Accessing the XML structre of an InDesign® document.

You will find a general example for the use of xml here.

Text or frame of a document can be linked with XML elements. The methods of the module permit access to these elements.

Scripts can access the XML element of your text or frame. The assignment follows the the automatic assignment of the script to texts and frames. The XML element of a script is search according to the following steps:
  1. If the script has its own XML element, this will be used. This criterium is only fulfilled by scripts which are triggered by XML Link.
  2. If a text model is defined (textmodel::available) and is linked with an XML element, this element will be used.
  3. If a frame is defined (gFrame != 0) and is linked with an XML element, this element will be used.
  4. Use the root element of the document

In order to identify XML elements, so-called paths can be used. XML paths are build like Unix paths. Relative paths (relative to its own element) or absolute paths (beginning with '/') can be used. Following descriptions are permissible:
Keyword Description
self Identifies the current XML element of an XML scripts, see above.
/ The uppermost XML element of the document, as a rule root
.. one level above
parent the parent element
element[[i]] The 1-based i-thelement of the current level of the name element. The specification of the index is optional, but is stated in brackets, e.g. /Library/Book[4] identifies the fourth book element under Library. If the index is missing, the first element is used.
first|next|prev|last
[+-i]
The i-th element after/before the specified sibling. The specification of the index is optional, but is stated in brackets, e.g. /Library/next[1] identifies the next but one library
first|next|prev|last
[<tag>]
The next element after/before the specified sibling with the name tag.

static int set_document_attribute(
  ItemRef docRef,
  char* name,
  char* value)

Set or update a attribute of the root element of a document

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
docRef ItemRef - document reference
name String or char* - name of the attribute
value String or char* - value of the attribute

Version 3.4 R5804, 23. Sep 2014

Available:
Comet-Plug-Ins, comet_pdf, Illustrator

comet.CDocument.setAttribute

static int get_document_attribute(
  ItemRef docRef,
  char* name,
  char* out)

Get the value of an attribute of the root element of a document

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
docRef ItemRef - document reference
name String or char* - name of the attribute
out String or char* - buffer for the result string

Version 3.4 R5804, 23. Sep 2014

Available:
Comet-Plug-Ins, comet_pdf, Illustrator

comet.CDocument.getAttribute

static int exec(ItemRef frameRef = 0, char* elementName = 0)

Execute a script from the XML structure of a frame. The XML elements of frames may contain script code as value. Here you can execute this code.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
frameRef ItemRef 0 Valid document frame

0 : current script frame
elementName String or char* 0 Name of element to execute. The elements value must consist of valid cScript code.

0 or "" : first element in frame

v4.0.5 R9020, 30. Sep. 2015

Available:
Comet-Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int link(
  char* parent,
  char* name,
  int index,
  ...)

Link the current script frame or the current text model of the script with a new XML element. If the element name is not yet present in the panel 'Tags', it will be automatically inserted. If the element could be successfully linked, then a user-defined number of attributes with value can be set up in the element.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
parent String or char* - absolute XML pathfor the parent element of the new XML element. If the parent does not exist, it will created. If the frame has an xml element already, the element is moved to the given parent.
name String or char* - Name of the element The name of an XML element must must begin with a letter and may only consist of letters, numbers and '_'.

You may mark the name by the trailing (and blank delimited) keywords noRename and/or noMove to declare how to work on existing xml elements :
noRename Do not rename an element already existing
noMove Do not move an element already existing
index int - Index the parent, -1 = last element (0-based)
⇨User-defined number of attribute value pairs may follow
attr_name String or char* - Name of the attribute which is to be added to the element. The name of an XML element must must begin with a letter and may only consist of letters, numbers and '_'.
attr_value String or char* - Value of the attribute attr_name

siehe link_frame



priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

static int link_frame(
  ItemRef fm,
  char* parent,
  char* name,
  int index,
  ...)

Link a document frame with a new XML element. If the element name is not yet present in the panel 'Tags', it will be automatically inserted. If the element could be successfully linked, then a user-defined number of attributes with value can be set up in the element.
If the frame type has not yet been defined, the frame will be automatically made into a text frame. The call of the function can therefore change the content of the specified ItemReference.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
fm ItemRef - Frames which should be linked. If the frame type is not defined, the frame will be made into a text frame. The content of the reference can be changed by the call.
parent String or char* - absolute XML pathfor the parent element of the new XML element If the parent does not exist, it will created. If the frame has an xml element already, the element is moved to the given parent.
name String or char* - Name of the element The name of an XML element must must begin with a letter and may only consist of letters, numbers and '_'.

