ExtendScript GUI Designer

Posted on 26. Nov, 2008 by Jerzy Drozda Jr in Blog

I always knew that theres a huge potential in ExtendScrupt Toolkit from Adobe to extend build-in functionality of my favorite Adobe apps, but I never actually had a need to develop anything for myself… until few days back.

I’m currently working on a long term project. It’s a feature animation film called “Jeż Jerzy” (“George the hedgehog”) that should be out mid 2010. I’ve been ask by a group of animators to develop a set of tools for them to help out in animating the characters and other things.

Expressions are fine, but for few of the things I knew I’d need to use ExtendScript Toolkit. So thats how I started my adventure with scripting After Effects. The problem is unfortunatelly designing the GUI for the scripts. ExtendScript Toolkit doesn’t come with any GUI designer, so everything needs to be hard coded in the script. For example to add a simple button:

someObject.add('button', [10,10,80,30], 'Click me');

It seems simple, but is really a pain in the back to do the whole GUI that way. So I thought I’ll build a tool for designing GUI for ExtendScript Toolkit using Adobe AIR. It’s a great idea and I’m sure that all you script developers out there would be grateful for a tool like that, but it would take a lot of work to do it, and since I needed a tool like that right away, I figured out something else.

Before Adobe AIR came along I was a hard core VisualBasic6 developer (stop laughing – it’s the best programming language out there) so I figured out a way, to use VB6 IDE to design my forms, windows, buttons and other elements, and then convert it to ExtendScript.

Since I’m a nice guy I will share this little piece of code with you. Please note that you need to have VisualBasic6 for it to work.

Download: VB6 ExtendScript GUI Designer (Visual Basic 6)

Usage instructions:

  1. Open up VB6 and start a new project
  2. Design your form
  3. Make sure you set ScaleMode of your form to Pixels
  4. Add downloaded module to your project
  5. Add this code for Form_Click

Private Sub Form_Click()
GenerateExtendScriptGUI Me
End Sub

Now run your project, and simply click on your form. The generated ExtendScript code will be placed in your clipboard ready to be pasted into your script.

The way I’m using it is that I have one project file for all of my forms for all of my scripts. To generate code for a specyfic form I simply change the Startup Form in the project properties.

By the way – I will develop Adobe AIR version for this as well… eventually.

Hope you’ll find this useful. Enjoy.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Digg
  • Technorati
  • del.icio.us
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Wykop
  • Reddit
  • email
  • Print

Tags:

33 Responses to “ExtendScript GUI Designer”

  1. David Holtkamp

    27. Nov, 2008

    Why am I not surprised that you managed to use VB6 for this? C#, i’m telling you, its great.

    Reply to this comment

  2. Maltaannon

    27. Nov, 2008

    Hehe – I bet it is. It’s just that it took just few lines of code. And once again… its not my application. I’m just using VB’s GUI designer interface, and then I’m enumerating all the controls on the form and create ExtendScript compliant code. Clever, huh?

    Reply to this comment

  3. David Holtkamp

    29. Nov, 2008

    Yeah it is. It really was/is a great language. And truthfully, I have no room to talk. I did the same thing to make windows for the “Synchronize” plug-in using the VB windows manager to make code to create windows for the old Adobe Dialog Mangaer (ADM). A couple months later they ripped it out of the next release. I’m still a bit bitter…

    Reply to this comment

  4. Jim

    05. Dec, 2008

    Thanks for the neat tool.

    Reply to this comment

  5. Jesus

    05. Jul, 2009

    An error found!

    VisualBasic complains of the use of ‘Me’ keyword on line 81.
    Where it says Me.Name, must say myform.Name

    script = script + myform.Name + “.center(); ” + myform.Name + “.show();”

    Now it works as expected. Great work!

    Reply to this comment

  6. Jon

    14. Oct, 2009

    Neat Idea. Let me know if you ever get the Air version setup.
    I’m hard coding things, but if you could get enough of the major options automated it would be simpler.

    Reply to this comment

  7. cheap handbags

    16. Jul, 2010

    Sky is the limit!!!

    Reply to this comment

  8. canada goose

    06. Sep, 2011

    Happy to see your blog as it is just what I’ve looking for and excited to read all the posts. I am looking forward to another great article from you

    Reply to this comment

  9. belstaff jacket

    15. Sep, 2011

    Woo, the belstaff jacket is so cool.

    Reply to this comment

  10. jiong

    15. Sep, 2011

    Winter essential, a pair of warm shoes

    Reply to this comment

  11. australia ugg boots

    15. Sep, 2011

    I believe you need a good pair of shoes to winter

    Reply to this comment

  12. packers jerseys

    21. Sep, 2011

    Read your article, I miss old friends in the countryside.

