Script to delete alternate layout

Question

I am writing a script that puts ID documents into the correct folder and naming structure to be batch imported into a folio. The documents have two alternate layouts, the original "Print" layout and an "I" layout for ipad. I want the script to delete the "Print" layout pages before processing the document. This is effectively the first section of the document. If I try to target it as below, I receive an error that says cannot delete the doc's default section.
var allSections = myDoc.sections;
   var numSections = allSections.length;
   if (numSections > 1){
       allSections[0].remove();
How do I correctly target this section, and what is the correct syntax for targeting it by it's altenate layout name, "Print"
Many thanks,
Tim

Answer 1

@Tim – For a general solution removing ALL PAGES of an alternate layout, we need a more elaborate scripting solution.
I was wrong with my statement in  post #7 that we have only to test for the value of "alternateLayout" to get all sections that belong to a specific alternate layout.
The value of a specific "alternateLayout" in a document is unique.
If more than one section is applied to one alternate layout the value of "alternateLayout" is an empty string.
So, basically, what I suggest is:
1. You have to loop through all sections and test for the value of "alternateLayout".
2. If the name of the alternate layout you want to remove is found store the "pageStart.documentOffset" value (( EDIT removed /EDIT )) in a variable for further use after the loop. Let's call that variable "firstPageIndex".
Store the length of the section to a variable we can call "lastPageIndex", add the value of "firstPageIndex" immediately (we cannot assume, that our found alternate layout will always start on page indexed zero).
Also use a boolean control. Let's call it "targetHit". Since our alternate layout is found now, we will set it to the value "true".
3. When the loop hits the next section and the value of "alternateLayout" is an empty string, you know, that this section also belongs to the found alternate layout. Otherwise the value would not be empty, but a name of a different alternate layout we do not want to remove the pages from.
You know that exactly, because you ALSO check the value of our control
"targetHit". (Remember, in our example its value is "true" now).
4. So, if both conditions are met at the same time, add the sum of "pageStart.documentOffset" and "section length" of the current section to the variable "lastPageIndex".
5. In case the value of "alternateLayout" is not an empty string AND not the name of our target AND the control value is "true", we have met another alternate layout and we have to break the loop immediately.
After the loop we could use our two variables "firstPageIndex" and "lastPageIndex" to remove all pages that are aggregated under the alternate layout name of our target:
myDocument.pages.itemByRange( firstPageIndex, lastPageIndex-1 ).remove();
Uwe
Message was edited by: Laubender
Message was edited by: Laubender