I forgot to mention: there is one very slight flaw in the script -- it generates an unnecessary comma at the end which I don't know how to get rid of via the script. I will just delete the comma manually -- or maybe the Page Range dialog box will ignore a final comma, so it won't be a problem. ... View more

Thanks for the script, Jongware, but it is not quite what I need.I think yours generates one huge saddle-stitch arrangement, whereas I want the ability to generate a group of smaller ones (effectively a variable-length perfect-bound arrangement), thus my listing of "numbers of sheets" in each signature as the input. Someone has been kind enough to write an Applescript that does the job. I haven't fully tested it, but really, what is there to test? It seems to work for me. One problem: it can't handle InDesign page numbers other than plain numbers, but I can work around that if I need to. Imposition from InDesign here I come -- run the script, paste the output into Page Range of the Export dialog box, and stand back while the bytes fly. If a script could be run from the open Export window (to allow setting up of the various options), this script (or a JS version) could be carried one step further, not that I'm wanting to at this stage. The start page and the various signature lengths could be entered; options set up in the Export window; then the script could: 1. Generate the imposed number sequence and place them into the Page Range field of the active document; 2. Export the PDF; 3. Call on PlaceMultipagePDF, set to automatically create a new InDesign document and place the PDF pages. It would be a very flexible, simple way of obtaining variable-length, 2-Up imposition from InDesign. SCRIPT TO IMPOSE VARIABLE-LENGTH 2-UP SIGNATURES set start to 1 -- overwrite with your starting page number set s to {8, 1, 0} -- overwrite with the number of pages in each signature; any number of signatures allowed; must have 0 at end to stop. set n to 1 set begin to start set _end to start - 1 + 4 * (item n of s) set outputStr to "" repeat set a to _end set b to begin set c to begin + 1 set d to _end - 1 set halfway to (begin + _end) / 2 repeat while b < halfway set outputStr to outputStr & a & "," set outputStr to outputStr & b & "," set outputStr to outputStr & c & "," set outputStr to outputStr & d & "," set a to a - 2 set b to b + 2 set c to c + 2 set d to d - 2 end repeat set n to n + 1 if item n of s = 0 then exit repeat set begin to _end + 1 set _end to _end + 4 * (item n of s) end repeat set the clipboard to outputStr return outputStr ... View more

I have changed tack as per a previous post, and think it better if I control imposition on the way from InDesign to PDF, instead of from the PDF to InDesign. Thus, all I need is a number generator and I'm hoping someone can put that together for me. The output should be separated by commas, and dumped to the clipboard. All the variables are integers, except HALFWAY which may be a fraction. LIST OF PARAMETERS The script should explicitly assign all elements of the "S" array the value "0", so that the user can easily locate and overwrite them. The zeroes have a second use: when the script detects a "0" it stops and outputs the numbers to the clipboard, separated by commas. START = 1 S(1) = 0 S(2) = 0 S(3) = 0 . . S(30) = 0 LIST OF VARIABLES USED IN THE SCRIPT BEGIN END HALFWAY A, B, C, D FLOWCHART N = 1 BEGIN = START END = START - 1 + 4*S(N) LOOP: A = END B = BEGIN C = BEGIN + 1 D = END - 1 HALFWAY = (BEGIN + END)/2 WHILE B < HALFWAY Print A (then comma) Print B (then comma) Print C (then comma) Print D (then comma) A = A - 2 B = B + 2 C = C + 2 D = D - 2 WEND N = N + 1 IF S(N) = 0: STOP BEGIN = END + 1 END = 4*S(N) + END GO TO LOOP SAMPLE RUN For inputs of: START = 1 S(1) = 3 S(2) = 1 S(3) = 0 The output should be: 12, 1, 2, 11, 10, 3, 4, 9, 8, 5, 6, 7, 16, 13, 14, 15 ... View more

Something I didn't mention from Jongwares's post. I want to keep this simple, so slugs, bleeds, crop marks are not involved. This is simply a way of using InDesign to get an imposed PDF without involving any other program. If a user wants slugs, larger paper size and so on, couldn't they alter the InDesign document after the imposed PDF is imported? For my needs, the simpler the better. ... View more

