Scribus Generator
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What about Scribus Generator?
Scribus comes with a broad set of page layout features and functionality. One feature missing is to replace text with data dynamically. This kind of feature you may already know as the typical mail merge functionality in your preferred office application.
Scribus Generator fills this lack of functionality. Scribus Generator in general is an extension to replace text with data to automatic generated files (e.g. SLA, PDF).
What about the Scribus file?
Create and Design your Scribus File as any other. At the positions where you need to replace text with data, just add %VAR_name% where name is the column name in the Data File. You can place the variable on any position within a text frame. Apply all format and style to the variable as it would be the concerning original text.
You can also use variables for images by simply using "%VAR_image%" as the image name. It won´t be displayed, but it will be printed. In the CSV file make sure to use the full path.
If you want to use pre-press settings that you would normally specify in the export dialog, you have to do this in "File > Document Setup > PDF Export".
What about the Data File?
The Scribus Generator expects a CSV file (Comma Separated Values), which is very simple to create. Open a spread sheet editor, enter the data and save/export as CSV. UTF-8 encoding is recommended. The columns have the same name as variables (%VAR_name%) referenced in the Sribus file you have designed.
What about the Settings?
There is a Dialog where you can configure the Input and Output Settings for Scribus Generator.
| Scribus File: | Choose the Scribus File containing the variables to replace. |
| Data File: | Choose the Data File containing the comma separated values. |
| Output Directory: | Choose the path to the existing directory where to save the result. |
| Output File Name: | You can use the same variables as defined in the Scribus File/Data File. You can also mix the variables with other characters. If you leave the field empty an index will be used. The index/resulting files will be sorted according to the occurence of the rows within the Data File. Don't enter non variable name because script will create only one PDF with last record from CSV. |
| Output Format: | Choose the output format, e.g. PDF. |
| Keep Scribus File: | Choose whether to keep the generated Scribus Files. Otherwise they will be deleted after generation an only the files in the specified output format will be kept. |
Download
For further information and download of the current version, please visit:
Scribus Generator
A modified version for CSV-files with non-comma delimiters...
... can be copied from here until the author integrates this or finds a better way of realizing this. Please check notes by Martin Zaske at the top of the modified script.
A minor second tweak concerns the output file names. If you leave the field empty an index will be used. But the file names 1.PDF, 2.PDF, etc. are often sorted funnily in an explorer where 11.PDF comes between 1.PDF and 2.PDF. So the output file name has been tweaked to carry leading zeros (the user has to edit the script if he wants other than 3 digits).
Note: This is obvious but has caused Martin a lot of bug-search-hassle: The names of the variables are case-sensitive.
This script has been tested in Scribus Version 1.4.5 (26 January 2015 Build ID: C-*-T-*-C1.8.6-Windows-64bit Using Ghostscript version 9.16) on Windows 8.1 Pro 64bit
Save this script as ScribusGenerator_2015-07-22.py, for example.
#!/usr/bin/env python
# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
# Scribus Generator will
# - read CSV Data
# - convert a given Scribus File to a
# - specified Output Format (for each row of data) and
# - save the Output File as well as the generated Scribus File (which optional)
#
# For further information (manual, description, etc.) please visit:
# www.ekkehardwill.de/sg
#
# Version v2015-07-22: By Martin Zaske added line for zfill in def createOutputFileName (about line 130)
# Version v2015-07-22: By Martin Zaske added delimiter=',' in def getCsvData (about line 194) to be adapted for CSV files with non-comma delimiters
