Script to add a Paragraph Style to text

Why do you need a script to do this, when it’s one click (or keyboard shortcut) to apply a style to selected text the usual way?

Well yes, but Adobe also calls it a ‘shortcut’. :-) I always give my styles these shortcuts, and have done for so many years, I forget that not everyone works with an extended keyboard.

The following one-liner will do what you’re asking:

app.selection[0].applyParagraphStyle(app.documents[0].paragraphStyles.itemByName("My Paragraph Style"));

But I’m still at a loss as to how this is going to save you any work, since running the script isn’t any easier than clicking on the style in the Paragraph Styles panel?

Ah I see. No worries.

Here is a useful variant: save this single line as “apply-YourStyle.jsx” and it will apply the style “YourStyle”. Save it as “apply-somethingElse.jsx” and it will apply “somethingElse” – the name of the style gets taken from the script name! So you can copy the script as many times as you like, and you only have to change its file name.

app.selection[0].applyParagraphStyle(app.documents[0].paragraphStyles.itemByName(app.activeScript.name.match(/apply-(.+)\.jsx?/)[1].replace(/%20/g, ' ')));

Do note, however, that this only works with very basic style names, containing simple filename characters only. That is, you cannot make it work with an overly fancy style name such as “Header 1 + line above (when not at top of page)”, nor does it work with Style Groups. Having spaces in the style name should be okay, though.