We are very excited to introduce Script Bay!
Script Bay is a FREE script panel replacement for the entire Creative Suite CS5.
It currently works in InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. It is partially compatibility with Flash and Fireworks and to a lesser extent, Bridge.
No, Script Bay will not work in CS4 or earlier. It’s built using the new CS SDK which Adobe introduced for CS5. It’s quite impossible to make it compatible with any version of the Creative Suite prior to CS5. Sorry… 
Script Bay is very much a “work in progress”, but it is already far more usable than the script panel in InDesign, and without question more usable than the non-existing ones in Photoshop, Illustrator! We hope to add many exciting new features to Script Bay in the future!
Here’s a quick overview of the current features:
- Script Bay offers the ability to run scripts located anywhere on your hard drive.
- Scripts can be viewed in either a list-view or tree-view.
- The list of scripts can be dynamically filtered, and scripts can be launched via keyboard navigation.
- Scripts can be edited directly in the built-in Script Bay script editor.
- Multiple scripts or folders full of scripts can be run in a single command.
- Script files can be moved, duplicated, deleted, and renamed directly within the panel.
- Scripts run in the Script Bay panel can be undone in InDesign as a single undo.
- Scripts can be easily “installed” into the host application.
- Script Bay has a default “cross-application” folder, and scripts placed in this folder are automatically available to all CS applications.
- Script Bay supports drag & drop for moving around script files as well as loading scripts into the script editor.
- Scripts can be added to Script Bay from anywhere on your hard drive by simple drag & drop.
We have more exciting plans for Script Bay, and we hope you enjoy Script Bay as much as we do!
Installation:
- Download the latest build of Script Bay from here.
- Double click on the zxp file which should open Extension Manager CS5. (If you are running Windows Vista or Windows 7 with UAC active, you might need to launch Extension Manager as an administrator first.)
- Upon launching Extension Manager and initiating the installation, you will see the following window:
Click Accept. - You will then see this scary window:
Click install. Don’t worry. All this means is we didn’t yet spend a few hundred dollars on a fancy electronic signature to make this scary window go away.
Use:
Once installed using the Extension Manager, Script Bay will be available for use in all the supported Creative Suite applications. With the exception of InDesign, Script Bay is available via a menu item in the Extensions sub-menu under the Window menu. In InDesign and InCopy, it is available in the same sub-menu as the built-in Script panel (i.e. in the Utilities sub-menu.)
Using Script Bay should be very self explanatory. You can launch a script by double clicking on it, by right clicking and selecting run script, or by clicking on the Run button. If multiple scripts are selected, the run button will run them all.
For a script to be edited in Script Bay’s script editor, the script editor must be visible. You can reveal the script editor by clicking on the code button: 
Once the script editor is open, you can click on the “edit” button to load the currently selected script, or just drag a script into the editor area from either the script list or tree, or from a file in you computer’s file system.
When you are finished editing the script, you can run it directly from the editor to test that it works correctly, or save it into the currently selected folder.
To quickly run a script, you can type part of the script name into the script filter, and launch the script by hitting “return”.
Known Issues:
- Drag and Drop does not work perfectly in all the applications. The application which apparently has the most issues is Photoshop. The problems apparently stem from some bugs in the CS SDK, and Adobe is working on solving these issues.
- Scripts in InDesign are all run under a single persistent engine. #targetengine directives are currently ignored. We hope to deal with this issue at a later date.
- The script editor currently supports Javascript and ExtendScript only. AppleScript and VBScript can not be run from the script editor.
- Applescripts and VBScripts in Photoshop and Illustrator do not currently work when run from Script Bay.
- A number of the commands do not yet work in Fireworks and Flash. These include Rename, Open, Reveal, Install, and Reveal Installed Scripts.
Here’s a few screen shots:
Script Bay Tree View
Filtered Script List
With Script Editor Open
Way to go Harbs! And for free? Can’t thank you enough!
For all the Windows users out there, just delete the .zip and the end of the file name and then double click to install.
Hi Zev,
Thanks for pointing that out! I just fixed that.
It was a problem with zxp files being defined on the site as “x-zip-compressed” instead of “octet-stream”…
Nice and so powerful.