# Version v2012-01-07: Fixed problems when using an ampersand as values within CSV-data.
# Version v2011-01-18: Changed run() so that scribus- and pdf file creation an deletion works without problems.
# Version v2011-01-17: Fixed the ampersand ('&') problem. It now can be used within variables.
# Version v2011-01-01: Initial Release.
import Tkinter
from Tkinter import Frame, LabelFrame, Label, Entry, Button, StringVar, OptionMenu, Checkbutton, IntVar
import csv
import os
import logging
import traceback
import scribus
import sys
import tkMessageBox
import tkFileDialog
class CONST:
# Constants for general usage
TRUE = 1
FALSE = 0
EMPTY = ''
APP_NAME = 'Scribus Generator'
FORMAT_PDF = 'PDF'
FILE_EXTENSION_PDF = 'pdf'
FILE_EXTENSION_SCRIBUS = 'sla'
SEP_PATH = '/' # In any case we use '/' as path separator on any platform
SEP_EXT = os.extsep
LOG_LEVEL = logging.INFO # Use logging.DEBUG for loggin any problems occured
class ScribusGenerator:
# The Generator Module has all the logic and will do all the work
def __init__(self, dataObject):
self.__dataObject = dataObject
#logging.basicConfig(level=CONST.LOG_LEVEL, filename='ScribusGenerator.log', format='%(asctime)s - %(name)s - %(levelname)s - Function: %(funcName)s - Line: %(lineno)d Msg: %(message)s')
def run(self):
# Read CSV data and replace the variables in the Scribus File with the cooresponding data. Finaly export to the specified format.
try:
csvData = self.getCsvData(self.__dataObject.getDataSourceFile())
template = [] # XML-Content/Text-Content of the Source Scribus File (List of Lines)
outputFileNames = []
index = 0
# Generate the Scribus Files
for row in csvData:
if(index == 0): # Do this only for the first line which is the Header-Row of the CSV-File
headerRowForFileName = row
#logging.debug('Before conversion: ' + str(row))
headerRowForReplacingVariables = self.handleAmpersand(row) # Header-Row contains the variable names
#logging.debug('After conversion: ' + str(headerRowForReplacingVariables))
# Copy the original/given Scribus file to a temporary file which acts as a template
template = self.copyScribusContent(self.readFileContent(self.__dataObject.getScribusSourceFile()))
else:
outContent = self.replaceVariablesWithCsvData(headerRowForReplacingVariables, self.handleAmpersand(row), self.copyScribusContent(template))
#logging.debug('Replaced Variables With Csv Data')
outputFileName = self.createOutputFileName(index, self.__dataObject.getOutputFileName(), headerRowForFileName, row)
scribusOutputFilePath = self.createOutputFilePath(self.__dataObject.getOutputDirectory(), outputFileName, CONST.FILE_EXTENSION_SCRIBUS)
self.exportSLA(scribusOutputFilePath, outContent)
outputFileNames.append(outputFileName)
#logging.debug('Scribus File CREATED: ' + str(scribusOutputFilePath))
index = index + 1
# Export the generated Scribus Files as PDF
if(CONST.FORMAT_PDF == self.__dataObject.getOutputFormat()):
for outputFileName in outputFileNames:
pdfOutputFilePath = self.createOutputFilePath(self.__dataObject.getOutputDirectory(), outputFileName, CONST.FILE_EXTENSION_PDF)
scribusOutputFilePath = self.createOutputFilePath(self.__dataObject.getOutputDirectory(), outputFileName, CONST.FILE_EXTENSION_SCRIBUS)
self.exportPDF(scribusOutputFilePath, pdfOutputFilePath)
# Cleanup the generated Scribus Files
if(CONST.FALSE == self.__dataObject.getKeepGeneratedScribusFiles()):
for outputFileName in outputFileNames:
scribusOutputFilePath = self.createOutputFilePath(self.__dataObject.getOutputDirectory(), outputFileName, CONST.FILE_EXTENSION_SCRIBUS)
self.deleteFile(scribusOutputFilePath)
except Exception:
tkMessageBox.showerror(message=traceback.format_exc())
def exportPDF(self, scribusFilePath, pdfFilePath):
# Export to PDF
scribus.openDoc(scribusFilePath)
listOfPages = []
i = 0
while (i < scribus.pageCount()):
i = i + 1
listOfPages.append(i)
pdfExport = scribus.PDFfile()
pdfExport.info = CONST.APP_NAME
pdfExport.file = str(pdfFilePath)
pdfExport.pages = listOfPages
pdfExport.save()
scribus.closeDoc()
def exportSLA(self, outputFilePath, content):
# Export to SLA (Scribus Format)
result = open(outputFilePath, 'w')
result.writelines(content)
result.flush()
os.fsync(result.fileno())
result.close()
def deleteFile(self, outputFilePath):
# Delete the temporarily generated files from off the file system
os.remove(outputFilePath)
def createOutputFilePath(self, outputDirectory, outputFileName, fileExtension):
# Build the absolute path, like C:/tmp/template.sla
return outputDirectory + CONST.SEP_PATH + outputFileName + CONST.SEP_EXT + fileExtension
def createOutputFileName(self, index, outputFileName, headerRow, row):
