The preferences script allows you to automate a number of project-wide customization options, including adjusting sign tag size, colours, object styles, character styles, and layers. This tutorial will walk you through the basics of this script.
NOTE: The preferences script will apply these changes to all your signs in your InDesign document, so if you're unsure of what might happen, be sure to work from a copy or have a back-up.
To open up the Preferences dialog, open up the Scripts Panel (by going to Window/Utilities/Scripts) and then double-click on Preferences. If you don't see Preferences in here, you may have to install the script. For more info on that, check out Install Scripts
1. Adjust Sign ID Tag Size
These options are used to automatically resize your sign tags to a uniform width and height, across your entire project. This can be especially handy if you're importing a lot of signs from FileMaker!
2. Adjust Sign ID Tag Colour or Object Style
Colour - This will automatically match the background colour and text colour of your sign tags with your TYPE table and your Reports.
For more information on adding colours to the TYPE table, check out the TYPE Table Overview
Object - This will allow you to apply a standard object style to all signs in your project. The dropdown list here is populated from your Object Styles panel. For more information on Object Styles, check out this article here: Using Object Styles
3. Character Style
This area replaces the existing Style script. For more info on how to use this feature, check out these tutorials:
Use Character Style in Preferences Script
Use Preferences Script to Hide Field in InDesign
4. Layers
These options will allow you to automatically place signs on different layers. Note that this will also automatically create the appropriate layers if they don't already exist. Note also that you won't be able to choose more than one option here.
Layers - Choose to move signs to a Layer based on Type, Phase, or None
Status - Choose to move signs to a Layer based on Status, or not
Review - Choose to move signs to a Layer based on the results of the Review Script. For more info on that, check out this tutorial here: Review Script Overview
Comments
2 comments
If I decide to change my background color from red to blue halfway through my work, I have to open up that preferences dialog and check the box next to Colour (#2), click OK, then wait for the change to be applied in InDesign correct? It doesn't just change automatically, if I change the color in FileMaker.
I also have to get over my OCD, and NOT clear overrides in the Object Styles pallet as well, in order to for file maker to dictate the color background in InDesign, correct?
Hi Rebecca,
You're correct on both items. The new colour will change on a sign if you adjust its sign type, but for it to be applied globally, just run the Preferences script one more time with the correct options applied.
And yes, you'll have to leave the overrides un-cleared in the Object Styles pallet for FileMaker to work its magic.
Hope this clears things up!
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