When will there be scripting reference update [2021,2022,2023]

[schroef]

I wonder when the scripting reference guides documentation will be updated. We are lacking reference from updates since 2021. Lots of new features have been added and i would like to know if this will be added to extendscript. I dont believe UXP can run scripts like JSX can

[ErinFinnegan]

Hi @schroef!

Can you mention which scripting reference guides you're talking about specifically, and for which products?

UXP can, in fact, run scripts, in both Photoshop and InDesign. Here's the Photoshop UXP changelog, and the InDesign UXP changelog. InDesign still provides a scripting documentation download here. Illustrator has 2024 scripting documentation downloadable here. For other products, check this page for the links.

(Also note that we have been updating CEP panel documentation annually.)

I think what you're getting at is that there are new features in 2023 Creative Cloud apps, like, for example "Generative fill" in Photoshop and you'd like to be able to access those new features via script.

[schroef]

@ErinFinnegan

In the folder in the CEP repo there are reference and guides for Photoshop, but they are only updated till PS 2020
https://github.com/Adobe-CEP/CEP-Resources/tree/master/Documentation/Product%20specific%20Documentation/Photoshop%20Scripting

Ive found some info and guides about UXP, but they are not as well documented as ExtendScript. They also seem to far from complete. There are no PDF files with expanded guides nor info, at least not that i found yet. There are some pages, but the info and references are very small

Do you have an actual link to that 2024 scripting documentation? I get to a page from this link; 2024 scripting documentation downloadable here
But there are tons of links and its like a rabbit hole. Ive tried multiple times to find and click the correct ones, but cant seem to find the scripting 2024 pdf
Does this mean there is no scripting updates for Photoshop anymore?

[ErinFinnegan]

Do you have an actual link to that 2024 scripting documentation? I get to a page from this link; 2024 scripting documentation downloadable here

Whoops, sorry, that link was just for the Illustrator documentation downloads. Direct links to those pages have to be established by the engineering team. The Photoshop page is: https://console.adobe.io/downloads/ps - but you're right, there's not a new scripting download there.

Does this mean there is no scripting updates for Photoshop anymore?

I'm trying to confirm with the Photoshop team if the lack of PDF is intentional or not.

There are scripting updates for Photoshop, but all of the updates I'm aware of are via the UXP scripting APIs.

I dont believe UXP can run scripts like JSX can

I depends exactly what you mean, but Photoshop has added UXP scripting capabilities.

[tyVandeZande]

Bumping this issue because of the lack of searchable, easy-to-use documentation on scripting for Illustrator.

It took me SEVERAL hours to find this: https://ioconsolerykerprod.blob.core.windows.net/adobe-apiplatform-prod-ioconsole-cdn/installers/ai/scripting/2024/web/v1/Illustrator%20JavaScript%20Scripting%20Reference.pdf?sv=2021-08-06&se=2024-04-03T22%3A48%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=POdJL9gcjtAZ82GI6rv6ntQmBsyYx8Xu5zc6AgKxik8%3D

If the above pdf of documentation could take a standardized (post-2000) documentation form like https://openframeworks.cc/documentation/ or https://processing.org/reference — That would be super helpful, greatly appreciated, and extend the usefulness of an already powerful tool!

https://developer.adobe.com/apis/ appears to be broken because "Learn More" links to a non-useful page and "Start Building Today" also links to a non-useful page.

[funkyWonton]

bumping as well for the same reasons @tyVandeZande mentioned.

I'm used to navigating docs of all kinds, including some that have obviously been translated (not well) from other languages, and I felt like finding what I needed from Illustrator's scripting resources was unusually difficult and time-consuming. I mostly used (Illustrator Scripting Guide and JavaScript Tools Guide CC) which are formatted fine I found it was really difficult to come up with the right keywords to get what I needed to pop up in the search results.

I think it would probably save some time and frustration for future developers to somehow connect those two resources I mentioned above on their respective pages, either in the introduction or somewhere similar at the root of the docs.

[schroef]

@tyVandeZande

Your first lol nl doesn't work, seems like xml or something

[funkyWonton]

@schroef that's weird, not sure if it still works for @tyVandeZande but I opened it yesterday with no problem but yeah now when I try to open it says AuthenticationFailed...this is a preview of what the first page looked like yesterday.

[tyVandeZande]

@schroef @funkyWonton @ErinFinnegan
Not sure why.....You may need to be logged in to your adobe account on your browser.

Legal disclaimer: do not click the following document if you do not pay for Adobe CC. I'm sharing this for the purpose of education to fellow paying adobe users. (AKA Please don't sue the pants off me Adobe for helping people use your products)

Illustrator JavaScript Scripting Reference.pdf

While it's an okay (at best) reference, it includes tons of non-working examples and poorly-named functions/variables (like stroked), so be careful. I highly recommend the YouTube channel//Repo https://github.com/NTProductions?tab=repositories&q=ai&type=&language=&sort=
for a more useful understanding.

[funkyWonton]

I also want to plug William Campbell's YouTube channel as a great resource for Adobe scripting, he also has a playlist for Illustrator scripting specifically. Not only are his videos great but he often gives comprehensive replies to questions in the comments. Hopefully if anyone stumbles on this thread later they find some of his material helpful.

[tyVandeZande]

@schroef To comment on your original thread issue..... It doesn't look like any of the functionality has been updated since the Creative Suite days of 2008....hopefully we can get some news if/when adobe will catch on that designers and artists know how to program and it's way easier than dodging their "helpful" in-app popups.

[ErinFinnegan]

Apologies, the link on developer.adobe.com/illustrator/ is supposed to redirect here: https://developer.adobe.com/console/servicesandapis/ai... the redirect seems to have broken recently, I'm working on fixing it today... I thought it was fixed back in January, but perhaps not.

You can then download the scripting documentation as seen below. (If you get "Access Denied" log in with a "Personal" Adobe ID instead):

Bumping this issue because of the lack of searchable, easy-to-use documentation on scripting for Illustrator.

It took me SEVERAL hours to find this: https://ioconsolerykerprod.blob.core.windows.net/adobe-apiplatform-prod-ioconsole-cdn/installers/ai/scripting/2024/web/v1/Illustrator%20JavaScript%20Scripting%20Reference.pdf?sv=2021-08-06&se=2024-04-03T22%3A48%3A39Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=POdJL9gcjtAZ82GI6rv6ntQmBsyYx8Xu5zc6AgKxik8%3D

If the above pdf of documentation could take a standardized (post-2000) documentation form like https://openframeworks.cc/documentation/ or https://processing.org/reference — That would be super helpful, greatly appreciated, and extend the usefulness of an already powerful tool!

When Illustrator supports UXP my team will help them with an updated scripting documentation page that's modern and searchable.