Open a text editing app like TextEdit (macOS) or Notepad (Windows).
Last updated on
23 April 2024
Learn how to change the default shaping engine for World Ready Composer in InDesign.
Note:
Starting with the InDesign 19.0 version (October 2023), Harfbuzz is the default text shaping engine of the World Ready Composer.
Set legacy shaping engine as the default for World-Ready composer
You can change the default shaping engine for World Ready Composer using the Preferences panel or a script in InDesign.
Using the Preferences dialog
You can go to Preferences > Advanced Type and select Enable Legacy Text Shaping for Adobe World-Ready Composer to switch back to the older/legacy text-shaping engine for Adobe World-ready Composer.
Using the script
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-
Copy the below snippet and save it as .jsx:
app.textPreferences.shapeIndicAndLatinWithHarbuzz = false;
try
{
alert( " Is Harfbuzz Enabled : "+app.textPreferences.shapeIndicAndLatinWithHarbuzz );
}
catch(e)
{
alert( "ERROR: " + e.number +"\r"+ e.message );
}; -
Place the saved .jsx file inside the InDesign root folder ../Scripts/Scripts Panel.
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Launch InDesign.
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Go to Windows > Utilities > Scripts.
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Double-click on the .jsx file that you have saved earlier to execute it.
Reset Harfbuzz shaping engine as the default for World-Ready composer
Similarly, to change back to the Harfbuzz shaping engine, use the following code snippet within the .jsx file:
app.textPreferences.shapeIndicAndLatinWithHarbuzz = true;
try
{
alert( " Is Harfbuzz Enabled : "+app.textPreferences.shapeIndicAndLatinWithHarbuzz );
}
catch(e)
{
alert( "ERROR: " + e.number +"\r"+ e.message );
};
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