If you’re like most people, you probably find yourself performing the same actions over and over again in InDesign. Well, there’s good news! You can automate many of these actions using InDesign scripts.
InDesign scripts are written in JavaScript, and they can be used to perform a wide variety of tasks, from simple tasks like adding text to a document to more complex tasks like generating a PDF.
Creating an InDesign script is relatively easy, and there are a number of resources available to help you get started. In this article, we’ll give you a brief overview of how to create an InDesign script to automate an action.
The first step is to open the InDesign Scripts panel. You can do this by choosing Window > Automation > Scripts.
Next, click the New Script button at the bottom of the Scripts panel.
This will open the New Script dialog box. In the dialog box, you’ll need to specify a few things, including the name of the script, the location where the script will be saved, and the type of script.
For the name of the script, you can enter anything you want. Just make sure to give the script a name that describes what it does.
For the location, you can either choose to save the script in the InDesign Scripts Folder or in a custom location. If you choose the InDesign Scripts Folder, the script will be available to all users on your computer. If you choose a custom location, the script will only be available to you.
For the type of script, you can choose from two options: ExtendScript or JavaScript. ExtendScript is a scripting language that is based on JavaScript, and it is the recommended scripting language for InDesign.
Once you’ve specified the name, location, and type of script, click OK.
This will open the ExtendScript Toolkit, which is a program that you can use to write and debug ExtendScript code.
In the ExtendScript Toolkit, you’ll see a blank document. This is where you’ll enter the code for your script.
The code for your script will vary depending on what you want the script to do. However, there are a few things that all scripts should include.
First, all scripts should start with the following line of code:
#target “indesign”
This line of code tells InDesign that the script is going to target InDesign specifically.
Next, you’ll need to include a line of code that specifies the version of InDesign that the script is compatible with. The format for this line of code is as follows:
app.scriptPreferences.version = “XX”;
Replace XX with the version of InDesign that you’re using (for example, app.scriptPreferences.version = “13.0” for In
Other related questions:
How do I create a script in InDesign?
InDesign provides a powerful and easy-to-use scripting interface that allows you to automate many common tasks, including creating and modifying documents, importing and exporting data, and printing. You can create scripts using JavaScript or AppleScript. For more information, see the InDesign Scripting Guide.
Can you automate in InDesign?
Yes, InDesign can be automated using a number of methods, including scripting (JavaScript or AppleScript), plug-ins, and third-party automation tools.
How do I create an action in InDesign?
1. Choose Window > Actions to open the Actions panel.
2. In the Actions panel, click the New Action button .
3. In the New Action dialog box, name the action and specify a function key shortcut, if desired.
4. From the Category pop-up menu, choose a category for the action.
5. Click the Record button .
6. Perform the steps you want to record.
7. Click the Stop Playing/Recording button .
How do I make text flow automatically in InDesign?
InDesign has a built-in feature to automatically flow text from one text frame to another, called “text autoflow”. To use this feature, simply create two or more text frames next to each other, and position the cursor at the end of the first frame. Then, press the “Enter” or “Return” key on your keyboard. The text will automatically flow into the next frame.
Bibliography
- Scripting in InDesign – Adobe Support
- Automated custom publishing in InDesign – Adobe Support
- 200+ Must-Have InDesign Scripts (Free and paid) – Redokun
- Tips for creating InDesign templates with automation in mind
- Automating repetitive graphs and charts in InDesign
- Action Recorder for InDesign – CreativePro Network