Lightning Brain ChatterGoofy for InDesign

Goal

This tool emulates the functionality of the well known Jabberwocky XTension in QuarkXPress®

It is compatible with Jabberwocky in that it accepts exported Jabberwocky sets. This first version does not have any editing capability with regards to the sets - that will be introduced in a future version. Things are a bit primitive right now.

For this first version, you need to export one or more Jabberwocky sets from QuarXPress and install them in the ChatterGoofy data folder (see Installation, a bit further down).

If you don't have QuarkXPress or Jabberwocky - there is a usable set included with this download, so you can start using ChatterGoofy straight away.

Download

This is a free download. Before you can use the LB ChatterGoofy Plug-In you also have to install our free APID ToolAssistant Plug-In, which is available as a second, separate download.

LB ChatterGoofy supports InDesign CS, CS2 and CS3 on Mac or Windows.

Download the LB ChatterGoofy Scripted Plugin (version 1.0.3 - Free download - does not include the APID ToolAssistant. Don't worry about the icon of the .spln file: it will not be a 'regular' icon, and that's OK.)
IMPORTANT: The ReadMe file in this download still mentions the outdated Active Page Item Runtime plug-in. Instead you should install the APID ToolAssistant plug-in shown below.

Download APID ToolAssistant for InDesign (version 1.0.45 - Free)

You don't need to purchase a license for APID ToolAssistant (but we're always grateful if you do - it helps us fund further development). The LB ChatterGoofy Plug-In will work fine with an unlicensed APID ToolAssistant.

To encourage us by purchasing such an optional license, select the API - APID ToolAssistant... menu item, select the 'APID ToolAssistant' entry in the list, and click the Get License... button. Purchasing a license helps us fund further development of cool stuff!

Let us know if this tool is useful to you, at pluginsupport@rorohiko.com. Thanks!

Usage

This tool emulates the functionality of the well known Jabberwocky XTension in QuarkXPress®

It is compatible with Jabberwocky in that it accepts exported Jabberwocky sets. This first version does not have any editing capability with regards to the sets - that will be introduced in a future version. Things are a bit primitive right now.

For this first version, you need to export one or more Jabberwocky sets from QuarXPress and install them in the ChatterGoofy data folder (see Installation, a bit further down).

Start Adobe® InDesign®, and open a new document.

Put the text insertion point in a text box, and select Chatter... from the API menu. The contents of the text box will be replaced by gobbledygook placeholder text.

Installation

Please make sure you have a copy of the APID ToolAssistant Plug-In installed.

Make sure you install the proper plug-in for your version of InDesign. InDesign CS Plug-Ins, InDesign CS2 Plug-Ins and InDesign CS3 Plug-Ins are mutually incompatible.

If you already have an APID ToolAssistant Plug-In installed (e.g. because you use one of our other Scripted Plug-Ins), make sure it is up-to-date.

APID ToolAssistant used to be called 'Active Page Item Runtime' - if you have any copies of Active Page Item Runtime or Active Page Item Developer installed, please remove them, and replace them with APID ToolAssistant.

When installing plug-ins make sure you copy plug-in files, not the folders they are contained in.

Copy the ChatterGoofy.spln into the same folder as the APID ToolAssistant Plug-In you installed (typically that will be the InDesign Plug-Ins folder).

Inside the downloaded stuff is a folder called ChatterGoofy. It contains a Jabberwocky set called NZEnglish.JAB.

Unless you already have installed a ChatterGoofy data folder on a previous occasion, you should navigate to your Documents (Mac) or My Documents (Win) folder, and copy the folder ChatterGoofy here (copy the folder, not its contents).

Put any exported Jabberwocky sets you have in this ChatterGoofy folder (these files will typically be called 'English Jabbering', 'Esperanto Jabbering', etc... on Mac or 'English.JAB', 'Esperanto.JAB',... on Windows)

To export a Jabberwocky Set from QuarkXPress you need to select Edit - Jabberwocky Sets... from the menu bar, select the proper set, and click Export....

Let us know if this Scripted Plug-In is useful to you, at pluginsupport@rorohiko.com. Thanks!

Version history:

21-May-2007 Version 1.0.3
- CS3 support
- Moved preferences menu item into API - ChatterGoofy menu

25-Aug-2006 Version 1.0.2
- Disable menu item when not applicable

25-Jun-2006 Version 1.0.1
- Moved ChatterGoofy prefs submenu into InDesign Preferences menu.

12-Jun-2006 Version 1.0
- Initial beta release.

Back to the InDesign Plug-Ins page

Back to Home Page