Adobe InDesign CS3 - Manual (Page 597)

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Chapter 22: Automation
Extend the capabilities of Adobe InDesign CS3 by using scripts and plug-ins that you or someone else has created.
Create form letters, envelopes, and mailing labels using Data Merge.
Scripting
Scripting in InDesign
Scripting is a great tool for performing a variety of tasks. A script can be as simple as an automated common task or
as complex as an entire new feature. You can create your own scripts, and you can run scripts that other people have
created. For more information on scripting, see the Scripting Guide in the Adobe InDesign Technical Info folder on
the InDesign DVD. You can also find the Scripting Guide, scripting requirements, and other resources at
www.adobe.com/go/scripting_id .
The Scripting Guide contains an introduction to scripting and tutorials. The Technical Info folder also includes a
number of useful scripts that you can run, such as a script that draws guides around the selected object. Some of these
scripts appear by default in the Scripts panel.
Scripts panel and Script Label panel overview
InDesign includes two panels for scripting: the Scripts panel and the Script Label panel.
The Scripts panel is where you run scripts without leaving InDesign. The Scripts panel displays the scripts that are
located in the Scripts folders in the InDesign application folder and in your Preferences folders. If you create or
receive a script, you can place it in the Scripts folder so that it shows up in the Scripts panel.
Mac OS Users/[username]/Library/Preferences/Adobe InDesign/[version]/Scripts
Windows XP Documents and Settings\[username]\Application Data\Adobe\InDesign\[version]\Scripts
Windows Vista Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\[Version]\Scripts
You can then double-click a script in the Scripts panel to run it, or you can run scripts using Quick Apply.
The Script Label panel lets you specify a label for a page item, such as a text frame or shape. Specifying labels for page
items is especially useful for writing scripts in which you need to identify an object.
For detailed information on adding, running, and editing scripts, see the Scripting Guide in the Adobe InDesign
Technical Info folder on the InDesign DVD or on the Adobe website at
www.adobe.com/go/scripting_id .
See also
“Use Quick Apply” on page 183
Open the Scripts panel
❖ Choose Window > Automation > Scripts.
Open the Script Label panel
❖ Choose Window > Automation > Script Label.