You may mark the name by the trailing (and blank delimited) keywords noRename and/or noMove to declare how to work on existing xml elements :
noRename Do not rename an element already existing
noMove Do not move an element already existing
index int - Index the parent, -1 = last element (0-based)
⇨User-defined number of attribute value pairs may follow
attr_name String or char* - Name of the attribute which is to be added to the element. The name of an XML element must must begin with a letter and may only consist of letters, numbers and '_'.
attr_value String or char* - Value of the attribute attr_name
int main ()
{
    ItemList	frames  = itemlist::get_selected_frames ();
    int			len		= itemlist::length (frames);
    int			i      	= 0;
    ItemRef		frame	= item::alloc ();
    int     	r, g, b;
    char		attr_val1[255];
    char		attr_val2[255];
    char		attr_val3[255];
r = 0; g = 100; b = 100;
while (i < len) { // Get the next selected frames itemlist::get (frames, frame, i++);
// Color frames r = r+30; frame::color (frame, r, g, b);
// Calculate value of the attribute sprintf (attr_val1, "%d - 1", i); sprintf (attr_val2, "%d - 2", i); sprintf (attr_val3, "%d - 3", i);
// Link frame with an XML element xml::link_frame (   frame,   "/",   "My_XML_Element",   -1,   "Wert 1", attr_val1,   "Wert 2", attr_val2,   "Wert 3", attr_val3); }
item::release (frame); itemlist::release (frames); }


priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int untag(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  int startPos,
  int len)

Remove the XML element(s) of a frame or text range.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
frameRef ItemRef - valid frame reference
startPos int - start position to remove XML elements

kTotalEnd : Remove the frames XML element.

kSelection : Use current text selection. If no text selection is set or the text selection in a different frame, error 313 (noSelectionErr) is returned.

otherwise : 0-based frame relative text position.
len int - range length. Ignored if startPos = kTotalEnd or kSelection.
#include "internal/text.h"

remove the frames XML element

#include "internal/text.h"
#include "internal/types.h"
int main () { xml::untag (gFrame, kTotalEnd, 0); return 0; }

Only remove sub elements connected to the text content.

#include "internal/text.h"
#include "internal/types.h"
int main () { xml::untag (gFrame, 0, kEnd); return 0; }

Version 2.1 R 1155, 22.2.2009

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

static int path(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  char* path,
  char* elementName = 0,
  int* indexInParent = 0)

Get the the path of the XML element of a frame.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
frameRef ItemRef 0 Valid document frame
path String or char* - Path to XML element of frame (or empty)
elementName String or char* 0 Name of XML element of frame (or empty)
indexInParent int* 0 1-based index in parent XML element of frame

v4.0.5 R10330, 15. Apr 2015

Available:
Comet-Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

path_elem

static int path_elem(
  XMLElement elem,
  char* path,
  char* elementName = 0,
  int* indexInParent = 0)

Get the the path of the XML element of an XML element the the XML structure of a document.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
eleme XMLElement - Valid document frame
path String or char* - Path to XML element
elementName String or char* 0 Name of XML element
indexInParent int* 0 1-based index in parent XML element
int main ()
{
    XMLElement   	elem 	= 0;
    char 			path [5000], name [5000];
    int 			index;
xml::get_element_by_path (0, &elem, "/abc/def/ghi[7]"); xml::path_elem (elem, value, name, &index); wlog ("", " Path '%s/%s[%d]\n", value, name, index);
xml::release (elem); return 0; }

v4.0.5 R20300, 5. Okt. 2017

Available:
Comet-Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

path

static int add_attribute(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  char* attrName,
  char* attrVal)

Add or change an attribute to/of the XML element of a frame.

Of course, the frame must have an XML element in the structure of the document beforehand!

To create or change an XML attribute of the document please use the following calls

XMLElement   	elem 	= 0;
xml::create_element (&elem, 0, "/", 1); xml::add_attribute_elem (elem, "my_elem", "my value");

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
frameRef ItemRef - Valid document frame

0 : current script frame
attrName String or char* - Valid name of an XML attribute
attrVal String or char* - Value of attribute

v4.0.5 R10330, 15. Apr 2015

Available:
Comet-Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

add_attribute_elem

static int add_attribute_elem(
  XMLElement elem,
  char* attrName,
  char* attrVal)

Add or change an attribute to/of an XML element.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
elem XMLElement - Valid XML element of the XML structure of a document
attrName String or char* - Valid name of an XML attribute
attrVal String or char* - (New) value of attribute
int main ()
{
    XMLElement   	elem 	= 0;
    char			value 	[5000];
xml::get_element_by_path (0, &elem, "/abc/def/ghi/aaa[9]");
xml::sattribute_elem (elem, "AAA_9", value); printf ("A1 (%s)\n", value);
xml::add_attribute_elem (elem, "AAA_9", "Value aaa 9"); xml::sattribute_elem (elem, "AAA_9", value); printf ("A2 (%s)\n", value);
xml::add_attribute_elem (elem, "AAA_9", "New value aaa 9"); xml::sattribute_elem (elem, "AAA_9", value); printf ("A3 (%s)\n", value);
xml::release (elem); return 0; }

v4.0.5 R20300, 6. Oct. 2017

Available:
Comet-Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

add_attribute

static int attribute_exists(char* xml_path, char* attribute)

Does the XML element have a certain attribute?

