I was wondering if anyone knows of a resource, or if it is possible to automatically insert text from an Indesign page into its file name when saving. Eg. I have created multiple email signatures for my company and want to make it easier to identify them individually without having to open the resulting jpeg or png. I want to peg a name to each file.

Thank you in anticipation.

Andrew

I created a custom slug using a table, filled it up with placeholder text and saved it as a snippet.

The script will eventually pull information from my document, place my slug, and perform a Find/Replace that will automatically input bleed, trim, safety.

This script could evolve into a menu item, or even a window that appear at the creation of a document, so that additional info could be place (publication, units, markets, job #, etc.)

It could even be combined with a custom version of the crop marks script and could end up as a powerful alternative to the expensive plug ins that are on the market.

Altough Ive had wierd and worrying phonecalls in the past from China when doing packaging there, asking me to remove the slug and comments as they do not know how to treat them. I´ve also tried setting a layer with comments as a non-printing layer to indicate my intentions but then they often really don´t know whats going on, or worse bother… i guess an old fashioned phonecall combined with a fax with written comments is sometimes better suited in some circumstances than actually using the slug.
Long live high end electronic communication…

Other than that, using variables is a nice way to add information in an automatic fashion. But the interface in InDesign when adding these variables is a bit lacklustre. Im aware of that you can export a jdf (job defnition format file as specified by CIP4) when exporting to pdf , but then the information is not accessible within the InDesign-environment (as far as i know). The well intended format doesnt seem to be as popular as it maybe should be among us designers.

My question is then, shouldn´t there be a plugin or script for adding or accessing this kind of information in a more elegant manner? with or without JDF.
What about a menu with tickmarks to add filename/pagesize/total number of pages or whatever to your info? It could also include things like special colours, logos, emails and other things that is important for you and your current job.

I know most of this information can already be added within the JDF-format dialog box) when exporting to pdf (tick add JDF in advanced menu in export to PDF or add later in Acrobat). How about adding your choice of info to the slug and also exporting this info out as a seperat file for inclusion in a searchable library? You could then search for all 16-page jobs or a4-format jobs or whatever information that has been added. Or maybe add the info to our beloved Adobe Bridge (when exporting pdf with JDF it also exports a .JDF file which is in reality a custom xml-file).

Maybe there is a solution out there already? but I havent found one yet…and I guess this is where the JDF fails as a format for us designers, as its not easily available within InDesign. But still its a brilliant idea to use the slug as a place to keep usefull information about the document for us designers, instead of in numerous emails or post-its or databases… bad thing is that you need to open the document to get hold of the info placed in the slug…

Another idea is to expand what Adobe already included in the somewhat flimsy printing instructions that you get when you are choosing package. How about expanding this menu and getting the info you want accessible from within the document without having to export the info to a seperate file but also allow us to choose export info to slug?

Well, I’m glad I’m using it the right way. Thanks for the confirmation James.

I usually put the document name and location with the creation and modification dates.
Never thought about the dimensions, but that could be very useful actually.

Thanks!