Scripts
Adobe InDesign Scripts
Ok, there’s not much here, I realise that. I’ve written some simple scripts in order to get a bit of an idea how Adobe InDesign Scripting works, that I’m sharing here.
Adobe sample scripts
With the installation of InDesign CS3 and the Creative Suite 3 a series of sample scripts are installed by default. However, in CS2, scripts were supplied but not installed by default. The following excerpt from my InDesign CS2 manual provides an overview on how to install and use scripts in InDesign as well as what each of the sample scripts do (based on CS2 release).
The latest version of the InDesign CS3 sample scripts can be downloaded here:
Download the InDesign CS3 sample scripts
Web Reference: Scripts - Overview CS2 (2006, Cari Jansen)
Instructions for installing scripts
Right-click (Control-Click Mac) the script links to download the .zip files to your hard disk. Unzip them to see the script and instructions.txt files.
Copy the .js or .jsx files to: Adobe InDesign / Presets / Scripts folder and access them from the Scripts palette.
.js vs. jsx files
Please note that .jsx files are ExtendScript files that run in CS2. You can try removing the ‘x’ from the file name and see if they run in CS as well, however .jsx scripts supplied are not tested in earlier versions. In addition you could add the ‘x’ to a ‘.js’ file and try to run it in CS2.
JavaScripts - InDesign CS2
1pt Stroke on Page Border of all Pages script
1pt Stroke All Pages v2.jsx [revision 2.0]
Updated version of the popular 1pt Stroke All pages script.
Adds 1pt border around all pages in Document (set to exact page size). Border objects (rectangles) are placed in separate layer [16-Sept-2006]
1pt Stroke on Page Border of all Spreads script
1pt Stroke All Spreads v1.jsx [revision 1.0]
Amended version of the popular 1pt Stroke All Pages script.
Adds 1pt border around all spreads in Document (set to exact page size). Border objects (rectangles) are placed in separate layer. [16-Sept-2006]
Make Previous Paragraph plural Script
MakePlural-v1.jsx [revision 1.0]
This script searches for a particular string e.g. “and”, and adds the letter “s” to the end of the previous paragraph to make this plural [16-Aug-2006]
Swap Vertical Units Script
SwapVerticalUnitsInchPt.jsx [revision 1.0]
SwapVerticalUnitsMMsPt.jsx [revision 1.0]
These scripts toggle document vertical ruler units between points and millimeters/inches (download metric or imperial version as required) [29-Sept-2005]
Set Numbers and Tabs Script
Set Numbers and Tabs.jsx [revision 1.01]
The following script precedes selected paragraphs with sequential numbers (1-99) followed by a tab-character. In cases where a combination of single and double digit numbers exist, single numbers will be preceded by a “Figure Space” causing “right-alignment” of the numbers without the requirement of adding an additional tab character in front of numbers. [23-Jun-2005]
JavaScripts - InDesign CS
1pt Stroke on Page Border of all Pages script
1pt Stroke All Pages.js [revision 1.02]
1pt border around all pages in Document (set to exact page size). Border objects (rectangles) are placed in separate layer [30-Apr-2005]
Set Ad Border on Ad script
Ad Border. Script providing user with option to set stroke weight, style and colour and tint. Border objects (rectangles) are placed in separate layer [9-Jan-2005]
Apply mutliple parargraph styles script
ApplyMultiParas.js [revision 1.02]
When highlighting a series of paragraphs, you can use this script to automatically assign various paragraph styles, including repeating the same paragraph style for paragraphs. Read the instructions text for more information [30-Apr-2005]
Other Script resources
Adobe Studio Exchange - Scripts, Actions, Templates, Tutorials and much more (Adobe Systems)
Adobe InDesign - 11 Sample Scripts (AppleScript/VB) for InDesign 2.0 (Adobe Systems)
Nick Hodge’s InDesign 2.0 Scripts
Apple / Mac
MacScripter.Net AppleScripting Resource
AppleScript InDesign CS - Olivier Berquin’s public scripts.
Getting Started with AppleScript - Apple Computer Learning resource
MacScripter
JavaScript
InDesign Resources - Teus de Jong
JavasScripting InDesign - Thank you Dave Saunders for this amazing resource!