Move cell contents forward/backwards by cell?

Question

Hello,
Is there a way in InDesign to "shift" the contents of a table? Basically, I'm working on a calendar and the template by the designer was given to me and I now need to modify all the tables so dates are in the correct order, etc.
I can only image this has to be a basic function in any application using tables, but you never know...?
Thanks!
Kristin.

Answer 1

Hi Dave,<br /><br />1. Yep -- I didn't take the header row into account. Rodney, if you use the first version, it'll also shift the days-of-the-week at the top. Select that row and change it to a header. It's not necessary for your calendar, but that way the scripts can see where to start.<br /><br /><pre>var myTable = app.selection[0].parent;<br /><br />// Forward:<br /><br />firstBodyCell = myTable.headerRowCount*myTable.columns.length;<br /><br />for (i=myTable.cells.length-1; i > firstBodyCell; i--)<br /><br />{<br /><br />     myTable.cells[i].contents = myTable.cells[i-1].contents;<br /><br />}<br /><br />// Backward:<br /><br />for (i=firstBodyCell; i<myTable.cells.length-1; i++)<br /><br />{<br /><br />     myTable.cells[i].contents = myTable.cells[i+1].contents;<br /><br />}</pre>2. That's a tricky one. However, I don't believe it to be a problem, since the cells before and after numbered ones are empty.  The script does not try to 'loop around'. You will have to move the full month calender cells at the bottom right yourself, but you have to recreate these anyway.<br /><br />Obviously, you should not try to move backward if the first day falls on a Sunday (as in the February example on the site). In that case, either move forward 6 times, or insert an empty row above the days and run the backwards script. Similarly, if the last cell bottom right has a day number, insert a blank row below first.<br /><br />(I had a quick go at a JS where all you have to do is fill in the year and month, but that took a bit longer than I thought. It might be the most easiest way just to re-create the entire month. Dave?)