To get the name of an attribute, you may use one of the functions iattribute, iattribute_elem, ... and the index of the attribute.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   1 attribute exists
0 does not exist
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path of own XML element or absolute XML path
attribute String or char* - Name of the searched attribute
result = xml::attribute_exists (path, attribute);


priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

static int attribute_exists_frame(ItemRef fm, char* attribute)

Does the frame have an XML Element containing a certain attribute?

To get the name of an attribute, you may use one of the functions iattribute, iattribute_elem, ... and the index of the attribute.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   1 attribute exists
0 does not exist
fm ItemRef - Frame reference
attribute String or char* - Name of the searched attribute
result = xml::attribute_exists (path, attribute);


priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int attribute_exists_elem(XMLElement xmlElement, char* attribute)

Does the XML element have a certain attribute?

To get the name of an attribute, you may use one of the functions iattribute, iattribute_elem, ... and the index of the attribute.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   1 : attribute exists
0 : does not exist
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document
attribute String or char* - Name of the searched attribute

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

get_element

static int count_attributes(char* xml_path)

Number of attributes of an XML element.

To get the name of an attribute, you may use one of the functions iattribute, iattribute_elem, ... and the index of the attribute.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Number of attributes
0 : The element was not found or does not have any attributes
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path of own XML element or absolute XML path

Version 1.3.1 (24. Januar 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

static int count_attributes_frame(ItemRef fm)

Number of attributes of an XML element of a frame.

To get the name of an attribute, you may use one of the functions iattribute, iattribute_elem, ... and the index of the attribute.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Number of attributes
0 : The element was not found or does not have any attributes
fm ItemRef - Frame reference

Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int count_attributes_elem(XMLElement xmlElement)

Number of attributes of an XML element.

To get the name of an attribute, you may use one of the functions iattribute, iattribute_elem, ... and the index of the attribute.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Number of attributes
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element

static int remove_attributes_elem(
  XMLElement xmlElement,
  char* name,
  int index = -1)

Remove attributes from an XML element of the XML structure of a document.

To get the name of an attribute, you may use one of the functions iattribute, iattribute_elem, ... and the index of the attribute.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid XML element
name String or char* - Name of attribute to remove

0 : use index
index int -1 Index of attribute to remove. The index is used only if name is 0 or "".

>= 0 : 0-based index of attribute
-1 : Remove all attributes
int main ()
{
    XMLElement   	elem 	= 0;
xml::get_xmlelement_by_path (0, &elem, "/abc/def/ghi/WWWW"); xml::remove_attributes_elem (elem, 0, -1); xml::release (elem);
return 0; }

v4.0.5 R20300, 6. Okt. 2017

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int iattribute(char* xml_path, char* attribute)

Get the value of an XML attribute as an integer. The attribute can be called using its name or by means of an index.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Value of XML attribute as int or -1
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path of own XML element or absolute XML path
⇨ Select attribute by its name
attribute String or char* - Name of an attribute
⇨ Select attribute by means of index
index int - 0-based attribute index, see count_attributes
name String or char* - After execution the variable gets the name of the attribute
0 : Do not ascertain name
otherwise : Allocated memory for the name

Name-based element selection

showmessage ("%d", xml::iattribute (xml_path, attr));

Index-based element selection For the name a parameter must be specified. The value of the name parameter may be 0.

char	name[256];
showmessage ("%s = %d", xml::iattribute (xml_path, 0, name), name);

Index-based element selection since Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

xml::getint
count_attributes

static int iattribute_frame(ItemRef fm, char* attribute)

Get the value of an XML attribute of the XML object of a frame as an integer. The attribute can be called using its name or by means of an index.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Wert des XML-Attributes oder -1
⇨ Select attribute by its name
attribute String or char* - Name of an attribute
⇨ Select attribute by means of index
index int - 0-based attribute index, see count_attributes
name String or char* - After execution the variable gets the name of the attribute
0 : Do not ascertain name
otherwise : Allocated memory for the name

Namensbasierte Elementauswahl

showmessage ("%d", xml::iattribute_frame (gFrame, attr));

Index-based element selection For the name a parameter must be specified. The value of the name parameter may be 0.

char	name[256];
showmessage("%s = %d",   name,   xml::iattribute_frame (gFrame, 0, name));

Index-based element selection since Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int iattribute_elem(XMLElement xmlElement, char* attribute)

Like iattribute_frame, but the element is given by itself, not by its frame.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element
iattribute_frame

static char* sattribute(
  char* xml_path,
  char* attribute,
  char* result)

Get the value of an XML attribute. The attribute can be called using its name or by its index.

Name Type Default Description
Return String or char*   Value of the XML attribute, or, in case of some errors, 0.
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path of own XML element or absolute XML path
⇨ Select attribute by its name
attribute String or char* - Name of an attribute
result String or char* - Allocated memory for the result.
Empty when element or attribute not found.
⇨ Select attribute by means of index
index int - 0-based attribute index, see count_attributes
name String or char* - After execution the variable gets the name of the attribute
0 : Do not ascertain name
otherwise : Allocated memory for the name
result String or char* - Allocated memory for the result.
Empty when element or attribute not found.