ScriptBay already is the best tool of the year!
Thanks for the gift
Great stuff, Harbs!
Peter
Very Cool!
Thanks for providing it.
Gregor
on the zxp file ?
There is none in the zip file.
You should get a zxp file — not a zip file. The zxp file should be opened by Extension Manager.
Way to go, Harbs! Great work!
[...] have all the capabilities or AIR applications, and all the functionality of integrated scripts. Script Bay is one example of such an extension. Mini Bridge, CS Review, and Kuler are other [...]
What zxp file? There is no zxp file in the .zip archive that downloads from your link.
It’s not a zip file it’s a zxp file. It’s possible that your operating system is adding a zip extension to it. If yes, I’d like to know the details, because it should not be happening.
If it’s adding a zip extension, change the extension to zxp (or remove the extra extension), and it should work.
[...] system which is relevant to Illustrator script users and developers. To quote from their announcement (in which is buried the download link): Script Bay is a FREE script panel replacement for the [...]
I like this:
” # Scripts run in the Script Bay panel can be undone in InDesign as a single undo. “
This is great. Thanks, Gabe. BTW, is there any way to turn off Tool Tips in Script Bay? I tried turning off Tool Tips in ID Prefs, but even that didn’t work?
Scott
Hi Scott,
There’s currently no way to disable the tool tips. Are you referring to the file paths on files in the script list, or the button and drop down tips?
The file paths in the script list. They tend to get in the way of reading the scripts’ names.
@Scott:
Thanks for the suggestion!
I just added a toggle to show/hide the script path for both the tree-view and the list view. It will be off by default.
You’ll see it in the next build…
[...] you are new to Script Bay, please read this post for full installation [...]
Scott’s request is now available in version 0.1.4 (as well as some other nice improvements!).
[...] all the neat things InDesign can do with typesetting world languages. In-Tools also makes the free ScriptBay: If you use scripts with InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, or any of the other Creative Suite apps, [...]
[...] If you are new to Script Bay, please read the original post here. [...]
There are a few issues I want to mention in Illustrator, at least this happens to me:
1. When I expand a script folder inside Script Bay by double-clicking it starts to run all the scripts inside. Force quit Illustrator was the only way out since I have plenty of scripts in the folder.
2. I am using a script to change some text on paths. I have to nudge the text strings a little with the arrows. Selection inside Script Bay nudges at the same time, up and down instead of waiting on the same script.
3. The Script Bay extension does not appear hooked to other panels when I open up Illustrator although I left it hooked before a normal restart. But when I fetch it again from the Extension menu it hooks to the same panels as before but with unexpected movements, moves to right on the screen and the whole panel is closed. I have to drag down to open the scripts view.
But basically I like this extension very much and I am looking forward to new updates.
@Sigurdur:
Thanks for your comments!
1) This is actually a feature. Script Bay allows chain-running of scripts, and double click is one of the ways to run scripts. To open folders with the mouse, you should click on the arrow. You can also open and close folders using the keyboard arrow keys. (The right arrow opens, and left arrow closes.)
2) I did not understand your issue. Can you explain it better?
3) Yes. I’m aware of this issue. It’s a bug in the CSXS subsystem in Illustrator. (The other apps do not have this problem.) As far as I know, all CS extensions suffer from this in Illustrator. I’ve reported this to the engineering team at Adobe. I don’t know if this will be fixed for CS5. The workaround is to not group CS extensions with other panels…
I reinstalled Script Bay and played around with it in earnest, and here are a couple of comments.
1. Brilliant tool, very helpful.
2. I added the folder where my CS5 scripts are, and this was shown as “Scripts Panel” in Script Bay’s window. Maybe add “CS5″ to show the ID version. By the time CS6 arrives and I add its script folder, I end up with two folders “Script Folder”. And since I don’t like tooltips there’s no way of telling which folder belongs to which version.
3. “Hide script file pathe” doesn’t appear to work.
4. The context menu in the file list (right-click) lets you add a new folder, but not delete any. If you accidentally created a new folder you have to go somewhere else to delete the “New Folder”. Can you add a “Delete Folder”?
5. Maybe it’s useful to add a button somewhere “Clear editor window”, which also removes the script’s name.
6. Can you do syntax-highlighting?
Great extension — thanks.