# If the User has not set an Output File Name, an internal unique file name
# will be generated which is the index of the loop.
result = str(index)
result = result.zfill(3) # Martin Zaske: zfill gives leading zeros (3)(or as needed) for better output-sorting in your explorer
# Following characters are not allowed for File-Names on WINDOWS: < > ? " : | \ / *
if(CONST.EMPTY != outputFileName):
table = {
#ord(u'ä'): u'ae',
#ord(u'Ä'): u'Ae',
#ord(u'ö'): u'oe',
#ord(u'Ö'): u'Oe',
#ord(u'ü'): u'ue',
#ord(u'Ü'): u'Ue',
#ord(u'ß'): u'ss',
ord(u'<'): u'_',
ord(u'>'): u'_',
ord(u'?'): u'_',
ord(u'"'): u'_',
ord(u':'): u'_',
ord(u'|'): u'_',
ord(u'\\'): u'_',
ord(u'/'): u'_',
ord(u'*'): u'_'
}
result = self.replaceVariablesWithCsvData(headerRow, row, [outputFileName])
result = result.decode('utf_8')
result = result.translate(table)
return result
def copyScribusContent(self, src):
# Returns a plain copy of src where src is expected to be a list (of text lines)
result = []
for line in src:
result.append(line)
return result
def readFileContent(self, src):
# Returns the list of lines (as strings) of the text-file
tmp = open(src, 'r')
result = tmp.readlines()
tmp.close()
return result
def handleAmpersand(self, row):
# If someone uses an '&' as variable (e.g. %VAR_&position%), this text will be saved
# like %VAR_&position% as the & is being converted by scribus to textual ampersand.
# Therefore we have to check and convert. It will also be used to replace ampersand of
# CSV rows, so that you can have values like e.g. "A & B Company".
result = []
for i in row:
result.append(i.replace('&', '&'))
return result
def replaceVariablesWithCsvData(self, headerRow, row, lines): # lines as list of strings
result = ''
for line in lines:
i = 0
for cell in row:
tmp = ('%VAR_' + headerRow[i] + '%')
line = line.replace(tmp, cell) # string.replace(old, new)
i = i + 1
result = result + line
return result
def getCsvData(self, csvfile):
# Read CSV file and return 2-dimensional list containing the data
reader = csv.reader(file(csvfile), delimiter=',') #Martin Zaske, please put your delimiter here, as needed by your own CSV file
result = []
for row in reader:
rowlist = []
for col in row:
rowlist.append(col)
result.append(rowlist)
return result
class GeneratorDataObject:
# Data Object for transfering the settings made by the user on the UI
def __init__(self):
self.__sribusSourceFile = CONST.EMPTY
self.__dataSourceFile = CONST.EMPTY
self.__outputDirectory = CONST.EMPTY
self.__outputFileName = CONST.EMPTY
self.__outputFormat = CONST.EMPTY
self.__keepGeneratedScribusFiles = CONST.FALSE
# Get
def getScribusSourceFile(self):
return self.__sribusSourceFile
def getDataSourceFile(self):
return self.__dataSourceFile
def getOutputDirectory(self):
return self.__outputDirectory
def getOutputFileName(self):
return self.__outputFileName
def getOutputFormat(self):
return self.__outputFormat
def getKeepGeneratedScribusFiles(self):
return self.__keepGeneratedScribusFiles
# Set
def setScribusSourceFile(self, fileName):
self.__sribusSourceFile = fileName
def setDataSourceFile(self, fileName):
self.__dataSourceFile = fileName
def setOutputDirectory(self, directory):
self.__outputDirectory = directory
def setOutputFileName(self, fileName):
self.__outputFileName = fileName
def setOutputFormat(self, outputFormat):
self.__outputFormat = outputFormat
def setKeepGeneratedScribusFiles(self, value):
self.__keepGeneratedScribusFiles = value
class GeneratorControl:
