Develop Reference

How to underline charachters in InDesign with JavaScript?

I started writing this piece of code for InDesign to underline all letters except from the one with descendants, and added a dialog window to chose stroke and offset of the line.
Now I have two problems:
the program underlines all letters
the stroke and offset won't change
I'm a beginner in Javascript and it's the first time coding for InDesign. Does someone have a clue? Thank you!
// UNDERLINE ALL BUT NO DESCENDANTS
//Make certain that user interaction (display of dialogs, etc.) is turned on.
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.interactWithAll;
if (app.documents.length != 0){
try {
// Run script with single undo if supported
if (parseFloat(app.version) < 6) {
main();
} else {
app.doScript(main, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.ENTIRE_SCRIPT, "Expand State Abbreviations");
}
// Global error reporting
} catch ( error ) {
alert( error + " (Line " + error.line + " in file " + error.fileName + ")");
}
}else{
alert("Open a document first before running this script.");
}
///MAIN FUNCTION
function main(){
if(app.selection.length != 0){
myDisplayDialog();
}
}
//INTERFACE
function myDisplayDialog(){
//declare variables
//general
var myDoc = app.activeDocument;
var mS = myDoc.selection;
// dialog
var myDialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"Underliner"});
var myLabelWidth = 70;
with(myDialog.dialogColumns.add()){
with(borderPanels.add()){
with(dialogColumns.add()){
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Stroke:", minWidth:myLabelWidth});
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Offset:", minWidth:myLabelWidth});
}
}
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:""});
var myStroke = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue:1, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points});
var myOffset = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue: 15, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points});
}
}
}
var myResult = myDialog.show();
if(myResult == true){
var myStroke = myStroke.editValue;
var myOffset = myOffset.editValue;
myDialog.destroy();
underline(mS,myStroke,myOffset);
}
else{
myDialog.destroy();
alert("Invalid page range.");
}
}
//REAL FUNCTION
function underline(charList,stroke, offset){
var len = charList.length;
const doNotUnderline = ['g','j','p','q','y'];
for (var i=0; i < len; i++){
try{
var myChar = charList[i];
//console.log(typeof myText);
if (includes(myChar, doNotUnderline) == false)
{
myChar.underline = true;
myChar.underlineWeight == stroke;
myChar.underlineOffset == offset;
} else {
myChar.underline = false;
}
}catch(r){
alert(r.description);
break;
}
}
}
//function to know if char is in array
function includes(elemento,array)
{
var len = array.length;
for(var i=0; i<len ;i++)
{
if(array[i]==elemento){return true;}
}
return false;
}

Try these changes in the function underline():
//REAL FUNCTION
function underline(words,stroke, offset) { // <------ here 'words' instead of 'charList'
var charList = words[0].characters; // <------ here get 'characters' of the 'words'
var len = charList.length;
const doNotUnderline = ['g','j','p','q','y'].join(); // <------- here '.join()'
for (var i=0; i < len; i++){
try{
var myChar = charList[i];
// if (includes(myChar, doNotUnderline) == false) // <----- no need
if (doNotUnderline.indexOf(myChar.contents) < 0) // <------ 'indexOf()' instead of 'includes()'
{
myChar.underline = true;
myChar.underlineWeight = stroke; // <------- here '=' instead of '=='
myChar.underlineOffset = offset; // <------- here '=' instead of '=='
} else {
myChar.underline = false;
}
}catch(r){
alert(r.description);
break;
}
}
}
Probably there can be another improvements as well. It's need additional researches. But if you change these lines it should work to a degree.
And there is one little thing that improves user experience greatly: to keep last used values in the input fields. It can be done pretty easy, let me know it you need it.
Update
Here is the way I'm using to store and restore any preferences of my scripts.
Add somewhere at the start of your script these lines:
// get preferences
var PREFS = { stroke: 1, offset: 15 }; // set default prefs
var PREFS_FILE = File(Folder.temp + '/underline_prefs.json'); // the file with preferences
if (PREFS_FILE.exists) PREFS = $.evalFile(PREFS_FILE); // get the prefs from the file
Now you can use the global values PREFS.stroke and PREFS.offset anywhere you want. In your case they go here:
with(dialogRows.add()){
staticTexts.add({staticLabel:""});
var myStroke = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue:PREFS.stroke, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points});
var myOffset = measurementEditboxes.add({editValue:PREFS.offset, editUnits:MeasurementUnits.points});
}
This way script will get the stroke and weight from the file underline_prefs.json that will be stored in the standard temporary folder of current user.
Final step is to save the values back into the file after the script got them from the dialog window.
I'd put this piece of code here:
if (myResult == true) {
var myStroke = myStroke.editValue;
var myOffset = myOffset.editValue;
myDialog.destroy();
underline(mS, myStroke, myOffset);
// save preferences here
PREFS.stroke = myStroke;
PREFS.offset = myOffset;
PREFS_FILE.open('w');
PREFS_FILE.write(PREFS.toSource());
PREFS_FILE.close();
} else {
myDialog.destroy();
alert("Invalid page range.");
}
Voilá. Now don't need to type the values every time they differ from default ones.

