Run Multiple InDesign GREP Queries Automatically

Free InDesign script that executes multiple saved GREP Find/Change queries in sequence with a single click. Perfect for book cleanup, typography fixes, and style standardization. Set execution order, save presets, and process documents with automatic backup.

🕒 Save hours of repetitive GREP work in every long document.

Batch GREP Processing Preset Management Auto Backup Progress Tracking

Works on macOS and Windows • InDesign CC 2020+

📸 See the Interface

🎥 Short video demo coming in January — see screenshots below meanwhile

GREP Batch Processor - Main Interface
GREP Batch Processor - Query Selection
GREP Batch Processor - Settings
Click arrows or dots to browse interface screenshots
Documentation & User Guide New to GREP? Learn the Basics
⚙ Key Features
🔍
Query Filter
Search your saved GREP queries by name instantly
🔢
Execution Order
Set sequence with # numbers - only assigned queries run
💾
Presets System
Save query combinations and load them instantly
🔄
Auto Backup
Creates document copy before processing with smart cleanup
📊
Progress Bar
Real-time progress tracking with cancel option
🌍
Cross-Platform
Works on Windows and macOS with auto locale detection
⚙️
Search Options
Configure scope: footnotes, master pages, locked layers
📁
Smart Detection
Auto-finds GREP folders in both app and user preferences
📚
GREP Library Integration
Access community patterns directly from the script (coming soon)
❓ Troubleshooting & FAQ
▶ "No GREP queries found" - What should I do?
The script couldn't auto-detect your GREP folder. Click the gear icon (⚙) in Settings and manually browse to your GREP folder location. The script will remember this path for future use.
▶ "No queries have order numbers assigned" - Why?
You must assign execution order numbers (#) to the queries you want to run. Click a query in the list, type a number in the # field, and click Apply. Only queries with numbers will execute.
▶ The script is slow on large documents - Is this normal?
Yes, this is normal behavior. GREP operations on large documents take time. Always use the backup option instead of relying on Undo. Test on a small document first to estimate processing time.
▶ Where are my GREP queries stored?
Windows:
• C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign [Version]\Presets\Find-Change Queries\GREP\
• C:\Users\[You]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\[Version]\[Language]\Find-Change Queries\GREP\

Mac:
• /Applications/Adobe InDesign [Version]/Presets/Find-Change Queries/GREP/
• ~/Library/Preferences/Adobe InDesign/[Version]/[Language]/Find-Change Queries/GREP/

Use "Show All Scanned Folders" in Settings to see exactly where the script is looking.
▶ Should I always create a backup?
Yes, especially for large or important documents. The backup system is smart - it can auto-delete if no changes were made, and saves to a _backups subfolder to keep your workspace clean.
▶ How do I create and save my own GREP queries?
Open Find/Change dialog (Ctrl/Cmd+F), switch to GREP tab, create your query, then click the save icon. Name it descriptively (e.g., "01_Fix_Em_Dashes"). Test it first before adding to batch processing.
▶ Why is this a .jsxbin file instead of .jsx?
.jsxbin is Adobe's official binary format for ExtendScript files. It's created using Adobe's own ExtendScript Toolkit "Export as Binary" feature.

Why binary? To protect the code from unauthorized copying and resale. The script took hundreds of hours to develop.

Is it safe? Absolutely. The script runs 100% locally on your computer, doesn't connect to the internet, and only performs Find/Change operations that YOU define through your GREP queries.

Need to review the code? For legitimate purposes (education, security audit), contact me at feedback@autolayoutai.com
▶ How do I use the public GREP Library with the script?
Right now, these are separate tools. You can browse the GREP Library, copy patterns you like, and save them as InDesign queries manually.

Coming soon: Full integration is planned so your presets can access library patterns directly from within the script. Stay tuned!
💡 Pro Tips
📝 Naming: Use "01_Fix_Dashes" not "Query1"
🧪 Test First: Always test in Find/Change (Ctrl/Cmd+F) before batch
🔢 Order Matters: Some queries affect what others find
💾 Save Presets: Create presets for book series or client projects
🔒 Always Backup: Especially for important documents
👨‍💻 About the Author

Hi, I'm Marko Markovic, a book designer working with US publishers.

I built this tool because I was tired of running the same GREP queries manually, over and over. Now I'm sharing it with the community.

Hope it saves you time too!

📖 Perfect For
📚 Book Cleanup
Run typography fixes across entire manuscripts: em-dashes, quotes, ellipses, spaces
✍️ Typography Standardization
Apply consistent formatting rules to client documents or book series
🔄 Repetitive Tasks
Automate Find/Change operations you run repeatedly on similar documents
📝 Style Application
Batch apply character styles based on GREP patterns throughout documents
📎 Editors & Prepress Teams
Faster cleanup before final PDF. Catch inconsistencies across multiple documents
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