# Controler being the bridge between UI and Logic.
def __init__(self, root):
self.__dataSourceFileEntryVariable = StringVar()
self.__scribusSourceFileEntryVariable = StringVar()
self.__outputDirectoryEntryVariable = StringVar()
self.__outputFileNameEntryVariable = StringVar()
self.__outputFormatList = (CONST.FORMAT_PDF) # at the moment only PDF is a valid output format
self.__selectedOutputFormat = StringVar()
self.__selectedOutputFormat.set(self.__outputFormatList)
self.__keepGeneratedScribusFilesCheckboxVariable = IntVar()
self.__root = root
def getDataSourceFileEntryVariable(self):
return self.__dataSourceFileEntryVariable
def dataSourceFileEntryVariableHandler(self):
result = tkFileDialog.askopenfilename(title='Choose...', defaultextension='.csv', filetypes=[('CSV', '*.csv *.CSV')])
if result:
self.__dataSourceFileEntryVariable.set(result)
def getScribusSourceFileEntryVariable(self):
return self.__scribusSourceFileEntryVariable
def scribusSourceFileEntryVariableHandler(self):
# Important: Only sla should be allowed as this is plain XML.
# E.g. zipped sla.gz files will lead to an error.
result = tkFileDialog.askopenfilename(title='Choose...', defaultextension='.sla', filetypes=[('SLA', '*.sla *.SLA')])
if result:
self.__scribusSourceFileEntryVariable.set(result)
def getOutputDirectoryEntryVariable(self):
return self.__outputDirectoryEntryVariable
def outputDirectoryEntryVariableHandler(self):
result = tkFileDialog.askdirectory()
if result:
self.__outputDirectoryEntryVariable.set(result)
def getOutputFileNameEntryVariable(self):
return self.__outputFileNameEntryVariable
def getOutputFormatList(self):
return self.__outputFormatList
def getSelectedOutputFormat(self):
return self.__selectedOutputFormat
def getKeepGeneratedScribusFilesCheckboxVariable(self):
return self.__keepGeneratedScribusFilesCheckboxVariable
def allValuesSet(self):
# Simple check whether input fields are NOT EMPTY.
# The user could fill in crap into the input fields. This would lead to an error, but crap in crap out!
result = 0
if((self.__scribusSourceFileEntryVariable.get() != CONST.EMPTY) and (self.__dataSourceFileEntryVariable.get() != CONST.EMPTY) and (self.__outputDirectoryEntryVariable.get() != CONST.EMPTY)):
result = 1
return result
def createGeneratorDataObject(self):
# Collect the settings the user has made and build the Data Object
result = GeneratorDataObject()
result.setScribusSourceFile(self.__scribusSourceFileEntryVariable.get())
result.setDataSourceFile(self.__dataSourceFileEntryVariable.get())
result.setOutputDirectory(self.__outputDirectoryEntryVariable.get())
result.setOutputFileName(self.__outputFileNameEntryVariable.get())
result.setOutputFormat(self.__selectedOutputFormat.get())
result.setKeepGeneratedScribusFiles(self.__keepGeneratedScribusFilesCheckboxVariable.get())
return result
def buttonCancelHandler(self):
self.__root.destroy()
def buttonOkHandler(self):
if (CONST.TRUE == self.allValuesSet()):
dataObject = self.createGeneratorDataObject()
generator = ScribusGenerator(dataObject)
generator.run()
else:
tkMessageBox.showerror(title='Validation failed', message='Please check if all settings have been set correctly!')
def helpButtonHandler(self):
tkMessageBox.showinfo('Help', message='For any information please visit: www.ekkehardwill.de/sg')
class GeneratorDialog:
# The UI to configure the settings by the user
def __init__(self, root, ctrl):
self.__root = root
self.__ctrl = ctrl
def show(self):
self.__root.title(CONST.APP_NAME)
mainFrame = Frame(self.__root)
# Make Dialog stretchable (to EAST and WEST)
top = mainFrame.winfo_toplevel()
top.rowconfigure(0, weight=1)
top.columnconfigure(0, weight=1)
mainFrame.rowconfigure(0, weight=1)
mainFrame.columnconfigure(0, weight=1)
mainFrame.grid(sticky='ew')
# Three Sections: Input-Settings, Output-Settings and Buttons
inputFrame = LabelFrame(mainFrame, text='Input Settings')
inputFrame.columnconfigure(1, weight=1)
inputFrame.grid(column=0, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='ew')
outputFrame = LabelFrame(mainFrame, text='Output Settings')
outputFrame.columnconfigure(1, weight=1)
outputFrame.grid(column=0, row=1, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='ew')
buttonFrame = Frame(mainFrame)
buttonFrame.grid(column=0, row=2, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='e')
# Input-Settings
scribusSourceFileLabel = Label(inputFrame, text='Scribus File:', width=15, anchor='w')
scribusSourceFileLabel.grid(column=0, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
scribusSourceFileEntry = Entry(inputFrame, width=70, textvariable=self.__ctrl.getScribusSourceFileEntryVariable())
scribusSourceFileEntry.grid(column=1, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='ew')
scribusSourceFileButton = Button(inputFrame, text='...', command=self.__ctrl.scribusSourceFileEntryVariableHandler)
scribusSourceFileButton.grid(column=2, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='e')
dataSourceFileLabel = Label(inputFrame, text='Data File:', width=15, anchor='w')
dataSourceFileLabel.grid(column=0, row=1, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
dataSourceFileEntry = Entry(inputFrame, width=70, textvariable=self.__ctrl.getDataSourceFileEntryVariable())
dataSourceFileEntry.grid(column=1, row=1, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='ew')
dataSourceFileButton = Button(inputFrame, text='...', command=self.__ctrl.dataSourceFileEntryVariableHandler)
dataSourceFileButton.grid(column=2, row=1, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='e')
# Output-Settings
outputDirectoryLabel = Label(outputFrame, text='Output Directory:', width=15, anchor='w')
outputDirectoryLabel.grid(column=0, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
outputDirectoryEntry = Entry(outputFrame, width=70, textvariable=self.__ctrl.getOutputDirectoryEntryVariable())
outputDirectoryEntry.grid(column=1, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='ew')
outputDirectoryButton = Button(outputFrame, text='...', command=self.__ctrl.outputDirectoryEntryVariableHandler)
outputDirectoryButton.grid(column=2, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='e')
outputFileNameLabel = Label(outputFrame, text='Output File Name:', width=15, anchor='w')
outputFileNameLabel.grid(column=0, row=1, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
outputFileNameEntry = Entry(outputFrame, width=70, textvariable=self.__ctrl.getOutputFileNameEntryVariable())
outputFileNameEntry.grid(column=1, row=1, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='ew')
outputFormatLabel = Label(outputFrame, text='Output Format:', width=15, anchor='w')
outputFormatLabel.grid(column=0, row=2, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
outputFormatListBox = OptionMenu(outputFrame, self.__ctrl.getSelectedOutputFormat(), self.__ctrl.getOutputFormatList())
outputFormatListBox.grid(column=1, row=2, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
keepGeneratedScribusFilesLabel = Label(outputFrame, text='Keep Scribus Files:', width=15, anchor='w')
keepGeneratedScribusFilesLabel.grid(column=0, row=3, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
keepGeneratedScribusFilesCheckbox = Checkbutton(outputFrame, variable=self.__ctrl.getKeepGeneratedScribusFilesCheckboxVariable())
keepGeneratedScribusFilesCheckbox.grid(column=1, row=3, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='w')
# Buttons to Cancel or to Run the Generator with the given Settings
helpButton = Button(buttonFrame, text='Help', width=10, command=self.__ctrl.helpButtonHandler)
helpButton.grid(column=0, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='e')
cancelButton = Button(buttonFrame, text='Cancel', width=10, command=self.__ctrl.buttonCancelHandler)
cancelButton.grid(column=1, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='e')
generateButton = Button(buttonFrame, text='Generate', width=10, command=self.__ctrl.buttonOkHandler)
generateButton.grid(column=2, row=0, padx=5, pady=5, sticky='e')
# Finally show the Generator Dialog
mainFrame.grid()
self.__root.grid()
self.__root.mainloop()
def main(argv):
root = Tkinter.Tk()
ctrl = GeneratorControl(root)
dlg = GeneratorDialog(root, ctrl)
dlg.show()
def main_wrapper(argv):
try:
if(scribus.haveDoc()):
scribus.setRedraw(False)
scribus.statusMessage(CONST.APP_NAME)
scribus.progressReset()
main(argv)
finally:
# Exit neatly even if the script terminated with an exception,
# so we leave the progress bar and status bar blank and make sure
# drawing is enabled.
if(scribus.haveDoc()):
scribus.setRedraw(True)
scribus.statusMessage('')
scribus.progressReset()
if __name__ == '__main__':
main_wrapper(sys.argv)
"""
The MIT License
Copyright (c) 2010 and beyond Ekkehard Will (www.ekkehardwill.de)
Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
"""