Whoa.. whoa.. let's back track so that I can confirm a few things. 1. I am doing the binding myself, so I use variable length signatures for two reasons. Plus there is a third reason due to a flaw in InDesign. (a) So that images that spread across the centre line are printed on one sheet (where possible); (b) so that there are a minimum number of blank pages at the end of the book; and (c) to overcome the "text on a path problem". You cannot export "text on a path" on pages greater than ~70. A large InDesign file has to be broken up (see http://forums.adobe.com/thread/482470?tstart=0). 2. The example of 24, 28, 24 is actually taken from a book of mine that is right in front of me, and which I am reprinting. Each of these signatures has a large image that spreads over both pages of the central sheet, so the image is "whole". It's just the way I wanted to do it; and in fact, to some extent the book itself was designed around being able to print "unbroken" large images. 3. Another example from my books is: 32, 28, 28, 32; and yet another: (25 x 32) + 16. 4. I made a mistake in the description: the imposition is actually a series of 2-Up Saddle Stitched signatures, not Perfect Bound (which for 2-Up is simply a series of same-size saddle-stitched signatures anyway). 5. Thinking about it, I'm pretty sure all I need is a number generator that dumps numbers separated by commas into a place where I can access them -- Text Edit, InDesign, or the clipboard. IMPOSING I envisage these are the steps when I am ready to impose (nothing fancy, only 2-Up saddle stitch): 1. Work out the imposition layout. This must be completely flexible for my needs. The only limitation is that imposed by physics itself and the format of books: 2-sided paper, folded in half has four sides. So the signature-length must be divisible by four. Within that limitation, any possible combination is allowed. I may want a book like this: 4, 36, 24, 12, 32, 8, 4, 4,16, 28. 2. I open up the InDesign document ready to impose. 3. I open up the number generator script so that I can edit it. No interface is required -- signature lengths are overwritten in the script itself. The script will appear as (my entries overwriting the "0"s are in brackets): START = 0 [7] SIG(1) = 0 [12] SIG(2) = 0 [24] . . SIG(30) = 0 Page number error routine. Number generator routine. Output routine, inserting commas between numbers. Stops when a signature length of zero is encountered. Sent to either clipboard, Text Edit or InDesign. 4. I then paste the number sequence into the Page Range field, and also paste them into an unused page in the book, so that I can use them in future without recourse to the script. For an 8-page booklet (2-Up saddle-stitch), the numbers would be: 8,1,2,7,6,3,4,5. 5. When I press Export, a single-page PDF is created with the pages in 2-Up saddle-stitch order. But this PDF is not yet ready for printing. 6. The final step is to import the PDF (already in imposed sequence) into InDesign using the PlaceMultipagePDF script. When facing pages is turned on, I have a 2-Up, imposed book with variable length signatures, ready to print. ... View more

This is turning into a one-person thread, but I may have thought up an easier solution. Instead of using a script to impose the import of a PDF, I've just realised I could do the same thing when I export the file from InDesign to PDF -- meaning, if I type in a long series of numbers in the Print Range field in imposition order, the PDF will already be in imposed order when I use PlaceMultipagePDF to place the PDF back into InDesign. Example: For an 8-page booklet, I would export in the following order: 8, 1, 2, 7, 6, 3, 4, 5, by entering those numbers in the Page Range field. Then use the script to import the file. So, if the modification of the PlaceMultipagePDF script is unwieldly, maybe someone could implement the routine for generating the number sequence (see my attachment in a previous post). The output would need to be separated by commas and placed in a blank InDesign document, or put on the clipboard. The user could then just copy, or paste, the numbers to the Page Range field. ... View more

I thought I'd have a look at the script to see what I could make of it. The last part is this: 1. function myPlacePDF(myDocument, myPage, myPDFFile){ 2. var myPDFPage; 3. app.pdfPlacePreferences.pdfCrop = PDFCrop.cropMedia; 4. var myCounter = 1; 5. var myBreak = false; 6. while(myBreak == false){ 7. if(myCounter > 1){ 8. myPage = myDocument.pages.add(LocationOptions.after, myPage); } 9. app.pdfPlacePreferences.pageNumber = myCounter; 10. myPDFPage = myPage.place(File(myPDFFile), [0,0])[0]; Line 8: is that creating a new page? Line 9: Is that selecting the next page from the PDF? i.e. if myCounter = 3, page 3 of the PDF is going to be placed. Line 10: Is that the one actually doing the placing? QUES In Line 9, if instead of myCounter, an array was used with myCounter acting as a pointer -- Array (myCounter) -- and that array held the imposition transform, would that work? For example, normally the pages would come in as: PDF     InDesign 1          -> 1 2          -> 2 3          -> 3 But the imposed pages might be (these are just made up): PDF     InDesign 5          -> 1 4          -> 2 17         -> 3 Array would therefore need to be set up as: Array(1) = 5 Array (2) = 4 Array (3) = 17 And line 9 would be changed to: app.pdfPlacePreferences.pageNumber = Array(myCounter); ... View more

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Peter has written three scripts which overcome the problems alluded to above. I have started a new thread to alert users to the scripts: http://forums.adobe.com/message/2199027#2199027 ... View more

