Search code examples
adobe-indesignextendscriptbasil.js

Basil.js and ExtendScript in Indesign / How can I style textFrames?


After the svg elements are placed/drawn in Indesign, I wanna change the style from some or all elements. In my example I style the textFrames while they are drawn. My example works.

But how can I change the style after the textFrames are placed?

I wanna use the skewing angle (applied to the TextFrame) and the rotationAngle (look in my example -> forLoop)

I tried the following: r.textFrames.shearAngle=20; and doc.textFrames.add({shearAngle:20}); ...but both don‘t work.

    #includepath "~/Documents/;%USERPROFILE%Documents";
    #include "basiljs/bundle/basil.js";

    // this script shows how to load data into 
    // basil for further usage. 
    // The document you are working with needs to be saved at least once. 
    // The data needs to be in a folder next to that document 
    // The folder needs to be named "data" 
    // take a look into the output of the JS console of the ESTK
    function draw() {
      var doc = b.doc();
      b.clear(doc); // clear the doc
      b.units(b.MM); // use MM
      var yTextFrame = 195;
      // get the scripts name// get its containing folder// get the name of the script without the extension // add the .indd to the extension
      var fname = File($.fileName).parent.fsName + '/' + ($.fileName.split('/')[$.fileName.split('/').length - 1]).split('.')[0] + '.indd';
      // and save it
      doc.save(fname, false, 'basil', true); //save the file next to the script

      // code goes here -----------
      var filecontent = b.loadString("data.json"); // load the text file
      b.println(filecontent.constructor.name); // take a look at what kind of content we have
      var json = b.JSON.decode(filecontent); // transform it to JSON
      b.println(json.constructor.name); // take a look again what json is
      b.println(json.description); // print something from the file
      // loop all the entries
      for (var i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
        b.println(json.laundry_care_instructions[i].instruction); // take a look at the entry
        b.println(json.laundry_care_instructions[i].instruction.length); // how many characters does the entry have
        var r =b.text(json.laundry_care_instructions[i].instruction, 10 + 7 * i, yTextFrame, b.width - 20, 7).properties={rotationAngle:90, shearAngle:20};// create a text box with the entry // // The skewing angle applied to the TextFrame 
      }
      // end of your code ---------

    }
    b.go();

Solution

  • You nearly got it. In your code the variable r is already a textFrame object.

    So it should be:

    r.shearAngle = 20; 
    

    See you tomorrow in class ;-)

    Edit1:

    As said in the comments. The code

    var r = b.text("txt",x,y,width, height).properties = {something:10};
    

    returns the properties object. Not the TextFrame. Remove the .properties part and Benedikts and my way should work.

    Edit2:

    Benedikts way does not work. I get the following error.

    Error: Object does not support the property or method 'shearAngle'
    

    @Benedikt: shearAngle is not a text property. It is for pageItems like TextFrame, Rectangle, Oval and so on. Is there a way in Basil.js to set properties like these? And how is it with nested properties? I will setup a new question for that.