepted solution]

Hi Brian!

I think Martin tries to get something like this!

[script written for a client 3 years ago!]

(^/) The Jedi

[Martin PH]

Hi Michel,

This is what I need to achieve. Can you share it with me? Hehe.

-Martin