CODEWITHSUNDEEP
adobe-indesignextendscript
Jannie Theunissen
Jannie Theunissen

Reputation: 30164

Generating a footnote from selected text

I am trying to script InDesign using ExtendScript. I want the script to cut the selected text, insert a footnote and paste the text into the footnote body. What I have tried:

 function makeFootnoteOfSelection(){
   var fnText = app.activeDocument.selection[0];
         // this should actually clone the selected text, not reference it, because the next statement zaps it from memory
   app.activeDocument.selection[0].remove();  // works
   var fNote = app.activeDocument.selection[0].footnotes.add();  // works, adds an empty footnote with a reference
   fNote.contents = fnText.contents;
         // this replaces the reference number, I was hoping to retain it and just add the text
         // fNote.contents += fnText.contents; also replaces the reference number
}

Upvotes: 1

Views: 2210

Answers (1)

Jonas
Jonas

Reputation: 956

InDesign CS5:

function makeFootnoteOfSelection(){

  // Reference the selection
  var fnText = app.activeDocument.selection[0];

  // Add an empty footnote where the selected text is
  var fNote = app.activeDocument.selection[0].footnotes.add();

  // Move the selected text at the end of the empty footnote
  fnText.move(LocationOptions.AFTER, fNote.insertionPoints[-1]);
}

InDesign CS4:

function makeFootnoteOfSelection(){

  // Reference the selection
  var fnText = app.activeDocument.selection[0];

  //  Position of the text end
  var endPoint = fnText.length - 1;

  // Add an empty footnote where the selected text is
  var fNote = app.activeDocument.selection[0].footnotes.add();

  // Duplicate the selected text at the end of the empty footnote
  fnText.duplicate(LocationOptions.AFTER, fNote.insertionPoints[-1]);

  // Delete the old Text
  fnText.characters.itemByRange(0, endPoint).contents = "";
}

Upvotes: 5

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