How To Add Delay To HTML Javascript Function

I have the following script that opens urls in a list:
function openWindow(){
var x = document.getElementById('a').value.split('\n');
for (var i = 0; i < x.length; i++)
if (x[i].indexOf('.') > 0)
if (x[i].indexOf('://') < 0)
window.open('http://'+x[i]);
else
window.open(x[i]);
}
However, I would like to add a delay (let's say about 5 seconds) between opening each url. How can I do this?
I'm not familiar with functions. Usually much better with Linux and such. Your insight is highly appreciated.

A better approach is to use setTimeout() along with a self-executing anonymous function:
function openWindow() {
var i = 0;
var x = document.getElementById('a').value.split('\n');
(function() {
if(typeof x[i] !== 'undefined') {
if(x[i].indexOf('.') > 0) {
if(x[i].indexOf('://') < 0) {
window.open('http://' + x[i++]);
} else {
window.open(x[i++]);
}
}
setTimeout(arguments.callee, 1000);
}
return false;
})();
}
This will guarantee that the next call is not made before your code was executed. I used arguments.callee in this example as a function reference. Once the index no longer exists in the array, by checking if it's undefined, it simply returns false instead of setting another timout.

You can do it like this, to avoid issues caused by setTimeout being non-blocking.
What you need is to wait for the setTimeout to be executed before starting the next iteration.
var i = 0;
function openWindow(){
var x = document.getElementById('a').value.split('\n');
doLoop(x);
}
function doLoop(x)
setTimeout(function () {
if (x[i].indexOf('.') > 0){
if (x[i].indexOf('://') < 0){
window.open('http://'+x[i]);
}else{
window.open(x[i]);
}
}
i+=1;
if(i<x.length){
doLoop(x);
}
}, 5000)
}
Using a self executing function, it'd go like this :
function openWindow() {
var i = 0;
var x = document.getElementById('a').value.split('\n');
(function fn() {
if(x[i].indexOf('.') > 0) {
if(x[i].indexOf('://') < 0) {
window.open('http://' + x[i++]);
} else {
window.open(x[i++]);
}
}
i++;
if( i < x.length ){
setTimeout( fn, 3000 );
}
})();
}

create array x with all url's
var x = [url1, url2, url3, ...];
create a for loop
for(var i = 0; i<x.length; i++) {
setTimeout(function() {
window.open('http://'+x[i])}, 1000); // 1000 for 1 second
}
}

setInterval(function(){window.open('http://'+x[i]);},5000);

