CHAPTER 2: Scripting Features Using the doScript Method 14
X
Creating a script “on the fly.” Your script can create a script (as a string) during its execution, which it
can then execute using the
doScript method. This is a great way to create a custom dialog or panel
based on the contents of the selection or the attributes of objects the script creates.
X Embedding scripts in objects. Scripts can use the doScript method to run scripts that were saved as
strings in the
label property of objects. Using this technique, an object can contain a script that
controls its layout properties or updates its content according to certain parameters. Scripts also can
be embedded in XML elements as an attribute of the element or as the contents of an element. See
“Running Scripts at Startup” on page 18
.
Sending parameters to doScript
To send a parameter to a script executed by doScript, use the following form (from the
DoScriptParameters tutorial script):
var myParameters = ["Hello from DoScript", "Your message here."];
var myJavaScript = "alert(\"First argument: \" + arguments[0] + \"\\rSecond argument:
\" + arguments[1]);";
app.doScript(myJavaScript, ScriptLanguage.javascript, myParameters);
if(File.fs == "Windows"){
var myVBScript = "msgbox arguments(1), vbOKOnly, \"First argument: \" &
arguments(0)";
app.doScript(myVBScript, ScriptLanguage.visualBasic, myParameters);
}
else{
var myAppleScript = "tell application \"Adobe InDesign CS5\\rdisplay
dialog(\"First argument\" & item 1 of arguments & return & \"Second argument: \"
& item 2 of arguments & return & end tell";
app.doScript(myAppleScript, ScriptLanguage.applescriptLanguage, myParameters);
}
Returning values from doScript
The following script fragment shows how to return a value from a script executed by doScript. This
example uses a JavaScript that is executed as a string, but the same method works for script files. This
example returns a single value, but you can return multiple values by returning an array (for the complete
script, refer to the DoScriptReturnValues script).
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