In January, long-time FrameMaker maven, Rick Quatro of Carmen Publishing, did a guest appearance in the first of a 2-part series on FrameMaker ExtendScripts.
This session (Part 1) goes through the process of creating a broadly useful ExtendScript for automating common tasks in FrameMaker, step-by-step. You can get a recording of the session here.
[Update]: Please also see our blog post for Part 2 of the session here.
Principles and Objectives for creating an Extend Script
Early on in the presentation, Rick shares key principles and objects, partially revealed in the screen capture below:
Minute Markers for key highlights in the webinar recording “FrameMaker: How to write your own ExtendScript, Part 1”
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03:20 |
Rick Quatro Intro Major goals of scripting:
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10:00 |
Working with an actual requirement of needing to add a modification date into a particular page of a document Add a temporary frame on page to enter a variable for MODIFICATION DATE LONG … grab content, copy to clipboard … create a custom marker manually copy the modification date from variable into new MARKER … |
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13:00 |
Will use MIF2GO to pick up the content of these special markers. Rick demonstrated the process by hand so we know how to automate it through ExtendScript. |
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18:00 |
Run the sample script that automates the steps listed above. Rick’s client preferred this method, because they needed modification date in custom formats, which are easily managed through FrameMaker variables.
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19:00 |
Start script with Set some script variables. |
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22:00 |
Using Object Model Viewer in ExtendScript Toolkit CC to see Classes, Types as well as Properties and Methods. |
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28:00 |
Creating Desired marker type in the script: Entering |
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33:00 |
Working with the script after the correct MARKER TYPE is added to the document. Some moments of typical “trouble shooting” of code … an example of this iterative process to complete a working function within the script. |
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35:00 |
Changing the order of functions in the script … create the marker type first … |
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36:00 |
Example of using |
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40:00 |
Creating a generic function that can be used over and over again … How to designate custom marker names to be added … |
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42:00 |
Saving a short script to be combined with other scripts later (recommended to create your script in pieces) |
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50:00 |
The necessity of 2 or 3 equal signs |
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52:00 |
Discussion of various ways to make COMMENT indicators … How to make a “block comment” to comment out several lines of script (useful for chunks of code you wish to temporarily comment out) … |
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53:00 |
Wiew of online PDF guide for now How to make a “block comment” to comment out several lines of script (useful for chunks of code you wish to temporarily comment out) … |
Get the full recordings here:
