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T
Typeflow
Participant
August 31, 2011
Answered

Unlock all objects in document(s)?

  • August 31, 2011
  • 7 replies
  • 31350 views

I suspect the answer is no, but is there a way to do this? I've got 60 files originally made by rhesus monkeys and they found the "lock" command.

Thanks.

      This topic has been closed for replies.
      Correct answer tomaxxi

      Ariel,

      There is no need to loop through allPageItems. It's just slow and pointless.

      allPageItems returns all items no matter if they are grouped or not.

      If you noticed, you can't lock object which is inside of group.

      Therefore, using simple one line of code you can unlock all

      items in the document like Jongware did in his post:

      app.activeDocument.pageItems.everyItem().locked = false;

      To unlock items just on master pages use this:

      app.activeDocument.masterSpreads.everyItem().pageItems.everyItem().locked = false;

      To unlock all items just on pages, not master pages:

      app.activeDocument.pages.everyItem().pageItems.everyItem().locked = false;

      Hope that helps.

      --

      Marijan (tomaxxi)

      http://tomaxxi.com

      7 replies

      L
      Community Expert
      LaubenderCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      December 3, 2020

      Hi erique,

      Marijan (tomaxxi) gave the correct answer back in 2011.

      His ExtendScript (JavaScript) code is still working.

      Even with the lastest version of InDesign 2021.

       

      Perhaps one could add another line of code that also unlocks all layers of the active document:

      app.activeDocument.layers.everyItem().locked = false ;
app.activeDocument.pageItems.everyItem().locked = false;

       

      FWIW: An expanded version could also memorize all locked objects so that a user will be able to lock all items that were unlocked later.

       

      Regards,
      Uwe Laubender

      ( ACP )

        Amr.Hamdy
        Amr.Hamdy
        Known Participant
        August 23, 2022

        Hello guys,

        can you please let me know how to run this scritp ?

        L
        Community Expert
        LaubenderCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 23, 2022

        Hi @Amr.Hamdy ,

        copy the code to a text editor and save it without any formatting with the file suffix *.jsx for ExtendScript.

        How to install a script file in your User folder so that the script is showing up in the Scripts panel:

        https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/scripting.html

         

        Also this:

        https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/script-info.html

         

        And that:

        https://www.indiscripts.com/pages/help#hd0sb2

         

        Regards,
        Uwe Laubender
        ( Adobe Community Professional )

        E
        erique
        Participant
        December 3, 2020

        You can also try this script which is now apparently only accessible via the WayBackMachine.

        https://web.archive.org/web/20151016221507/http://www.premediasystems.com:80/downloads/Lock_Unlock_Page_Items.jsx.zip

        It worked great for me in Insdesign CC2021 to unlock every element in a 280-page document.

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 1, 2011

        You didn't say what version of InDesign?


        InDesign CS5 you can open the Layers panel, here there is a triangle to expand the layer.

        And you can unlock all items by clicking and holding and sliding down the side with the locks on it.

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        September 1, 2011

        Or use the Sub menu and choose "unlock all"

        TᴀW
        TᴀW
        Legend
        August 31, 2011

        Untested, but try this little script:

        items = app.activeDocument.allPageItems;

        for (a=0; a<items.length; a++){

        items.locked = false;

        }

        Ariel

        Visit www.id-extras.com for powerful InDesign scripts that save hours of work — automation, batch tools, and workflow boosters for serious designers.
        Colin Flashman
        Community Expert
        Colin FlashmanCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 31, 2011

        or the OP should try ariel's script above... just tested in CS5 (mac) and it works there.

        If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!
        T
        TypeflowAuthor
        Participant
        September 1, 2011

        The simple one works in CS5.5; will try the other if anything changes.

        Thanks again.

        R
        Rachit Kulshrestha
        Participating Frequently
        August 31, 2011

        While in InDesign, click on 'Object' from the Menu options and select 'Unlock All on Spread'. See if it helps.

        Rachit

          T
          TypeflowAuthor
          Participant
          August 31, 2011

          Thanks, but there are 1,013 spreads, so I'd like to avoid that.

          Got the script running. So far, so good.

          Thanks, all.

          Colin Flashman
          Community Expert
          Colin FlashmanCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          August 31, 2011

          user Harbs has answered this question in an earlier thread:

          http://forums.adobe.com/message/2988802

          EDIT: or Jongware's answer in this earlier thread:

          http://forums.adobe.com/message/3725137

          admittedly, searching on the forum's indesign scripting site sucks. user John Hawkinson suggested a better way of searching it. to quote him directly:

          Use google instead, you can specify site:forums.adobe.com +"indesign scripting"

          If the answer wasn't in my post, perhaps it might be on my blog at colecandoo!
          T
          TypeflowAuthor
          Participant
          August 31, 2011

          Lovely, thanks.

          At least they weren't marmosets, or everything would be on a non-printing layer, too.

            Steve Werner
            Community Expert
            Steve WernerCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            August 31, 2011

            I have a hunch that it could be scripted. One of our scripting gurus may answer whether it's possible.

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