Script to place all pages of the current InDesign Document as links in a new document for saddle stitch binding

saddle_stich.jsx

// For Adobe InDesign! 
// this script will make a new file 
// with the same dimensions as the currently active document 
// and place the pages as linked files.
// The active source document needs a number of pages that is a multiple of 4 (4, 8, 12, 16, ...)
// Depending on the submitted pageamount per section 
// the pages will be placed for saddle stitch binding. 

//  johannes lang january 2025
//  not heavily tested, use at own risk! 



var source_pages_num; 
var source_doc;

if (app.documents.length > 0) { 
	source_doc = app.activeDocument;
	source_pages_num = source_doc.pages.length;

	if (source_pages_num%4 != 0) {
		alert('The number of pages must be a multiple of four (4, 8, 12 ...)!')
	}
	else { ask_for_input(); }
	}
else { alert("I need an open document!")}



function placeForSaddleStitch(sig_pages_num) {

	var source_doc = app.activeDocument;
	var w = source_doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth;
	var h = source_doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight;

	var source_pages_num = source_doc.pages.length;

	var bleed_b = source_doc.documentPreferences.documentBleedBottomOffset;
	var bleed_l = source_doc.documentPreferences.documentBleedInsideOrLeftOffset;
	var bleed_r = source_doc.documentPreferences.documentBleedOutsideOrRightOffset;
	var bleed_t = source_doc.documentPreferences.documentBleedTopOffset;

	var target_doc = app.documents.add(true);

	target_doc.documentPreferences.pageWidth = w*2;
	target_doc.documentPreferences.pageHeight = h;
	target_doc.documentPreferences.facingPages = false;
	target_doc.documentPreferences.pagesPerDocument = source_pages_num/2;

	var source_file = new File(source_doc.filePath + '/' + source_doc.name);

	for (var i = 0; i < source_pages_num; i++) {

		var sig_i = Math.floor(i / sig_pages_num)
		var sig_p_i = i % sig_pages_num

		if (sig_p_i < sig_pages_num/2) {
			var target_p_i = sig_p_i;
		}
		else {
			var target_p_i = sig_pages_num - sig_p_i - 1;
		}

		target_p_i += sig_i * Math.floor(sig_pages_num/2);

		app.importedPageAttributes.properties = {
			importedPageCrop : ImportedPageCropOptions.CROP_BLEED,
			pageNumber : (i+1)
		};


		var x_pos = i%2 == 0 ? w - bleed_l : -bleed_r;

		target_doc.pages[target_p_i].place(File(source_file), [x_pos, -bleed_t])[0];

	}

	for (var i = 0; i < target_doc.rectangles.length; i++) {

		if (Math.floor(target_doc.rectangles[i].geometricBounds[1]) == Math.floor((-1*bleed_r))) {
			target_doc.rectangles[i].geometricBounds = [-bleed_t, -bleed_r, h+bleed_b, w ];
		}
		else {
			target_doc.rectangles[i].geometricBounds = [-bleed_t, w, h+bleed_b, 2*w+bleed_r ];
		}
	}
	
}


function ask_for_input(){

	var theDialog = app.dialogs.add({name:"Place current doc as saddle stich", canCancel:true});
	with(theDialog){
		with(dialogColumns.add()){
			with(borderPanels.add()){
				with(dialogColumns.add()) { staticTexts.add({staticLabel:"Pages per signature:"}); }
				with(dialogColumns.add()) { var intEdit = integerEditboxes.add({editValue: 16, maximumValue: 1024, minimumValue: 4, smallNudge: 4, largeNudge: 16, minWidth: 50});}
			} 
		}
	}

	var feedback = theDialog.show();
	if (feedback == true) {
		var sig_pages_num = intEdit.editValue;

		if (sig_pages_num %4 != 0) {
			alert('The pages per signature must be a multiple of four (4, 8, 12 ...)!')
		}
		else if (sig_pages_num > source_pages_num) {
			alert('The pages per signature must be smaller or equal to the the number of pages ('+source_pages_num+')!')
		}
		else {
			placeForSaddleStitch(sig_pages_num);
		}
	} 
	else { theDialog.destroy(); }
}