InDesign Scripts
One of the great things about Adobe InDesign is its scriptability. We use InDesign scripting as part of many of our custom automation projects. Recently, we were asked to write a script by Sandee Cohen, noted author and trainer. She really wanted a script to simplify a multi-step process she uses many times in some of the documents she creates — setting up one object (the "trigger") as an InDesign interactive button to show and hide another object (the "target") in a PDF or SWF when the user mouses in and out of the "trigger." (Scroll to the bottom of the page for download links.)
Here's what Sandee has to say about the result:
Anyone who has ever created a disjointed rollover with InDesign's Show/Hide commands knows what a confusing set of steps it takes. Premedia's script not only takes away the cumbersome steps, it saves me hours of work checking and rechecking all the settings. And the script is very simple to use. Just select your buttons and run the script. You choose the trigger and the target gets set automatically. This is the interface that Adobe should have given us! If you have to make more than 5 Show/Hide commands in a document, you owe it to yourself to buy and use this script.
—Sandee Cohen, Vectorbabe.com
Bay Area InDesign User Group Scripts
We gave a presentation on scripting at the July meeting of the Bay Area InDesign User Group. We asked those in attendance for script ideas, and then had them vote on which would be most useful. We took the two ideas with the most votes, and developed them into working scripts which we're making available here. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for download links.)
Shadow-Matic
The suggestion with the most votes was for a script to automate a way around the fact that InDesign does not honor the blending mode of Photoshop layers, sometimes complicating the task of creating shadow effects. This script will create an image "sandwich" with two copies of the same image, one on top of the other. The bottom image is set with a blending mode of "Multiply", and the other—positioned on top of the first—is set with a blending mode of "Normal." The two images are then grouped together. The script takes a selected image, and displays a dialog box allowing you to select which layers and/or clipping paths to use for the shadow portion of the image, and which to use for the "normal" image.
Lock/Unlock All Page Items
The suggestion with the second most votes was for a script to quickly lock or unlock all page items. It displays a dialog where you select whether to lock or unlock all page items, and whether it should apply that choice to the current spread or the entire document.
Try them out! These scripts are free! (Donations are gratefully accepted, however).
Download the scripts here:
Sandee's Show/Hide Buttons Script
The BAIDUG Shadow-Matic Script
The BAIDUG Lock/Unlock All Script
Installation
To use any of these scripts, unzip the downloaded file, and place the resulting .jsx file in the "Scripts Panel" folder which is inside the "Scripts" folder which is inside the Adobe InDesign application folder. This will make the script appear in the Scripts Panel (Window > Automation > Scripts). Find the script you want to run in the "Application" section of the Scripts Panel, and double click it to run it.
Please Donate
If you like any of these time-saving scripts, and would like us to make more available in the future, encourage us by making a PayPal donation using the button below!