Creating Document Reports

This AppleScript was written to automate the process of outputing Report files for FreeHand documents.

Version: 7-10 (Mac)

  
 


I basically took the Convert to FH 8 script and rewrote certain parts of it for saving out Report files instead. Below is the downloadable script in a Stuffit archive.

Script Download

Macintosh Stuffit File

createdocreports.sit

Within this archive are scripts for FreeHand™ 7-10 depending on what version you wish to work with.

The script will use whatever the options are set in the Report the last time you used it. Before you begin the process, set the Report output options in one document first, to make sure you get what you need.

Simply drag the native FreeHand files on to the script and it will first ask you where to save the Report files (This can be the same folder the files come from if you prefer). Then it will launch FreeHand, open the files and save the Report text files with an extension of .RPT.

For now it only works if you drop just files, not a folder with files. See more below in Expanding the Script.

Expanding the Script

Here are some other options I'd like to add to this script:

  • I've been struggling with being able to drop a folder containing FreeHand files on to the script and getting it to work properly. For some reason it skips files, and if there is another folder already in the folder I drop, it fails. If anyone can give me some tips on this it would be great!

Version History

  • v1.6 - Added a Script for FreeHand™ 10.

  • v1.5 - Updated both scripts to give an error if Navigation Services is not detected. Added some script that will truncate potentially long file names. Added a Script for FreeHand 9.

  • v1.0 - Initial release.

If anyone out there can help out just send some info via the FeedBack page.

About the Script

You can edit this script yourself with the Script Editor that is free from Apple and is usually installed with the System software. Below is a piece of the driving force behind the reporting script.

  • I chose to add to the line "open currentfile without Dialogs" so it suppresses any warning dialogs that may come up during the opening process that may ask for missing fonts or links. The reason I chose to add this is because I didn't want it to stop in the middle while I was off, just because one file was missing a link but the others were fine. This is something you can find out for yourself later.