Namensbasierte Elementauswahl

char	val[2000];
showmessage ("%s", xml::sattribute_frame (xml_path, attr, val));

Index-based element selection For the name a parameter must be specified. The value of the name parameter may be 0.

char	name[256];
char val[2000];
showmessage ("%s = %s,", xml::attribute (xml_path, 0, name, val), name);

Index-based element selection since Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

xml::strcpy

static char* sattribute_frame(
  ItemRef fm,
  char* attribute,
  char* result)

Get the value of an XML attribute of the XML object of a frame. The attribute can be called using its name or by its index.

Name Type Default Description
Return String or char*   Value of the XML attribute or 0 in case of some errors.
⇨ Select attribute by its name
attribute String or char* - Name of an attribute
result String or char* - Reserved memory for the result
⇨ Select attribute by means of index
index int - 0-based attribute index, see count_attributes
name String or char* - After execution the variable gets the name of the attribute
0 : Do not ascertain name
otherwise : Allocated memory for the name
result String or char* - Reserved memory for the result
0 : If only the name is to be ascertained, the parameter can be specified with 0.

Name-based element selection

char val[2000];
showmessage("%s", xml::attribute_frame (gFrame, attr, val));

Index-based element selection For the name a parameter must be specified. The value of the name parameter may be 0.

char	name[256];
char	attr[256];
showmessage("%s = %s",   name,   xml::sattribute_frame(gFrame, 0, name, attr));

Index-based element selection since Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static char* sattribute_elem(
  XMLElement xmlElement,
  char* attribute,
  char* result)

Like sattribute_frame, but the element is given by itself, not by its frame.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element
sattribute_frame

static float fattribute(char* xml_path, char* attribute)

Get the value of an XML attribute as a real number. The attribute can be called using its name or by means of an index.

Name Type Default Description
Return float   Value of the XML attribute as float or -1.0
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path of own XML element or absolute XML path
⇨ Select attribute by its name
attribute String or char* - Name of an attribute
⇨ Select attribute by means of index
index int - 0-based attribute index, see count_attributes
name String or char* - After execution the variable gets the name of the attribute
0 : Do not ascertain name
otherwise : Allocated memory for the name

Name-based element selection

showmessage ("%f", xml::fattribute_frame (xml_path, attr));

Index-based element selection For the name a parameter must be specified. The value of the name parameter may be 0.

char	name[256];
showmessage ("%s = %f", xml::fattribute (xml_path, 0, name), name);

Index-based element selection since Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

xml::getfloat

static float fattribute_frame(ItemRef fm, char* attribute)

Get the value of an XML attribute of an XML object of a frame as a real number. The attribute can be called using its name or by means of an index.

Name Type Default Description
Return float   Wert des XML-Attributes oder -1
fm ItemRef - valid frame reference
⇨ Select attribute by its name
attribute String or char* - Name of an attribute
⇨ Select attribute by means of index
index int - 0-based attribute index, see count_attributes
name String or char* - After execution the variable gets the name of the attribute
0 : Do not ascertain name
otherwise : Allocated memory for the name

Name-based element selection

showmessage("%f", xml::fattribute_frame (gFrame, attr));

Index-based element selection For the name a parameter must be specified. The value of the name parameter may be 0.

char	name[256];
char	attr[256];
showmessage("%s = %f",   name,   xml::fattribute_frame(gFrame, 0, name, attr));

Index-based element selection since Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006) Index-based element selection since Version 1.3.1 (24 January 2006)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static float fattribute_elem(XMLElement xmlElement, char* attribute)

Like fattribute_frame, but the element is given by itself, not by its frame.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element
fattribute_frame

static int getint(
  char* xml_path,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0)

Get the text which is linked with an XML element as an integer.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Value of the XML attribute as int or -1
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path for own XML element or absolute XML path
outStartPos int* 0 On successful return it contains the (0-based) textposition of the XML elements text.
outLen int* 0 On successful return it contains the the length of the linked with the XML element.
int f = xml::getint (xml_path);

outStartPos and outLen since Version 2.1, R 1014, 30. Oct. 2008 (day of the first snow of 2008)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

getfloat
strcpy
getint_frame

static int getint_frame(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  char* xml_path,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0)

Get the text which is linked with an XML element of a given frame as an integer.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Value of the XML attribute as int or -1
frameRef ItemRef - Valid document frame
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path for own XML element or absolute XML path
outStartPos int* 0 On successful return it contains the (0-based) textposition of the XML elements text.
outLen int* 0 On successful return it contains the the length of the linked with the XML element.

outStartPos und outLen since version 2.1, R 1014, 30. Oct. 2008 (day of the first snow of 2008)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

getint

static int getint_elem(
  XMLElement xmlElement,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0)

Like getint_frame, but the element is given by itself, not by its frame and an XML path.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

get_element
getint_frame

static float getfloat(
  char* xml_path,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0)

Get the text which is linked with an XML element as a real number.

