Automating Unicode Conversion in Adobe InDesign: A Scripting Challenge

Converting text from non-Unicode to Unicode formats within Adobe InDesign can be a complex task, especially when preserving the original formatting. This article explores the challenges and potential solutions for automating this process, particularly for languages like Kannada.

The Problem: Non-Unicode to Unicode Conversion in InDesign

Many older documents are created using non-Unicode fonts. While these fonts display characters correctly, they lack the universal compatibility of Unicode. Converting these documents to Unicode is essential for:

• Future-proofing: Ensuring the text remains readable across different systems and software.
• Searchability: Allowing the text to be indexed and searched effectively.
• Accessibility: Making the content accessible to users with disabilities through screen readers and other assistive technologies.

The Challenge of Automation

Manually converting text and reformatting it is time-consuming. Automating this process using scripts is appealing, but complex due to several factors:

• Formatting Preservation: Maintaining character styles, paragraph styles, and other formatting elements during the conversion.
• Character Length Discrepancies: Non-Unicode characters often don't directly correspond to Unicode characters, leading to length changes that disrupt the layout.
• Complex Layouts: Handling anchored objects, notes, tables, and other layout elements requires a robust scripting solution.

Potential Solutions and Approaches

While a simple "find and replace" might work for basic conversions, preserving formatting requires a more sophisticated approach. Here are a few strategies:

• Leveraging External Conversion Websites: Some websites offer non-Unicode to Unicode conversion services. While convenient, automating this process requires scripting to send text to the website and retrieve the converted output. One such website mentioned is aravindavk.in/sanka/.
• InDesign Scripting (ExtendScript/JavaScript): Developing a custom script within InDesign can automate the conversion. This involves:
  • Accessing the text: The script needs to access the text content of the InDesign document.
  • Conversion Logic: Implementing the non-Unicode to Unicode conversion logic.
  • Applying the converted text: Replacing the original text with the Unicode version while preserving formatting.
• IDML Conversion: As suggested by a community expert, exporting the document to IDML format (InDesign Markup Language), performing the conversion on the XML data, and then re-importing the IDML file might be a viable approach. IDML is an XML-based representation of an InDesign document, potentially simplifying the text manipulation process.

Key Considerations for Scripting

• Performance: Nested .replace() calls can lead to performance issues. Optimizing the script for efficiency is crucial.
• Error Handling: The script should handle potential errors gracefully, such as unexpected characters or conversion failures.
• Font Handling: The script should ideally manage font conversion alongside character conversion.

The Complexity of Formatting

As Marc Autret, an InDesign scripting expert, points out, "ANSI-encoded characters do not align with their Unicode counterpart." This difference in character encoding can lead to significant challenges in maintaining the original formatting.

For example, a single ANSI character might translate into multiple Unicode characters, altering the text length and potentially disrupting the layout. Therefore, a simple character-for-character replacement is insufficient for complex documents.

Seeking Expert Assistance

Given the complexity, seeking assistance from experienced InDesign script developers is often the best approach. Professionals can develop custom scripts tailored to specific conversion needs, ensuring accurate text conversion and formatting preservation. Consider reaching out to InDesign scripting experts for paid support, as this is a complex task.

Conclusion

Automating Unicode conversion in Adobe InDesign is a challenging but achievable goal. By understanding the complexities involved and employing the right scripting techniques, it’s possible to streamline the conversion process and ensure the long-term usability of your documents. While external conversion services and IDML manipulation offer alternative routes, custom scripting provides the most control over formatting and accuracy.