Righto Mark, if you want another scripting challenge, sink your teeth into this one: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/465884 ... View more

Back again. I thought I'd better try rebooting OSX, tossing all scripts in Script Panel, reloading your script from scratch and including the new version of "update". When I did that and tried it on my Test file, the update worked. I'll give the script a thorough workout tomorrow and let you know how it goes in CS4. ... View more

Mark, I think I'll settle for the script that leaves the link updated. Replacing the "update" line in your script with your newer version does all sorts of weird things. Computers amaze me how they can be so inventive. 1. I replaced the original "update" line with your newer version, and saved the script under a new name. 2. Clicked on the first image in my Test document and ran the script. 3. The second image was selected (not the first), it sharpened, and appeared to update. 4. Tried again -- the image that was processed was always the one after the selected image. 5. Other errors crept in: "no image selected"; resampling but not sharpening; not updating. Amazing. You wouldn't believe the numerous permutations of errors that cropped up. So back I went and copied your  script from this site, pasted it into a blank script and away it went. Maybe my computer was just playing games with me. Anyway, I'm sticking with the script that doesn't update. It works quite well. I'm going to put all this into a PDF soon, explaining what has been created here, and then I'll start a new thread over in the InDesign forum introducing this great new script. Is it okay if I include your script (acknowledged of course) and make it available via Mediafire to whoever wants it? I'll make everything up into a zip package: script, SHARPEN, InDesign test file, and an explanatory PDF. ... View more

Mark, thanks for the updated script. It fixed the "not opening InDesign at the end" problem, but the un-updated link still remains in CS4. That's really not worth worrying about though. I have removed save and close from the Action, and let the script do that (as per your suggestion). The script is located in a folder so that when I go to Window > Automation > Scripts the script appears. This is what happens when I double-click the script: 1. At the end of the process, InDesign is activated. 2. The image 'blinks' for a second or so (if the file size is large) while it is updated. 3. The image appears sharper, but the yellow rectangle appears in the Links panel. 4. If I zoom in, the image pixellates as if the image has NOT been updated. 5. If I zoom out to the original size, the image again appears sharpened. 6. If I update the link manually, everything is fine. It would appear that InDesign is only updating the image that appears on the screen. Funny thing. There must be something not quite right about how CS4 interprets this line of the script: update item link of (item 1 of This_Image) Maybe CS4 is only updating the preview image that is contained within the document, and not updating and applying the altered link. Is that possible?Can the link be updated, but not applied? Could the script force the issue by mimicking the manual process? In Pidgin Applescript it would be something like: SELECT AND CLICK ON: Window > Links > Update Link ... View more

Mark, your new version appears to work a treat, though I will be extensively testing it on a wide variety of images before I let it loose in my book. Two minor points: 1. The image, after processing, is updated in InDesign, but the Links panel reports that it is not updated -- it has a little yellow triangle next to the image. It would appear that although InDesign did update the image, that updated info is not remembered by InDesign. Sounds like an InDesign problem. 2. At the end of the script I am still in PS. No problem whatsoever. I may change SHARPEN so I do stay in PS with the image open so that I can edit the image. But most of the time I would like to return to InDesign. I've tried putting: tell application "Adobe InDesign CS4" activate end tell or simply the command activate, before and after 'update link'; before the subroutine listing; at the end of the entire script; but I am always left with an error message. How do you make InDesign active at the end? Finally, this Red LIon, is that in Knutsford? How often do you visit? Since you won't accept payment (I think you're underselling your skills), I'll contact the pub and arrange for a voucher for half a dozen pints, if that's possible. Take your mates down there and toast the 'script luddite' Tasmanian you've been helping. ... View more

Thanks Mark for the feedback. The script seems to work near perfectly, but I've yet to fully test it. As I said, I'm pretty dopey when it comes to scripting, and you were right: I was selecting the image with the black pointer instead of the white one. QUES 1 There's something I don't understand here. When I run through the process manually, and get to the change image resolution, I simply type in the new image resolution in Image > Image Size > Document Size > Resolution. I never touch anything else, and it works perfectly. I just checked, and when I change the resolution, the Document Size doesn't change, but the Pixel Dimensions do. Which is exactly what I want. i.e the number of pixels changes, but the image dimensions (in inches) stays the same (otherwise, when linked to InDesign, the image will be the wrong size). If I only need to change the resolution when I run through the process manually, why can't the script do the same? i.e just change resolution, and the pixels change in sympathy? Or doesn't scripting work that way? In particular, your code says, in part: resize image height (Image_Height * (300 / Resample)) Is that part necessary? Doesn't changing the resolution change the number of pixels automatically? QUES 2 Your code says: close with saving But my Action (SHARPEN) ends with a save and a close. I assume I can safely remove "close with saving". QUES 3 Lots of my images are behind others and I have to use Command-click to get to them, which doesn't work with the white pointer. i.e the contents are not selected. I have to go to Object > Select > Content. Is it possible to recode the start of the script so it does that automatically? i.e. always selects the contents of whatever is selected? No big deal if it's not possible. It would just slightly simplify matters. ... View more