Name Type Default Description
Return float   Value of the XML attribute as int or -1
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path for own XML element or absolute XML path
outStartPos int* 0 On successful return it contains the (0-based) textposition of the XML elements text.
outLen int* 0 On successful return it contains the the length of the linked with the XML element.
float f = xml::getfloat (xml_path);

outStartPos and outLen since Version 2.1, R 1014, 30. Oct. 2008 (day of the first snow of 2008)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

getint
strcpy
getfloat_frame

static float getfloat_frame(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  char* xml_path,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0)

Get the text which is linked with an XML element a given frame as a real number.

Name Type Default Description
Return float   Value of the XML attribute as int or -1
frameRef ItemRef - Valid document frame
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path for own XML element or absolute XML path
outStartPos int* 0 On successful return it contains the (0-based) textposition of the XML elements text.
outLen int* 0 On successful return it contains the the length of the linked with the XML element.

outStartPos und outLen since version 2.1, R 1014, 30. Oct. 2008 (day of the first snow of 2008)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

getfloat

static float getfloat_elem(
  XMLElement xmlElement,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0)

Like gefloat_frame, but the element is given by itself, not by its frame and an XML path.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

get_element
gefloat_frame

static char* strcpy(
  char* xml_path,
  char* result,
  int maxlen = 0,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0,
  int fmt = 0)

Get the text which is linked with an XML element.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Same as parameter result. Value of the XML attribute.
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path for own XML element or absolute XML path
result String or char* - Reserved memory for the result
maxlen int user-defined maximum number of bytes for the result
0 user-defined length
 
outStartPos int* 0 On successful return it contains the (0-based) textposition of the XML elements text.
outLen int* 0 On successful return it contains the the length of the linked with the XML element.
fmt int kExportPlain Format of result string. See frame::gettext for details.
#include "internal/text.h"
char	s[256];
xml::strcpy (xml_path, s, 255);

outStartPos and outLen since Version 2.1, R 1014, 30. Oct. 2008 (day of the first snow of 2008)
fmt since version 2.1, R 1070, 16. Dec. 2008 (still snow)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

getint
strcpy_frame
getfloat_frame

static char* strcpy_frame(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  char* xml_path,
  char* result,
  int maxlen = 0,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0,
  int fmt = 0)

Get the text which is linked with an XML element a given frame.

Name Type Default Description
Return String or char*   Same as result. Value of the XML attribute.
frameRef ItemRef - Valid document frame
xml_path String or char* - relative XML path for own XML element or absolute XML path
result String or char* - Reserved memory for the result
maxlen int 0 User-defined maximum number of bytes for the result
0: any length.
outStartPos int* 0 On successful return it contains the (0-based) textposition of the XML elements text.
outLen int* 0 On successful return it contains the the length of the linked with the XML element.
fmt int kExportPlain Format of result string. See textmodel::gettext for details.
#include "internal/text.h"

outStartPos and outLen since version 2.1, R 1014, 30. Oct. 2008 (day of the first snow of 2008)
fmt since version 2.1, R 1070, 16. Dec. 2008 (still snow)

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

strcpy

static char* strcpy_elem(
  XMLElement xmlElement,
  char* result,
  int maxlen = 0,
  int* outStartPos = 0,
  int* outLen = 0,
  int fmt = 0)

Like strcpy_frame, but the element is given by itself, not by its frame and an XML path.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

get_element
strcpy_frame

static int get_element(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  XMLElement* xmlElement = 0,
  char* path = 0)

Get the XML element of the given frame (if any). Optionally you can select a subelement by a given xml path.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 : element found
otherwise : ErrorCode
frameRef ItemRef - Valid frame reference
xmlElement XMLElement* 0 Pointer to a varaibale of type XMLElement (&elem).
path String or char* 0 XML path to a sub-element

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

xml::release
count_children
get_child
get_parent

static int get_xmlelement(
  ItemRef frameRef,
  XMLElement* xmlElement = 0,
  char* path = 0)

Please use xml::get_element instead.

static int get_element_by_path(
  ItemRef docRef,
  XMLElement* xmlElement = 0,
  char* path = 0)

Get an XML element by its XML path.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 : Element found
otherwise : eeror code
docRef ItemRef - Document reference

0 : current document
xmlElement XMLElement* - Result. Pointer to a valid variable of type XMLElement (&elem).
path String or char* - XML-Pfad of element to search for.
int main ()
{
    XMLElement   	elem 	= 0;
    char			value 	[5000];
xml::get_element_by_path (0, &elem, "/abc/def/ghi/aaa[8]"); xml::sattribute_elem (elem, "Name_AAA_8", value); wlog ("# Value (%s)\n", value);
xml::release (elem); return 0; }

v4.0.5 R20300, 6. Okt. 2017

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

xml::release
count_children
get_child
get_parent

static int create_element(
  XMLElement* out_elem,
  ItemRef docRef,
  char* path,
  int useExisting = 1)

Create a new XML element in the XML structure of the document. If the element already exists, you may choose just to get this or create a sibling.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
out_elem XMLElement* - Output variable (e.g. &aml;elem)
docRef ItemRef - Document containing the XML structure

0 : current documnt
path String or char* - Complete path to element. If the path does not exist, it will be created automatically. If the path contains index parts (for instance [10]), missing elements are created too.

