indesign-mcp-operator

InDesign MCP Operator

Goal

Execute InDesign tasks safely and repeatably with indesign-dom and indesign-exec MCP servers.

Workflow

1. Inspect current state.
2. Look up API facts.
3. Run JSX with explicit undo policy.
4. Verify outcomes.
5. Roll back if needed.
6. Capture new learnings.

Required Sequence

For non-trivial tasks, run these steps in order:

1. get_quick_reference()
2. get_gotchas(context)
3. DOM lookup (search_dom, lookup_class, get_method_detail, ...)
4. run_jsx(...) with:
   • undo_mode="entire" for any mutation
   • a descriptive undo_name (Agent: <task>)
5. Verification (eval_expression, get_document_info, get_selection)
6. If result is wrong: run some targeted corrective attempts first; use undo(steps=1) immediately only when document state is uncertain, partially corrupted, or broad rollback is safer than incremental fixes.

For strictly read-only checks, use undo_mode="none".

Script Labels Policy

• Temporary keys must start with _tmp_.
• Persistent keys must start with agentContext_.
• Always clear temporary keys at task end:
  • doc.insertLabel("_tmp_key", "")
• Keep persistent labels only when they have proven cross-session value.
• Optionally maintain _agentLabelRegistry with all persistent keys.

JSX Rules

• Use ES3 syntax only (var, classic functions).
• Assign outputs to __result; do not use return.
• Prefer collection APIs over loops:
  • everyItem(), itemByName(), itemByID(), itemByRange().
• Clear find/change prefs before usage:
  • app.findTextPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING
  • app.changeTextPreferences = NothingEnum.NOTHING

Safety Gates

Before mutation:

• Confirm a document is open and correct.
• Confirm key assumptions with read-only checks.

After mutation:

• Verify the specific target state changed as intended.
• If partial failure is detected, undo first, then retry with narrower scope.

Learning Loop

When a user-reported issue is resolved with clear root cause:

1. Check for equivalent gotcha first.
2. Submit via report_learning(...).
3. Keep entries concise and actionable.