How to install scripts in InDesign
Download the script onto your computer and if necessary, decompress it (unstuff or unzip it). You should end up with a plain text file with a special filename extension:
- Javascript files can be run on Mac or Windows and have a .jsx extension — “script.jsx”
- Applescript files are Mac-only and have an .as extension — “script.as” (or .scpt)
- Visual Basic files are Windows-only and have a .vbs extension — “script.vbs”
If you need to change a setting inside of a script, you can edit it in a text editor. Be sure to save the file as a plain text file with the original extension.
[ed note: updated 2/2009 for CS3 and CS4]
There are two places you can install scripts in InDesign: The application folder and the user script folder. The easiest way to find these folders is to open the Scripts panel in InDesign (Window > Automation > Scripts), then right-click (or Ctrl-click with a one-button mouse) on either Application or User. We tend to use “User” for scripts that we’ve downloaded, but it’s up to you and the permissions you have on your computer. From the context menu, choose Reveal in Finder (or Reveal in Windows Explorer). Inside the folder that opens there is a folder called Scripts panel. Put your scripts inside that.
Any script inside the Scripts Panel folder will show up immediately in InDesign. No need to restart the program.
If you’re still using CS or CS2, follow this info: To install the script, locate the Adobe InDesign program on your computer and drag and drop the script file into the Adobe InDesign CS2 > Presets > Scripts folder. If you don’t see a folder called Scripts inside of Presets, you can make one yourself.
Note that you may need to have an admin account on your computer in order to add plug-ins and scripts to InDesign … but once they’re in there, any type of user account can use them.
To run the script, open a document in InDesign, then open the Scripts palette (Window > Automation > Scripts) and double-click the script name. Some scripts require you make a selection first before you run them, because they act on the selection. See if the script writer provided any sort of documentation if you can’t figure it out.
If you are having trouble running older scripts in a new version of InDesign, read this post.
Beautiful!!! It worked like a charm. Actually better, ‘cuz charms never work.
Now, if I only had a script to unlink all stories in a given document, I’d be set. How hard can that be, right?
Sorry, I meant to write this in another thread. Guess that’s the draw back of tabbed browsing.
this is absolutely amazing!! thanks so much!!!
Can this be made (for a novice) to work in CS? i d not have the luxury of CS2 and with CS3 on the way soon it may not be worth moving to CS2.
Had a little trouble editing the script for zooming to actual size, but finally found a script editor on my mac that did it. Great help, thanks very much.
You need to make sure it’s a .as and not anything else. .scpt or .app won’t work. Save your script as ‘text’ from Script Editor, then rename it from .applescript to .as (took me half an hour to work this out…)
I’m curious why a person would need the Script Editor … I just open or copy/paste ID scripts in TextEdit (switching to Plain Text mode if necessary), then save them from there as .jsx or .as.
It cant add pages between pages. Only adds in end
How can i install PDF presets that seem to be missing in my CS2?
just trying to get in on the correct topic here. Thanks!
I tried the jsx file on Indesign CS with no luck. I also attempted to resave the file as a VBS with no success running it either.
Scott, I think CS1 Javascripts end with just “.js” … but sometimes the scripts call for CS2-only functions, so just changing .jsx to .js might not work. Look on your CS1 install CD for the folder containing the CS1 scripts. (They’re in the Extras/Resources CD, I think in the Technical folder.) Adobe doesn’t offer the CS1 scripts for downloading at the site I mentioned in the post, only the CS2 ones.
Renaming a .jsx file to .vbs doesn’t do a thing, the coding the file actually contains is still Javascript, not VBScript. Sorry …
Thank you for describing this process! I could not find it anywhere in the CS2 documentation. (It tells you to install but never tells you how.) Thanks also for including how to open the Scripts palette — the menus are not intuitive, and I don’t use InDesign often enough to remember everything from use to use. It would be a big help for Adobe to include that sort of stuff when they write their manuals.
Thank you, I almost have tears on my eyes, I’ve been looking for this procedure for hours. I wonder what the adobe guys was thinking when they wrote the online help.
Great stuff! However, I tried to use Clever Find/Change Dialog Box Closer and it isn’t working. I can set the shortcut, but there isn’t a way to get out of the find or change boxes. So, when I hit the key it simply places the stroke in the box and doesn’t close the box. I’m sure it’s something simple, but what am I doing wrong?
Caryn, this plug-in may only work in CS2. Are you trying it with CS3?
to:David Blatner
Yes. Its working in CS3 too.
Hello
Altough I have
place a script into the scripts folder
indesign cs2 doesnt read it..
could you please give me an advice ??
I don’t how i can eddit or save a txt to a script format
but i have also tried to fix it with a scipt editor and stil doesnt work
Awesome. Works great. Thank you.
Is there a website on the web with free InDesign scripts available ?
WOW! Life saving script! (a little over the top, I know, but you don’t know how much this has helped me in a very time critical situation.)
Big Thanks! But… the script doesn’t work correctly with the changing of Hebrew vowel’s punctuation of MSS text… does any body could help me to adjust the script?
Thank You SO much David for this action script. It’s a
life saver for those of us who don’t want to plunk down another grand on the ME version.
all the best
N.
In InDesign CS3 I used the Dave Saunders´ Change Case of Selected Style script and it worked fine. Now, in CS4 the script reports an error on line 41:
app.findPreferences = null;
Any suggestions? this is a very usefull script I use all the time. Thanks in advance.
Hello,
I’m French, so sorry for my english.
I want change the price Euro on my doc.
How do that ?
Because the prefixe, for me, is at the end.
Ex : 1500,50 € -> 1500.50 x 1.78
Thk you in advance.
In Cs3 it just doesn’t work, When a double klick it, I mean the script, in the script folder in indesign, it does nothing, I even made the Version 4.0 Scripts folder, installed java again…
I’m new at this, It just doesn’t work
That is quite a common problem, and the solution is discussed here:
http://forums.adobe.com/message/1973478
Basically, your preferences are probably set so that scripts don’t interact with anyone.
What you should do is copy and paste the following technical-looking line into a text file, save it with the extension .jsx, then put that file into the scripts panel folder (where the other scripts are). Then run it by double-clicking on its name in InDesign’s Scripts Panel. After that, all the scripts should work.
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.interactWithAll;
That script saved me … and so much time
million thanx!
I’m on cs1 and I just can’t get this script to work. I’ve followed the above comments and tried saving the file in various formats both from TextEdit and ScriptEditor and nothing seems to work for me. Please help! I need this script desperately.
i am getting error in document system freezes & crashes
breath taking! Works perfect.
thank you again
Answer to ioanna
remove the word .txt from ReverseText.jsx.txt so it should read ReverseText.jsx instead of ReverseText.jsx.txt then place it in your javascript of indesign.
It worked like a charm
Thanks
This is an AMAZING script. I love it!
Which script are you talking about?