Please take care to use valid XML identifiers in the path!
useExisting int 1 What to do, if the element already exists:

1 : Return the existing one
0 : Create a sibling
int main ()
{
    XMLElement   	elem 	= 0;
    int 			res;
    char 			path [5000], name [5000], value [5000];
    int 			index;
xml::create_element (&elem, 0, "/abc/def/ghi/aaa");
xml::path_elem (elem, path, name, &index); showmessage ("<%s/%s> : %d", path, name, index);
xml::add_attribute_elem (elem, "Name_AAA", "Value AAA"); xml::sattribute_elem (elem, "Name_AAA", value); showmessage ("%s", value);
xml::release (elem); return 0; }

Version 4.0.5 R20300, 5. Oct 2017

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int delete_element(XMLElement elem, int autoRelease = 1)

Remove an XML element and all its sub-elements from the XML structure of its document.Entferne ein XMLElement mit allen Unterelementen aus der XML-Struktur des Dokumentes. When deleting XML elements associated with document content, e.g. with frames, this document content is retained.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
elem XMLElement - Valid XML element
autoRelease int 1 Automatically release the element?

1 : Yes
0 : No. You may use xml::release to release the element later.
int main ()
{
    XMLElement   	elem 	= 0;
xml::get_element_by_path (0, &elem, "/abc/def/Root"); xml::delete_element (elem);
return 0; }

Version 4.0.5 R20300, 5. Oct 2017

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

static int count_children(XMLElement xmlElement)

Count the subelements of an XML element of the document. Only the direct successors are counted.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   Number of children
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element

static int get_child(
  ItemRef xmlElement,
  int index,
  XMLElement* childRef)

Get a sub element of an XML element.

Name Type Default Description
Return 0 : element found
otherwise : ErrorCode
   
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document
index int - 0-based index
childRef XMLElement 0 Destination variable for the child. If missing or 0, only the existance of the requested child is checked.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element
count_children

static int get_parent(ItemRef xmlElement, XMLElement* parentRef)

Get a parent element of an XML element.

Name Type Default Description
Return 0 : element found
otherwise : ErrorCode
   
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document
parentRef XMLElement 0 Destination variable for the parent. If missing or 0, only the existance of the requested parent is checked.

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element

static char* get_name(XMLElement xmlElement)

Get the name of an XML element.

Name Type Default Description
Return String or char*   "" : Error
otherwise : Name of element.

The return value is read only, do NOT CHANGE. The result will be overridden on following calls to the function. See here to learn more about functions returning r/o char* values.

xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document

For later uses of an XML element name, copy it to a local variable.

char name[512];
:
strcpy (name, xml::get_name (elem));

Example2

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element

static int release(XMLElement xmlElement)

Release memory of an XMLElement variable allocated by calls to get_element, get_parent or get_child. If the script will use this variable in next statements, please reset it to 0.

Name Type Default Description
Return 0 : element released
otherwise : ErrorCode
   
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document
XMLElement elem;
:
xml::release (elem); elem = 0;

Example2

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins, comet_pdf

get_element

static int is_textlink(
  XMLElement xmlElement,
  int* startPos = 0,
  int* len = 0,
  int* isTable = 0,
  int* isInline = 0)

Does the element point to an piece of text of the document?

Name Type Default Description
Return 0 : Element not valid, element has no content, content is a frame (text or grafic)
1 : Yes
   
xmlElement XMLElement - Valid reference to an XML element of a document
startPos int* 0 (Output, text-, table- and inline-elements only) Start position in text
len int* 0 (Output, text-, table- and inline-elements only) Length of text
isTable int* 0 (Output, text-, table- and inline-elements only) Element is linked against a table (1) or not (0)
isInline int* 0 (Output, text-, table- and inline-elements only) Element is linked against a anchored frame (1) or not (0)

Example

Complete example

Version 2.1, R1014, 31. Oct. 2008
startPos, len, isTable and isInline since version 2.1, R1166, 26. Feb. 2009

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

get_element

static int export_placeholder(
  DBC dbc = 0,
  int userID = 0,
  char* path = "",
  char* name = "")

Export the placeholder definitions of the database in a XML folder. If not otherwise specified, the export file contains the name placeholder.xml and is stored in the current XML data folder. The actions of the placeholder are stored in the folder actions alongside the file.
The command is only implemented for employees and partners of WERK II.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
dbc DBC 0 Database from which the export is to be made
0 : Use the current database connection
userID int 0 Only export the placeholders of this user. The current user ID of the connection can be ascertained using sql::userid.
0 : All placeholders will be exported independent of the user classification
path String or char* "" Entry path for the export.
Empty string : Use the current XML data folder as it is set in inDesign®.
name String or char* "" Name of the XML folder.
Empty string : placeholder.xml

Version 1.1.7, January 2005

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

export_action
xmlquery::app_path
system::crypt
system::app_path
system::plugin_path

static int export_action(
  DBC dbc = 0,
  int actionID = 0,
  char* tbl = "",
  char* attr = "",
  char* xmlpath = "")

Export an action of the database in an encrpyted text file. Actions are always encoded and exported under the name actionID.crpt. If a file with this name already exists, it will be overwritten.
The command is only implemented for employees and partners of WERK II.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
dbc DBC 0 Database from which the export is to be made
0 : Use the current database connection
actionID int - ID of the action which is to be exported (select statement from actions where id = actionID)
xmlpath String or char* "" Entry path for the export.
Empty string : The current path of the XML folder will be used, see xmlquery::app_path
subfolder String or char* "actions" Subfolder in path, in which the action is to be stored.