Peter
Hi Peter,
Thanks for the comments!
2) I actually just use one folder for all versions of InDesign. If it needs to be versioned, I put it in a version folder. That helps a lot with my script bookkeeping…
That being said, I see your point about the Default folders that Script Bay creates. I’m not sure how to handle that with the eye to the future…
3) What do you mean? When you select the option, you still see the tool tips?
4) That’s a bug in the latest build. It’s already fixed in the next one.
5) Okay. Someone else asked for the same thing. Should that also clear the undo memory, or should I preserve that?
6) That’s on my list of things to look into. I also hope to implement code-completion and a function library for easy insertion of commonly used functions.
Keep the suggestions coming!!!
I really have a lot of amazing plans for this and I’ve only scratched the surface…
> 3) What do you mean? When you select the option, you still see the tool tips?
I thought, “Option? What option?” Then it dawned on me that Script Bay looks at InDesign’s settings. So to disable tooltips in Script Bay you have to disable them in InDesign. I think that that’s a good idea only if you can also do something about the speed at which they appear, as in ID: Normal (which is with a delay), Fast (which Script Bay defaults to whatever ID’s setting), and None.
Nasty bug, by the way: double click a folder and Script Bay executes all scripts in that folder. So there I was pressing Cancel, Close, Stop, Halt, Exit, Stready on now, Hold it, etc. 386 times…
Great extension though!
> I really have a lot of amazing plans for this
Go to it!
I see the Script Bay panel just fine in Photoshop, but in Illustrator, it’s blank (i.e. no scripts, script folders, and actually, not even the main panel elements). Any ideas?
-J
P.S. Both are CS5, of course.
Hi Jason,
Try restarting Illustrator. It could just be a fluke. If that doesn’t help, let me know, and I’ll try to see if I can figure out the problem…
yep, I’m pretty well-versed in trouble-shooting (although I’m not a programmer by any means). I tried:
- restarting Illustrator (several times)
- trashing my Prefs file
- uninstalling Script Bay via Ext. Mgr.
- reinstalling Script Bay via Ext. Mgr.
- removing my “Scriptographer” plug-in
… I think that’s all I tried, but I might be missing something. FWIW, I do have a few custom plug-ins for Ai CS5. Not sure if those could be getting in the way. (FILTERiT, Xtream Path, Curvius and Phantasm) are the ones I have installed, FYI.
Hi Jason,
I’ll send you an email to try to follow up on this…
Got it working properly now… Just wanted to leave a comment expressing my appreciation for this panel (and for the troubleshooting help).
Until now, using scripts in Illustrator has been hit or miss for me (usually more “miss” than “hit,”). I used to end up wasting a lot of time just trying to get my head around what scripts I have, and what each one does.
This tool changes everything. It eliminates the tedious process of experimenting with scripts, and finally makes scripts a practical part of my workflow. Thanks for this!
-J
Not a big fan of leaving my 2 Sense around on these comment boards, but WAY TO GO! This is by far the most powerful panel I’ve ever used. As a designer and developer, this tool lets me be in both worlds at the same time. I really appreciate what you’ve made here and, again, good job!!
[...] kostenloser Ersatz für das Skriptenbedienfeld nicht nur, aber auch für InDesign. Auf der Webseite sind diese Vorteile [...]
Just dropping by again to mention an issue that appears with Script Bay on a regular basis. Essentially, every so often, Script Bay loads ~15 iterations of itself at once. This happened with Adobe Illustrator CS5 and now with CS5.5. I can’t discern what triggers it to do this, other than that it always happens when I load my one and only workspace layout for AI (via the Window menu). The only solution I’ve found is to completely uninstall SB via the Extension Manager, trash the preference/cache files for AI and for EM, and reinstall SB. Even then, sometimes it continues to “self-replicate,” causing me to have to try all that again. I love SB, but this issue is exceedingly irritating. Any ideas?
I’m using Lion now… and CS5.5… but the issue was the same with Snow Leopard and CS5. It only happens (or I only notice it happening) in AI (b/c I don’t use SB in Photoshop or any other app).
