Adobe 27510753 Scripting Guide - Page 27

Getting Started with InDesign Scripting, Measurements and positioning, Coordinates

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Adobe InDesign CS2 Scripting Guide Getting Started with InDesign Scripting 19 3 Getting Started with InDesign Scripting This chapter gives background information that is important for you to know when creating scripts for InDesign. It also provides simple examples of common InDesign scripting operations. Even if you're experienced with AppleScript, VBScript, or JavaScript, you should read this chapter, as it covers a number of InDesign-specific matters. Measurements and positioning All items and objects in InDesign are positioned on the page according to measurements that you specify. It is useful to know how the InDesign coordinate system works and what measurement units it uses. Coordinates InDesign, like every other page layout and drawing program, uses simple two-dimensional geometry to record the position of objects on a page or a spread. The horizontal component of a coordinate pair (or point) is referred to as x, the vertical position is referred to as y. You can see these coordinates in the Transform palette when you select an object using the Selection tool. As in the InDesign user interface, coordinates are measured relative to the location of the zero point, which could be at the upper-left corner of the spread, or of the page, or at the binding edge of the spread. There is one difference between the coordinates used in InDesign and the traditional geometric coordinate system-on InDesign's vertical (or y) axis, coordinates below the zero point are positive numbers; coordinates above the zero point are negative numbers. InDesign usually returns coordinates in x, y order, and expects you to provide them in that order. Note: InDesign returns some coordinates in a different order, and expects you to supply them in that order. Geometric bounds and visible bounds are both arrays containing four coordinates-these coordinates define, in order, the top, left, bottom, and right edges of the object's bounding box (or y1, x1, y2, x2). To tell InDesign to move the current selection to a position two picas to the right and six picas below the zero point, for example, you'd use the following scripts.

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Adobe InDesign CS2 Scripting Guide
Getting Started with InDesign Scripting
19
3
Getting Started with InDesign Scripting
This chapter gives background information that is important for you to know when creating scripts for
InDesign. It also provides simple examples of common InDesign scripting operations. Even if you’re
experienced with AppleScript, VBScript, or JavaScript, you should read this chapter, as it covers a number of
InDesign-specific matters.
Measurements and positioning
All items and objects in InDesign are positioned on the page according to measurements that you specify. It is
useful to know how the InDesign coordinate system works and what measurement units it uses.
Coordinates
InDesign, like every other page layout and drawing program, uses simple two-dimensional geometry to
record the position of objects on a page or a spread. The horizontal component of a coordinate pair (or
point
)
is referred to as
x
, the vertical position is referred to as
y
. You can see these coordinates in the Transform
palette when you select an object using the Selection tool. As in the InDesign user interface, coordinates are
measured relative to the location of the zero point, which could be at the upper-left corner of the spread, or of
the page, or at the binding edge of the spread.
There is one difference between the coordinates used in InDesign and the traditional geometric coordinate
system—on InDesign’s vertical (or
y
) axis, coordinates
below
the zero point are positive numbers; coordinates
above
the zero point are negative numbers.
InDesign usually returns coordinates in
x, y
order, and expects you to provide them in that order.
Note:
InDesign returns some coordinates in a different order, and expects you to supply them in that order.
Geometric bounds and visible bounds are both arrays containing four coordinates—these coordinates
define, in order, the top, left, bottom, and right edges of the object’s bounding box (or
y1, x1, y2,
x2
).
To tell InDesign to move the current selection to a position two picas to the right and six picas below the zero
point, for example, you’d use the following scripts.