Version 1.1.7, January 2005

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

export_placeholder
system::crypt

static int export_actions(
  DBC dbc,
  char* selectCmd,
  char* xmlPath = "",
  char* subfolder = "actions")

Export a selection of actions of the database. Actions are always encoded and exported under the name actionID.crpt. If a file with this name already exists, it will be overwritten.
The command is only implemented for employees and partners of WERK II.

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or error code
dbc DBC - Database from which the export is to be made
0 : Use the current database connection
selectCmd String or char* - Complete select instruction to ascertain the IDs of the actions. The command must deliver the IDs of the ascertained actions in the first results column.
xmlpath String or char* "" Entry path for the export.
Empty string : The current path of the XML folder will be used, see xmlquery::app_path
subfolder String or char* "actions" Subfolder in path, in which the action is to be stored.

Export all actions of the database

xml::export_actions (0, "select id from actions where id > 0");

Version 1.1.7, January 2005

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

export_action
export_placeholder
system::crypt

static int export_(
  DBC dbc,
  char* selectCmd,
  char* xmlPath,
  char* filename,
  char* root = "",
  char* parent = "",
  int lowerCase = 1)

General data export from the database in XML. The files will be created in the following format

<root>
 	<parent>
 		<ATTR>
 		</ATTR>
 		<!-- ... -->
 	</parent>
 	<!-- ... -->
</root>

The names for the root and the respective parent elements will either be ascertained from the file name or may be assigned as a parameter of the function. If the identifiers are ascertained, the file name will be used as the root name minus the file extension and as the parent name of the root name minus a letter.
If the file name is panelstatements.xml, the root element panelstatements will be named and the parent element in each case is called panelstatement.

The elements of the export are called the same as the columns of the Selects. With Oracle the columns names will be automatically delivered in upper case. The name can during export be converted into lowercase (Parameter lowerCase). If the name contains characters which do not comply with the XML identifier convention, these characters will be converted into underscores (_). Strings can be directly inserted in the Select for nesting the XML elements. Here is an example:

select a.id, '<Type>', d.id, d.name, '</Type>', a.name from ...

creates the following output for example

<id>123</id>
<Type>
 	<id>1</id>
 	<name>Type-name</name>
<Type>
<name>kahsgd<name>

Binary data of the database (BLOB) is exported in files. For the target in each case the subfolder filename/attribute will be used. This folder will be automatically created. For the file name, the ID of the dataset will be used. In the XML folder, the local path to the export file will be entered as XML attribute src so for example

<preview src='pageitems/preview/12.gif'></preview>.

For the folder names the conversion for the element names as previously described will be used.
In order that during the export the correct file types (file extensions for Windows, file types and creator and/or file extension for Mac OSX) will be created, classifications between table attributes and file extensions can be made.
For the export of constants such as select id, 1401, ..., for example, a column must be specified. Moreover, the value must be converted so that not decimal number is returned, because Oracle internally recognised such columns as decimal numbers :
select id, to_char (1401)"id2", ....

the classification between file extension and type/creator with Mac OSX is undertaken automatically in accordnace with the following listing.
File extension Type Creator Program
indd IDd3 InDn InDesign®
psd 8BIM 8BIM Photoshop
psd 8BPS
pict PICT
tiff TIFF
gif GIFf
eps EPSF
targa TPIC
jpg JPEG
psd 8BPS
png PNGF
pdf PDF  CARO Acrobat Reader
txt text TEXT TextEdit
rtf

Name Type Default Description
Return int   0 or ErrorCode
dbc DBC 0 Database from which the export is to be made
0 : Use the current database connection
selectCmd String or char* - Complete select instruction for ascertaining the data which is to be exported. In order that the names of the XML elements are unique, you should give names to the outpu columns of the select
select c.name"color name", ...
Special characters, points, empty spaces, ... will be replaced by '_' in the identifiers.
xmlpath String or char* "" entry path for the export.
Empty string : The current path of the XML data will be used, see xmlquery::app_path
filename String or char* "" Name of the XML folders and the element in which the data is to be stored. The data name must have an extension (if possible .xml).
root String or char* "root" Name of the root element of the XML folder
Empty string : Use the name of the XML folder with file extension
parent String or char* "" Name of the element in which the data is to be stored
Empty string : use the name of the XML folder with file extension and without the final letter (hopefully the s of the English plural.)
lowerCase int 1 Are the names of the database attributes to be displayed in lower case?
1 : Use lowercase
otherwise : Uppercase for the attribute names, column names in the select select (in double quotations after the attribute) remain unchanged.
attrXformat String or char* "" Allocations between table columns and file extensions consist of comma separated pairs attribute name file ending (without period), e.g. "Preview gif, Data indd".
Empty string : All data will be exported in binary files (.bin).