setTimeout and refresh the page/tab without losing the hashtag

I am new to javascript and wrote myself a script
It is running inside a Chrome extension.
I am opening a website with a #script at the end of the URL to start the script.
The extension checks for #script in the URL and then executes a script.
At the end of the script there is a reload - when the page is reloaded, the script will be run again (endless loop) > Yes, that's what I want!
The problem: After the actual script has finished, there should be a 5 second timeout before the page is being reloaded. The timeout is being ignored by the script and the hashtag in the URL is lost after the reload. The loop stops because the hashtag is gone.
What I tried:
setTimeout(location.reload(true);}, 5000);
window.setTimeout(location.reload(true);}, 5000);
setTimeout(window.open("https://MyLink.com/#script","_self");}, 5000);
All of those are somehow executed instantly (without 5 second break) and bring up the page without the hashtag (even the last one) causing the loop to stop.
Full code inside the content.js: (Additionaly on pastebin: http://pastebin.com/ey32SzBP)
chrome.extension.sendMessage({}, function(response) {
var readyStateCheckInterval = setInterval(function() {
if (document.readyState === "complete") {
clearInterval(readyStateCheckInterval);
if(window.location.hash=="#script") {
var oneKeyOnly = true;
function checkItem() {
var itemsArray = ["Apples", "Bananas", "Oranges", ];
var matchingItems = [];
var x = document.getElementsByClassName("item");
for(var y = 0; y < x.length; y++){
if(itemsArray.indexOf(x[y].getAttribute("data-name")) >= 0){
var id = x[y].getElementsByClassName("item-checkbox")[0].getAttribute("id");
matchingItems.push(id);
}
}
return matchingItems;
}
function randomIntFromInterval(min,max)
{
return Math.floor(Math.random()*(max-min+1)+min);
}
function clickButton(val)
{
var buttons = document.getElementsByTagName('input');
for(var i = 0; i < buttons.length; i++)
{
if(buttons[i].type == 'submit' && buttons[i].value == val)
{
buttons[i].click();
console.log("Trying to withdraw!");
break;
}
}
}
var result = checkItem();
var lengthOfArray = result.length - 1;
if (oneKeyOnly == true) {
var rand = randomIntFromInterval(0,lengthOfArray);
document.getElementById(result[rand]).checked = true
console.log("Found: " + result[rand]);
}
else {
for(index=0, len = result.length; index < len; ++index) {
document.getElementById(result[index]).checked = true
keynr = index + 1;
console.log("Found " + result.length + " fruits - Selected Nr. " + keynr + "!");
}
}
clickButton("Withdraw selected items");
setTimeout(location.reload(true);}, 5000);
}
}
}, 10);
});
If anything is unclear, please let me know!

Try wrapping the reload method in an anonymous function, like this
setTimeout((function(){location.reload(true)}), 5000);

Debugging Javascript in IE 8

I'm trying to debug an issue that I'm only having in IE8. It works fine in IE 9+, and chrome. I'm using Aspera to select a file, and am calling a custom function on a callback. the function is as follows;
function uploadPathsRecieved(pathsArray) {
var file_path_selector = '#file_path';
...
$(file_path_selector).text(''); // (*)
...
}
On the (*) line, I get an error that file_path_selector is undefined. This didn't make much sense to me, so after some playing around to get a feel for the problem, I wound up with the following code:
function uploadPathsRecieved(pathsArray) {
var x = 3;
var y = 4;
var z = x + y;
z += 2;
$('#file_path').text(''); // (*)
...
}
When I run the program with this code, I still get the error "file_path_selector is undefined" at the (*) line. I'm out of ideas on what the next steps I should take to try and hunt down this problem are.
My gut feeling tells me that there's something being cached, but if I move the (*) line around, the error follows it, and the script window reflects the changes that I make to it.
Here's the Aspera code that's calling my function:
function wrapCallbacks(callbacks) {
return wrapCallback(function() {
var args, i;
try {
args = Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments);
for ( i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
if (isObjectAndNotNull(args[i]) && isDefined(args[i].error)) {
// error found
if (isDefined(callbacks.error)) {
callbacks.error.apply(null, args);
}
return;
}
}
// success
if (isDefined(callbacks.success)) {
callbacks.success.apply(null, args);
}
} catch (e) {
AW.utils.console.error(e.name + ": " + e.message);
AW.utils.console.trace();
}
});
}
And here's the entirety of my function, as it exists right now:
var uploadPathsRecieved = function uploadPathsRecieved(pathsArray) {
//var file_path_selector = '#file_path';
var x = 3;
var y = 4;
var z = x + y;
z += 2;
$('#file_path').text('');
var button_selector = '#select_aspera_file';
var textbox_selector = '.aspera_textbox';
/*if (uploadPathsRecieved.fileSelecting == 'cc_file') {
file_path_selector = '#cc_file_path';
button_selector = '#select_cc_file';
textbox_selector = '.cc_aspera_textbox';
} else if (uploadPathsRecieved.fileSelecting == 'preview_file') {
file_path_selector = '#preview_file_path';
button_selector = '#select_preview_file';
textbox_selector = '.preview_aspera_textbox';
}*/
App.AsperaUploadPaths = [];
if (pathsArray.length == 1) {
$(button_selector).text("Clear File");
App.AsperaUploadPaths = pathsArray;
var error_message = pathsArray[0];
$(button_selector).parent().children(textbox_selector).text(error_message).removeClass('error');
//$(file_path_selector).attr('value', pathsArray[0]);
}
else
{
var error_message = 'Please select a single file';
$(button_selector).parent().children(textbox_selector).text(error_message).addClass('error');
}
}

Solved it. file_path was an <input>, and IE 8 and below doesn't allow you to add text or html to inputs.
I fixed it by changing $(file_path_selector).text(''); to $(file_path_selector).attr('value', '');

javascript abstract console logging

I want to make a function, like this.
For example:
function Logger() {
this.log = function(msg) {
console.log(msg);
}
}
And I want to use it in functions/modules etc, and that all works fine.
But the default console in my browser normally give the fileName + lineNumber.
Now when I abstract this functionality, the fileName and lineNumber is not where I put my instance.log(). Because it will say from where the console.log is being called, not the function itself.
So my question:
How can I get the correct information from where I want to use my logger?
Or give me, please, any tips to improve this functionality.

function Logger() {
this.log = console.log.bind(console);
}
I asked about this some time ago: Create shortcut to console.log() in Chrome.

Try using backtrace function like this one :
function printStackTrace() {
var callstack = [];
var isCallstackPopulated = false;
try {
i.dont.exist += 0; //doesn't exist- that's the point
} catch (e) {
if (e.stack) { //Firefox
var lines = e.stack.split('\n');
for (var i = 0, len = lines.length; i & lt; len; i++) {
if (lines[i].match(/^\s*[A-Za-z0-9\-_\$]+\(/)) {
callstack.push(lines[i]);
}
}
//Remove call to printStackTrace()
callstack.shift();
isCallstackPopulated = true;
}
else if (window.opera & amp; & amp; e.message) { //Opera
var lines = e.message.split('\n');
for (var i = 0, len = lines.length; i & lt; len; i++) {
if (lines[i].match(/^\s*[A-Za-z0-9\-_\$]+\(/)) {
var entry = lines[i];
//Append next line also since it has the file info
if (lines[i + 1]) {
entry += ' at ' + lines[i + 1];
i++;
}
callstack.push(entry);
}
}
//Remove call to printStackTrace()
callstack.shift();
isCallstackPopulated = true;
}
}
if (!isCallstackPopulated) { //IE and Safari
var currentFunction = arguments.callee.caller;
while (currentFunction) {
var fn = currentFunction.toString();
var fname = fn.substring(fn.indexOf( & amp; quot;
function & amp; quot;) + 8, fn.indexOf('')) || 'anonymous';
callstack.push(fname);
currentFunction = currentFunction.caller;
}
}
output(callstack);
}
function output(arr) {
//Optput however you want
alert(arr.join('\n\n'));
}

Try assigning the function:
(function () {
window.log = (console && console.log
? console.log
: function () {
// Alternative log
});
})();
Later just call log('Message') in your code.