Is there a plugin or script that will optimize my layout to maximize use of document space?

Question

I'm producing labels for museum gallery objects.  We are printing them on adhesive vinyl with peel off back (i'm not sure what the correct term is at the moment).  We pay for the labels by the sheet.  It costs the same whether I get 2 or 6 labels on an 8.5 x 11 sheet.  We get anywhere from 10 to 200+ of these labels print at a time so you can imagine it can be a challenging puzzle to maximize the use of space in order to minimize the wasted space on each sheet.  It is essentially the same issue that people using laser cutters or CNC routers run into.  The material is too expensive to let any real estate go unused unless necessary.
Is anyone aware of a plugin or script that can process a document and move text boxes or objects around to the most economical arrangement possible?  I could also produce these labels in Illustrator if this issue cannot be addressed within InDesign.
Thank you in advance for you advice!
Brandon

Answer 1

Well it look like Brandon lost interest when I mention the word "quote".
Either way the basic algorithm is as below.  (lines 19 to 34 - the rest is just for decoration).
I might put out a script on my site whenever it comes into existence that would do what Brandon is looking for, it would cost but not too much.
This only works for fitting heights it will not make use of the horizontal spacing.
To solve that it might be good to use what's know as the Hungarian Algorithm.  I don't have time for that to put it mildly.
I've seen the problem referred to as the "Holy Grail" see Re: Is there a script available for arranging elements for optimal use of the printable area?
Trevor
// "Trevor's Fitting Algorithm" not optimized but considering the speed of the DOM operations that would be need the optimization would be pointless
// Generate Random model of Text Frames of a range of heights to be fitted on pages of a given height
// By Trevor www.creative-scripts.com (Still not there yet!)
var st = +new Date, tt, frameCollection, pageN, a, aa, n, nFames, t, x, pageHeight, pageNumber = 1, safety, minFrameHeight, maxFrameHeight, xx, result;
safety = 500; // just in case?
nFames = 500; // The smaller this is the higher the fill % will be
pageHeight = 210;
minFrameHeight = 20; // The smaller this is the higher the fill % will be
maxFrameHeight = 160;
a = [];
frameCollection = [];
pageN = [];
xx = 0;
for (n = 0; n < nFames; n++) {a[n] = ["#" + n ,~~(Math.random() * (maxFrameHeight - minFrameHeight + 1)) + minFrameHeight];}
a.sort(function (a,b) {return a[1] < b[1]});
aa = a.join(", ");
// This is the "Trevor Fitting Algorithm"
while (a.length && safety--) {
frameCollection =[];
t = 0;
    for (n = 0; a[n] != undefined; n++) {
        x = a[n][1];
        if ((t + x) > pageHeight) continue;
        t += x;
        frameCollection.push(a[n]);
        a.splice(n,1);
        n--;
    a.shift();
    x = ~~(100* t / pageHeight);
    xx += x;
pageN.push("Page [" + pageNumber++ + "] frameCollection: " + frameCollection.join(", ") +
    " \tHeight Used: " + t + ", " + x + "%")
// Show the Results
x = pageN.length;
tt = "\nTook " + ((new Date - st)/1000) + " seconds\n";
result = "\"Trevor's Fitting Algorithm\" not optimized but considering the speed of the DOM operations that would be need the optimization would be pointless\
Generates Random model of Text Frames of a range of heights to be fitted on pages of a given height\
By Trevor www.creative-scripts.com (Still not there yet!)\n******************************\
A Random Collection of " + nFames + " Text Frames\nHeights Between " +
minFrameHeight + " and " +  maxFrameHeight +
" Whatchamacallits\nFitted on " + pageNumber +
" Pages " + pageHeight + " Whatchamacallits Tall\nAverage Page Filling: " + ~~(xx/x) +
"%\nThe # Before the Text Frame Number is it's Index (Would really use ID) this is followed by the Height of The Text Frame" + tt +
"These are the Sorted Random Text Frame Heights\n\n" +
aa + "\n\n" + pageN.join("\n") +
"\n\nLast Page Get's the Left Overs - So Might be Quite a Low % Fill\
Average Page Filling: " + ~~(xx/x) + tt;
//$.writeln(result);
var w = new Window ('dialog', '"Trevor\'s Fitting Algorithm"'),
    e = w.add('edittext', undefined, result, {multiline: true});
/* some fun and games for muti screens */ var sc = $.screens.length, h, wd, c = 0, t; h = ($.screens[0].bottom - $.screens[0].top); wd = ($.screens[0].right - $.screens[0].left); while (sc--) {    t = $.screens[sc].bottom - $.screens[sc].top;    if (t < h) h = t;    t = ($.screens[sc].right - $.screens[sc].left);    if (t < wd) wd = t;};
e.preferredSize = [.85 *wd, .85* h];
w.show()