Export some fields of the table panelstatements. The root element of the XML folder is called panelstatements. Data is written in each case in elements with the name panelstatement.

xml::export_ (
 	0,
 	"select id, description, statement from panelstatements where id > 0",
 	"",	// path from InDesign®
 	"panelstatements.xml");

Export some fields of the table panelstatements. The root element of the XML folder is called ROOT. Data is written in each case in elements with the name ENTRY. The database attribute panelstatements.description creates XML elements with the name description

xml::export_
 	0,
 	"select id, description\"Beschreibung\", statement from panelstatements where id > 0",
 	"",
 	"panelstatements.xml",
 	"ROOT",
 	"ENTRY");
xml::export   0,   "select id, description, statement from panelstatements where id > 0",   "", // path from InDesign®   "panelstatements.xml");

In order to export all values of a table, the asterisk * can be used to description the table attributes.Bear in mind that the name of all attributes are displayed in uppercase.

xml::export_ (
 	0,
 	"select *  from panelstatements where id >0",
 	"",
 	"panelstatements.xml")

Export all data of the table pageitems. In doing so the previews will be stored as gif images and the data will be stored as InDesign® files.

xml::export_ (
 	0,
 	"select * from pageitems where id >0",
 	"",	// path from InDesign®
 	"pageitems.xml",
 	"",	// root <pageitems>
 	"",	// parent <pageitem>
 	1,	// lower case names
 	"Data indd, Preview gif")));

The following instructions export the data of the pageitems table in the format in which it is required by plugin templates.

 
int main ()
{
    char    cmd[2000];
*cmd = 0; strcat (cmd, "select"); strcat (cmd, " p.id,"); strcat (cmd, " p.name,"); strcat (cmd, " p.description,"); strcat (cmd, " p.data,"); strcat (cmd, " p.preview,"); strcat (cmd, " '<type>', t.id, t.name, '</type>',"); strcat (cmd, " '<state>', s.id, s.value, '</state>',"); strcat (cmd, " '<domain>', d.id, d.name, '</domain>',"); strcat (cmd, " p.leftpos,"); strcat (cmd, " p.toppos,"); strcat (cmd, " p.rightpos,"); strcat (cmd, " p.bottompos"); strcat (cmd, " from pageitems p, PageItemTypes t,"); strcat (cmd, " RelatedTo s, Domain d"); strcat (cmd, " where"); strcat (cmd, " p.id > 0"); strcat (cmd, " and t.ID = p.TypeID"); strcat (cmd, " and s.ID = p.StateID"); strcat (cmd, " and d.ID = p.DomainID");
showmessage ("Export the PageItems : %s",   serror (xml::export_ (   0,   cmd,   "",   "pageitems.xml",   "",   "",   1,   "Data indd, Preview gif"))); return 0; }

Version 1.1.7, January 2005

priint:comet InDesign® Plug-Ins

export_action
export_placeholder

Write the xml structure of all frames of the document to the logfile.

int wlevel (char * m1, char * m2, int level)
{
    int 			l		= 0;
for (l = 0; l < level; l++) wlog ("", "\t"); if (m1) wlog ("", "%s", m1); if (m1 && m2) wlog ("", " "); if (m2) wlog ("", "'%s'", m2); wlog ("", "\n");
return 1; }
int visit_xml (ItemRef frame, XMLElement elem, int level) { int ix = 0; int iX; char name [512]; char content [20000]; int pos, len; char txt [512]; char descr [512]; XMLElement child = 0;
// Element name wlevel (xml::get_name (elem), 0, level);
// Content xml::strcpy_elem (elem, txt, 511, &pos, &len); if (len >= 0) { sprintf (descr, "[%d, %d]", pos, pos+len); wlevel (descr, 0, level+1); wlevel (txt, 0, level+1); }
// Attributes iX = xml::count_attributes_elem (elem); if (iX) wlevel ("Attributes", 0, level+1); for (ix = 0; ix < iX; ix++) { xml::sattribute_elem (elem, ix, name, content); wlevel (name, content, level+2); }
// Recursive call for all children iX = xml::count_children (elem); for (ix = 0; ix < iX; ix++) { if (xml::get_child (elem, ix, &child) == 0) { visit_xml (frame, child, level+1); xml::release (child); child = 0; } }
// Ready return 0; }
int main () { ItemList frames = itemlist::allframes (1, 0); ItemRef frame = item::alloc (); XMLElement elem = 0; int len = itemlist::length (frames); int i = 0;
while (i < len) { itemlist::get (frames, frame, i++); if (xml::get_element (frame, &elem) == 0) { visit_xml (frame, elem, 0); } }
xml::release (elem); item::release (frame); itemlist::release (frames); return 0; }

Alphabetic index HTML hierarchy of classes or Java