Reply To: FormMaker Pro – Combo Box Export Values

[KeltexanParticipant]

I have found and used a script called “Combo Mambo,” written by Chuck Weger. You can set up a list in a text file in Notepad or Notepad ++ and import the list into a combo box by running the script in InDesign. Below is a copy of the script with instructions on how to load the script into InDesign.

#target InDesign
// A script to fill in the choice list of a listbox or combobox in InDesign CS6, given a text file on disk.
// Written by Chuck Weger <cweger@elara.com> for Sandee Cohen at the NYC InDesign Users Group, September 13, 2012
// Updated by Chuck Weger 9/14/12 to filter for ONLY plain text files.
// Updated by Chuck Weger 1/16/14 to work with InDesign CC

// Copyright © 2012, Chuck Weger
// This script may be freely distributed, copied, repurposed, chopped, diced, sliced, etc. But I would appreciate attribution.

// USAGE:
// 1. In InDesign, select (using the Selection Tool) a Combo Box or List Box
// 2. Run this script
// 3. When prompted, select a plain text file that contains the text you want in the list or combo box
// 4. There is no step 4.

if (app.selection.length) {
var s = app.selection[0];
if (s.constructor.name == "ComboBox" || s.constructor.name == "ListBox") { // avoid dealing with objects we can't process
var theList = getTheList();
if (theList) {
if (theList.length) {
s.choiceList = theList;
}
else {
alert("There was a problem reading this text file. Sorry.");
}
}
}
else {
alert("Please choose a ComboBox or Listbox with the direct selection tool first.");
}
}
else {
alert("Please choose a ComboBox or Listbox with the direct selection tool first.");
}

function getTheList() {
// ask the user for a plain text file, then read that file in and split it up into lines
var theList = [];
var theFile = getOneTextFile("Please select a plain text file.");
if (theFile) {
if (theFile.open("r")) {
var theListStr = theFile.read();
theFile.close();
theList = theListStr.split("\n"); // somehow this magically works cross-platform, even though it shouldn't!
}
}
else { // user canceled the Open dialog
theList = null;
}
return theList;
}

function getOneTextFile(prompt) {
// returns a file object that points to a text (.txt) file
var myFile = null;
// set the file filter; this is different depending upon the platform
if ($.os.indexOf("Mac") >= 0) { // this is running on a Mac
var filter = filterTextFiles;
}
else {
var filter = "Text files:*.txt"
}
var myFile = File.openDialog(prompt, filter);
return myFile;
}

function filterTextFiles(f) {
// a file filter, used for Mac OS X only
var suffix = f.name.substr(f.name.length - 4).toUpperCase();
if (suffix == ".TXT" || f.constructor.name == "Folder") {
return true;
}
else {
return false;
}
}