Page Numbering Package
by Ralph Learmont

This AppleScript application was designed to allow “Page Numbers” to be applied to multiple page FreeHand documents. Repetitive “text insertions” can also be applied.

Version: 7 and above (Mac)

  
 


“MultiPageText” has the following capabilities:

  • Choice of starting Page number (normally Page 1)

  • Handles independent insertions for Odd and Even pages

  • Saves last used settings for review, edit , or simple revert

  • Versatile - just as easy to apply to FINISHED FreeHand files

  • Insertion limit: 255 characters (with or without Page numbers)

  • “Walk through” behaviour - balanced to suit all levels of experience

Script Download

Macintosh Stuffit File

freehand-multipagepkg.sit

Requirements:

You’ll need AppleScript installed and “available” on your computer. “MultiPageText” is a mini runtime application developed with AppleScript 1.3.7 and OS 8.6

I believe it should run on all systems since the introduction of the Finder aware version of AppleScript (certainly OS8 and up). To be sure there are no initial glitches, please check that you have the file “Standard Additions” -> “Scripting additions” -> “System Folder”

Files:

There is only one. “MultiPageText” can be placed anywhere... Leave it on the Desktop or any easy place of access (Apple Menu Items for example ... )

Of course you’ll need the FreeHand application... (versions 7 through to 10).

“MultiPageText” simply directs “FreeHand” to do the job according to your instructions.

First time use:

The first time you use it on a particular computer, it will ask (just as an example), for the location of “FreeHand 9.01” on your computer. At that point (and ONLY for the first time it’s run), you locate the version of FreeHand you’d like it to work with... “MultiPageText” (MPT) remembers it and will remain committed to it for ever after. For example if you have various versions of FreeHand and you double-click MPT when FH is NOT running, the “remembered” version of FH will be the one to get launched. It follows that you can set up and name an MPT for each, (for example: “MPT_FH7”, “MPT_FH9”). During its development, “MultiPageText” was exhaustively tested with FH7, as it was the first scriptable version of FreeHand.

Possible Problems:

Although I’m not aware of any remaining problems, I suspect a problem with FH8 in its ability to properly handle certain AppleScript instructions. It may not be alone. The problem is that a sudden quit occurs! Can’t explain the inner workings, but you will see there is an alternate file called “MultiPageText.Impelled” which will probably solve the problem in a way which isn’t perfect - but at least it works!

Known Issue:

If a user nominates a number of pages just ONE MORE than exists in the FH file, the result is that FH suddenly quits. Although I’ve successfully “trapped” the scenario of a user nominating any number of pages in excess of what exists in the FH file, it’s only the “One more” case that escapes the trap. I might say, that despite many efforts to have FreeHand “automatically” reveal its Page Count, it’s not a simple matter (apart from generating a FH report - which was ruled out because of added complication and time usage).

Disclaimer:

It hasn’t been tested on a wide range of computers and systems. If there are problems, I hope you will be able to provide some feedback. To reassure you though, I am by nature a very fussy person, and have spent a LOT of time making very certain that it is runs without problems. In fact trying to deliberately trip it up and handle the consequences in a way which won’t unsettle a future user, is right at the top of my priorities. That said and despite my confidence, I’m sure you will tread carefully in the first instance.

How it works:

Despite the introduction of Master Pages with the introduction of FreeHand version 10, a feature still missing is “Page Numbering”. It must be said at the outset, that “MultiPageText” is certainly not a full blown live updating scheme as used by commercial layout software such as QuarkXPress™, but it’s not bad! It ADDS the text boxes (with included serialized Page Numbers), rather than UPDATES them. As much as I’d like, this isn’t achievable by an external script. Only software that genuinely hooks into FH’s code can do this!

Briefly, it operates on the idea of coercing FreeHand via its clipboard, to paste a repeating piece of text onto every page in your FreeHand file. Initially this was developed for a “single master” page, and I’ve extended that concept to the successful assignment of “Left” and “Right” masters, meaning that one can have different information presented on odd and even pages.

To avoid any chance of confusion, “MultiPageText” operates in conjunction with AppleScript and is therefore limited to users of Mac OS. It is not a FreeHand Xtra file. It operates differently to the “PageNumbering” Xtra by Michael Slomski found at this site.

General Instructions: Please refer to the Tutorial files within the archive.