Cheers,
-J
There’s a number of issues with CS Panels in CS5. CS Panels and workspaces don’t mesh very well. Nor does docking them with other panels.
If you can keep Script Bay independent from other panel groups, it might help your issues. FWIW, there’s good hope that CS Panel issues will be fixed in CS6…
Hi Harbs
Yesterday run into the same bug that Peter did
“double click a folder and Script Bay executes all scripts in that folder. So there I was pressing Cancel, Close, Stop, Halt, Exit, Stready on now, Hold it, etc. 386 times…”
(that’s what caused the “confidential” water mark problem)
Any fix on the way or alternative way of stopping the run?
It’s not a bug. It’s a feature. (i.e. you can batch run a bunch of scripts)
That being said, I do recognize that you might not want the “feature” (especially when you accidentally double click on a folder full of scripts), so I might make it a preference or limit the multiple running of the scripts to the button or the context menu…
It’s also not a bad idea to halt the whole batch of scripts when one is halted in the middle. I’ll look into that…
Hi,
I installed the script panel in Photoshop CS5 (12.0.4), added scripts and it looked like it was working well until I tried to edit a script. Clicking on expand the width of the panel and does not start an editor, is this normal?
I also added a folder and I don’t need it anymore, how can I delete it?
Thanks in advance for all replies.
Pierre
The editor window opens blank.
To edit a script, drag the script from the list into the editor window.
To remove a script folder, select the folder and select the flyout menu. You should see a menu option “Remove Script Folder”.
Thank you very much. Must have been tired for not seeing the editor in the panel.
Thanks for this tool, definitely a time saver!
[...] a little cumbersome to trigger one. Thankfully there is a pretty cool free extension called Script Bay that makes using scripts a lot easier! I tweeted about this extension from a post by John Wundes, [...]
Extension Manager refuses to install due to certificate, I get no option to override it?
That’s probably due to a known bug in Extension Manager.
You can read about it and download a patch from here:
http://blogs.adobe.com/cssdk/2011/12/fix-for-extension-signature-bug-on-mac-os-10-7-patch-posted.html
Excellent, worked a teat thanks!
[...] a little cumbersome to trigger one. Thankfully there is a pretty cool free extension called Script Bay that makes using scripts a lot easier! I tweeted about this extension from a post by John Wundes, [...]
[...] it’s a little cumbersome to trigger one. Thankfully there is a pretty cool free extension called Script Bay that makes using scripts a lot easier! I tweeted about this extension from a post by John Wundes, [...]
I run into the same bug that Jason did(i.e. Script Bay panel display blank in illustrator..)but it just work fine when i first time launch.
I’ve no idea why it’s got blank today,I’ve read all replies but still can’t find solution, please help me~
Thanks in advance for all replies.
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Mac. CS5. Only gray background are in the Script Bay panel.
This is terrific! Thank you.
Is there any way you can make hotkeys trigger scripts? I used to be able to do this with the standard Edit Keyboard Shortcuts… in Illustrator CS(1), but CS5.1 has removed this ability.
Hi Richard,
That’s a very popular request. There’s no easy way to implement this functionality in Illustrator…
Grrr. Lousy Adobe. Ah well. Still don’t get why CS allowed you to do this and they removed it from later versions…
[...] it’s a little cumbersome to trigger one. Thankfully there is a pretty cool free extension called Script Bay that makes using scripts a lot easier! I tweeted about this extension from a post by John Wundes, [...]
My illustrator (15.1.0) reliably crashes when I click “Add Folder” in the script bay.
(OSX Lion – Adobe extension manager patch installed)
Is there a troubleshoot step I overlooked?
Many thanks! Love the panel!
Hi Herman,
Hmm. There’s a know bug where CS Extension folder dialogs causes a crash in Lion. That’s probably what you are seeing. There’s a workaround, and I’ll have to find the time to implement it into Script Bay. It’ll probably be a week or two before I can get to it though. Stay tuned…
Hi Harbs!
Thanks for the super quick reply
-It seems to have sorted itself out, the only difference being that I have filled the default illustrator folder with my scripts.
Leading me to believe that if there are no scripts listed, the dialog window crashes. So for now, I’ll merrily enjoy the panel!
Thanks again!