    Reply to this comment

  13. cheap ugg boots sale

    05. Oct, 2011

    Knightsbridge Boots

    Reply to this comment

  14. goodclothespay

    25. Oct, 2011

    goodclothespay ,miss old friends in the countryside.
    kh

    Reply to this comment

  15. Red bottom shoes sale

    03. Nov, 2011

    Until one is a shoe critic or trend editor it is not generally simple to preserve track of all the readily available and most current brand names in the industry.

    Reply to this comment

  16. Moncler down Jackets discount

    05. Nov, 2011

    The most important shopping day’s the year the place where you will see the best quality deals might be Black Wednesday, the day pursuing Thanksgiving if retailers minimal their fees the most prior to the The yuletide season shopping winter.

    Reply to this comment

  17. マジコン

    18. Nov, 2011

    Very glad to share your experience and content, found that interested in me.

    Reply to this comment

  18. Canada Goose jackets discount

    30. Nov, 2011

    So immerse all by yourself in the searching spree at Demon-garments.com.You finally broke down and selected to obtain your Oakley Sunglasses from the world-wide-web.

    Reply to this comment

  19. Quilted

    02. Dec, 2011

    Well, there is certainly no point in worrying about it, due to the fact for one, if you ought to know this, anxiety is among the key causes for baldness. http://www.discountlouboutinoutletus.com/ Christian Louboutin

    Reply to this comment

  20. pandora bracelets

    07. Dec, 2011

    The actual retailing value across the anklet bracelets together with the necklaces alters really, as well as being depending the entire remarkable package in your sorts of elements this band and also charm will be made of.an important materials used are Silver Oxidised Silver or 14ct Rare metal. Ovoids are made of silver; Murano vino magnifying glaas pills, or maybe a mix of Silver with the help of antique watches. .com Various drops include effective crystals.which ever traditional,theres a idea proper for everybody’s pocketCagain, an element that can make these items such a well-known produce.

    Reply to this comment

  21. dmfneian

    12. Dec, 2011

    http://www.canadagoosebestbuy.com/ Canada Goose Jackets When shopping for plus size lingerie, make sure you select the right style for you.

    Reply to this comment

  22. pandora bracelets

    23. Feb, 2012

    Thank you for taking the time to publish this information very useful!I’m still waiting for some interesting thoughts from your side in your next post thanks These articles written too great,they rich contents ma le scarpe http://www.canadapandorajewelry.com libera Perfect! and data accurately.they are help to me.I expect to see your new share.

    Reply to this comment

  23. christian louboutin cheap

    29. Feb, 2012

    Through this article, I deeply understand the author’s soul, I think this article is beneficial, can inspire people,my links is http://www.christianlouboutincheap2012.com/, thx

    Reply to this comment

  24. air max cheap

    29. Feb, 2012

    so good a article, I agree with your point of view, I think he is useful to me, THX, also my site: http://www.4airmaxcheap.com/ welcome to feedback!

    Reply to this comment

  25. puma canada

    29. Feb, 2012

    Blogger wrote this article is the embodiment of the contemporary trend, I benefited, also pls visit my website: http://www.pumashoescanada.com/ thx

    Reply to this comment

  26. ferrari puma

    29. Feb, 2012

    Thanks very much, I have learned a lot from your post. Well done, really! also have a good train at http://www.ferraripumasale.com/.

    Reply to this comment

  27. mbt sale uk

    29. Feb, 2012

    The author is worth our respect, his articles make inspired me, my articles is http://www.mbtsaleuk.org.uk/, pls feedback

    Reply to this comment

  28. abercrombie milano

    13. Mar, 2012

    Its such as you read my thoughts! You seem to grasp so much about this, such as you wrote the e-book in it or something. I think that you simply can do with some p.c. to pressure the message house a little bit, but instead of that, this is magnificent blog. A fantastic read. I will definitely be back.

    Reply to this comment

  29. new air max

    17. Mar, 2012

    Here are several air max 2012 suggestions youll be able to do to create studying enjoyable for your child.
    http://www.airmax2012online.net/ | air max 2012

    Reply to this comment

  30. chaussure jordan

    22. Mar, 2012

    http://www.airjordanschaussuresfr.com/ | chaussure jordan

    Reply to this comment

  31. greatAlthough

    30. Mar, 2012

    http://www.christianlouboutinreplicausa.com Christian louboutin pumps is greatAlthough Louboutin faced a good offer opposition

    Reply to this comment

  32. replica sungasses cheap

    04. Apr, 2012

    http://www.replicasunglassescheap.com have a nice day

    Reply to this comment

Leave a Reply