Mark, do you mind if someone uses your script as the basis for one that works in CS4? Any further posts re this thread, should be posted in a later thread that supercedes this one: http://forums.adobe.com/message/2108472#2108472 Thanks. ... View more

No workee! Comes back with "Where is CS2?" I don't know how to put this without causing upset, because I know users of this forum are only trying to help this dumb cluck. But, whoever would like to get paid for writing me a script, please gmail me at gdburns. I'm completely useless with scripts. A total 100% imbecile when it comes to scripts. I want to buy a script as per my PDF, because discussing scripts and moving them in and out of folders is beyond me. I'm off to the other thread to close that down (as far as I'm concerned), so that I can concentrate on this one. ... View more

This thread has come partly unstuck because Mark over at http://forums.adobe.com/message/2100470#2100470 wrote a script and posted it after I started this thread. He mustn't have seen this latest one. However, the script is not working yet, so until it is I'm still after a working script for which I'm happy to pay. ... View more

Mark, tried the script by changing names to CS4 and it came up with this error in the 5th line: Adobe InDesign CS4 got an error: Can't get effective ppi of rectangle id 30600 of page id 27052 of spread id 27016 of document "Test Script.indd". Also, why do you need to resize the image height? I only need the resolution changed. You can download CS4 for a 30-day trial, though it's a pretty big file, about 1 GB. ... View more

Mark, don't give away for free what I'm happy to pay for. Check out: http://forums.adobe.com/thread/461446 If the script you responded with works, try it on my test file, tell me if it works, and how much you want for your time. I tried very slightly modifying one script, and several hours later gave up. Scriptings not for me. I want to pay someone to get one working for me. Go for it! Guy ... View more

I'll have to forget trying to attach it here. This is the link: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=QRQTL9Q ... View more

Trying to attach. ... View more

Thanks for the responses. The effective ppi is the ppi as reported by InDesign. If the image has been scaled differently in the 'x' and 'y' directions, InDesign reports two: effective ppi = 270 x 350. Call them EPPIx and EPPIy. I want to choose the smallest. SHARPEN is an Action I have generated which applies an Unsharp Mask with edge mask. If I understand Xbytor2's response, this is what I should be doing in Applescript (not Javascript): 1. Extract the smallest effective ppi from InDesign, and using that number, change the image resolution in PS. 2. Call upon JS (from within AS) with something like: app.doAction ("SHARPEN", "MY ACTIONS") OPTIONAL: * Upon return from JS, ask: More sharpening? If "Yes" apply new amount to Unsharp Mask. * Loop until "No" 3.  Upon return from JS, in Applescript: save, close, depart Photoshop, Enter InDesign. 4. End Applescript. QUES: Do you think the optional steps are an unnecessary complication to the script? It is quite easy to simply open the USM window and apply new values myself and watch the effect. Attached is a PDF with more details, including a complete Pidgin Applescript for the task. If it won't attach I'll upload to Mediafire. ... View more

Thanks Kasyan for the help. And Thomas: unfortunately, scripting is no fun for me. I'll look into all the suggestions mentioned, to see what I can make of it. Thanks again. ... View more

Thanks Kasyan. Where do you find such info? I've searched these four documents: • Adobe InDesign Scripting Tutorial • Scripting Read Me for Adobe® InDesign CS4 • Adobe Introduction to Scripting • Adove InDesign CS4 Scripting Guide: Applescript but there is not mention of effective ppi. So, I've another question. I've noticed that some of my images have a two part effective ppi, in the 'x' and 'y' direction, such as: 654 x 723. Can you tell me the names of those variables? ... View more

Thanks for the info, Michael. I checked out the Scripting Guide you mentioned, and even though you said "you do not use actions", the Guide seems to say you do. But I've probably misunderstood something. Here is what it says in part: To make the Emboss filter scriptable: 1. Open Photoshop, then open a document. 2. Choose Window > Actions, then choose New Action from the Actions palette menu. 3. Name the action, then click Record. 4. Choose Filter > Stylize > Emboss. Aside from that, you've answered my question -- this scripting is beyond me. I'll have to choose either to pay someone to write me a script, or tackle what I want to do manually. ... View more