Best way to export text from InDesign?

[Tim Cole]

Yes. Copy and paste the script text into a text editor and save it as a .jsx file. Save it into ID’s Scripts folder, which is inside the Presets folder.

If you have any problems with the script it’s probably because something got scrogged in the copy and paste process. If that happens, try again, and if you still have the problem, let me know and we’ll find a way for me to just email the script to you directly.

TC

[Bit182]

I just happened to stumble upon this thread while looking for the same type of text export process. I just tried the script, and it works brilliantly.

The only enhancement I would make to the script would be to have it only recognize the current active layer. I had two brochure designs in one file, and it exported text for both into the file. That’s fine because it was exactly what I needed for this situation, but I could see only wanting text for a particular layer to show up.

Thanks again. Awesome script.

[Tim Cole]

Yeah, being able to select a layer (or to constrain the script to visible layers) would be great. Ole thinks it’s a good idea. It’s a bit of work to implement, so it won’t happen soon given the other things on his plate at the moment.

As it is, though, it’s a pretty handy script.

TC

[Jacki Schklar]

I had that layer issue with the plugin I used so I created a new file with each layer alone and it worked. I will still use this when one of these comes up, and they will. Been to busy to test it.

[Sakina Lokat]

Hey,

I was just wondering how this scripting thing works cause to be honest this is a life saver for me right now but I just don’t know how to work it.

I pasted the entire thing into a text editor but I couldn’t save it as plain text or the text format .jsx

So I saved it as EportAllText.jsx.doc and then just removed the .doc from the name. Seemed to work.

Anyway, i added the txt file into the IDs script folder but there are four sub folders so which one do I put it in?

As for now I just put it in right under the scripts folder.

Now I opened my ID file and want to export all the text into a wrod document.

How do I do it?

Sorry… Im still new in this field 🙂

[Sophia Zhang]

Hi, everyone, especially greetings to TC! Thanks for your kind help. I’m sorry I still don’t know how to do. Could u tell me the steps in details base on the situation I’m sitting in, pls? I’m a graphic designer which use Indesign everyday but don’t know how does the program work technically. Thanks.

1) I’m using Mac OX10.5.6, when I use Text Edit to save your scripts, the limited file format for me to save is: RTF, RTFD, HTML,Web archive, odt, docx, doc and Word 2003 XMLFormat, I don’t see any options I can save it as a .jsx file. How can I do?

2) I’m using Indesign CS3, the script folder is not located in the Presets folder, there’s an independent folder named “Script” under the path of Indesign CS3. Also, as another responder said, there are 4 sub folders inside the IDs Script folder, I don’t know which one should I put it in.

3) If I should put it into the “Scripts” folder, inside the Script folder, there’s a folder named “Scripts Panel”, then “Samples”, then 2 folders named “AppleScript” & “JavaScript”, c u tell me which one is the right one, pls?

4) How should I do after then? Restart Indesign, then open the artwork, start to export text from the artwork? The biggest problem is: The limited options I can choose from the Export menu are: PDF, EPS, Indesign Interchange, JPEG, SVG, SVG Compressed, XML, I don’t think any one of them is a text file format. How can I do?

Waiting for your prompt reply as I’m doing an urgent job needs to export the final text from Indesign CS3. I’m not sure if TC still active on this forum, can anybody knows more than me could supply helps?

Thanks & Regards.

Sophia

[Angela Yates]

Yes please, I need this to. Done the save scripting file bit, can’t work out how to apply the script to Indesign book? I have all my text in separate spreads as a book in CS3.

[Celia Brissenden]

Hi Angela and Sophia

Just found this thread! Hope it’s not too late to help you out –

I saved Tim’s very helpful script (thanks so much, TC!), then searched InDesign help and worked this out… FYI I’m running CS3 on Win:

With InDesign closed, save the .jsx file you’ve saved a few layers down inside the Scripts folder, into the JavaScript folder. Here’s my filepath…

C:Program FilesAdobeAdobe InDesign CS3ScriptsScripts PanelSamplesJavaScript

Then open InDesign and open the doc you want to export.

Go to the Window folder > Automation > Scripts.

Click on the Scripts tab.

Navigate this filepath: Application > Samples > JavaScript

You’ll see the list of java scripts (.jsx) and in there will be ExportAllTexdt.jsx that you saved with Tim’s script.

Double click it to run it and choose your format (I chose .rtf) and where you want to save the file.

The result for me was a bit confused in its rendition of a TOC and the footer from the Master page pops up every now and then in an odd spot, but I’m happy to wrangle that, as the hugely long doc is now all there in MSWord.

I’m not a techy, just a communications officer who plays with InDesign…so go forth and good luck!

Celia

[Angela Yates]

Hi, Thanks Celia, but this didn’t actually answer my question.

I can get all the text from a single document spread, but when it’s extracted it has lots of information I don’t want eg,
r—————————————-rSPREAD DETAILS:
GMIN36
SUM09_US_1
r—————————————-r

r—————- seems to come out on every line.

PLUS because all my pages are in a book not a single document, I need to be able to do this with a book function.

Any help anybody pleeeeease, TC, you still out there?

Thanks,
Angela

[Celia Brissenden]

Hi Angela

sorry, missed that about the book.

I have been googling around this today, and will now point you to https://www.rorohiko.com/wordpress/indesign-downloads/

Their Text Exporter (towards the bottom of the list) does a terrific job without all the formatting crap (I got that too using TC’s script – no offence meant, Tim).

When I had a problem (this morning) I emailed support and got a reply within an hour or so. Turns out I hadn’t had a problem at all — it hadn’t asked me for a ‘save as’ filepath and I though it hadn’t saved. In fact the .rtf file was just sitting in the same folder as my .indd files.

Going on their website’s claims and the support I had today from Kris, I wouldn’t be surprised if they could assist you with exporting from a book.

Post back to let us know how you go.

Cheers and good luck –

Celia