How to add a progressive numeration for multiple artboards?

Question

How to create a text frame with a progressive numbering that automatically increases in all the artboards? (as an automatic numbering of pages)

For example:
artboard 1 => number 100
artboard 2 => number 101
artboard 3 => number 102
etc

I've already done it manually for another project, as shown in the screenshot, but I'd like to avoid the manually solution for this project. So I was trying to find another solution, not a manual one, keeping using Illustrator.

Answer 1

I tested this script and does the job:

function test(){

var doc = app.activeDocument;

var startNum = prompt("Specify the starting index", "1");

if(startNum == null || !startNum){

return;

}

 startNum *= 1;

if(isNaN(startNum)){

alert("Not a valid number");

return;

}

var newText, thisRect;

var pageNumLayer = doc.layers.add();

pageNumLayer.name = "Page Numbers";

var counter = startNum;

for(var i = 0;  i < doc.artboards.length;  i++){

newText = pageNumLayer.textFrames.add();

newText.contents = counter++;

thisRect = doc.artboards[i].artboardRect;

newText.position = [thisRect[2] - 20, thisRect[3] + 20];

};

};

test();

Source: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2395987

Answer 2

I found this method fast enough without using scripts

---

Create a new Document with multiple Artboards

File > New... -> More Settings -> Number of Artboards

---

Create a Area type in all Artboards

Type tool : drag diagonally to define a rectangular bounding area within the Artboards

Control panel : set the Font, Font Style and Size (The height of the character must be slightly smaller than the height of the Area type) options.

Selection tool : select the Area type object you just created

Edit > Cut

Edit > Paste on All Artboards

---

Link all the Area type objects

Selection tool : select all Area type objects

Type > Threaded Text > Create

---

With a spreadsheet program (Calc/Excel) create the numbering sequence

Enter the first number in a cell, then click on that cell, so it has the black outline. Click on the little black square in the lower right corner of the outline, hold and drag down to the desired number.

Select all numbered cells and copy them.

---

Enter the numbering in Illustrator

Selection tool : double click on the Area type object in the first Artboards

Edit > Paste

---

For graphics, use a Symbol Instance inserted in all the Artboards in a layer below the Area type objects.

---

Instead I started to modify the script this way:

function bennytest(){

  var doc = app.activeDocument;

  function isNaNchecker(check) {
    if(check == null || !check){
      return;
    }

    // determines whether a value is an illegal number
    if(isNaN(check)){
      alert("Not a valid number");
      return;
    }
  }

  var startNum = prompt("Specify the starting index", "1");
  startNum *= 1;

  isNaNchecker(startNum);
  //alert(startNum + " - " + (typeof startNum));

  var marginBottomNum = prompt("Specify the bottom margin in pt", "0");
  marginBottomNum *= 1;

  isNaNchecker(marginBottomNum);
  // alert(marginBottomNum + " - " + (typeof marginBottomNum));

  var sizeNum = prompt("Specify the character dimension in pt", "20");
  sizeNum *= 1;

  isNaNchecker(sizeNum);
  // alert(sizeNum + " - " + (typeof sizeNum));

  var newText, thisRect;

  var pageNumLayer = doc.layers.add();

  pageNumLayer.name = "Auto-Numbers";

  var counter = startNum;

  // loop
  for(var i = 0;  i < doc.artboards.length;  i++){

    newText = pageNumLayer.textFrames.add();

    newText.contents = counter++;

    thisRect = doc.artboards[i].artboardRect;

    newText.position = [(thisRect[0] + thisRect[2]) / 2, thisRect[3] + marginBottomNum];
    // alert("0 (x0): " + thisRect[0] + "\n1 (y0): " + thisRect[1] + "\n2 (x1): " + thisRect[2] + "\n3 (y1): " + thisRect[3] + "\n\nw: " + newText.width + "\nh: " + newText.height);

    newText.textRange.characterAttributes.size = sizeNum;

    newText.textRange.justification = Justification.CENTER;

    // newText.textRange.characterAttributes.textFont = app.textFonts[7];      // who knows?
    // newText.textRange.characterAttributes.textFont.name = "Arial";          // doesn't work

  };

};

bennytest();

Answer 3

Just making it manually.

Once created an artboard with the text frame and duplicating it, you can create text threads like in Indesign and type the numbers: