If you want to distribute a piece of text into multiple text boxes in no time at all, this simple Illustrator script can do that for you.
Watch the Tutorial
Follow along step-by-step as I explain the script, how to install it, and how it works.
How it Works
If you thread text boxes, the text will cascade through the text boxes. However, if you want split text and only put certain words, phrases, or paragraphs in each text box, this script can do it in seconds.
Firstly, you need to group the text boxes you want to split the text between. Select them all with the selection tool and right-click > group, or Cmd/Ctrl + G to group.
With the text boxes selected, run the script. Go to File > Script > Other Script, then locate the .jsx file and open it.
Once opened, you’ll be prompted to paste in your text.
This is the important part. Make sure you use the return key between every piece of text you want distributed. That’s how the script knows when one text input ends and another begins. Here’s an example:
Text one.
Text two.
Text three.
Once pasted, simply click ‘ok’ and the script will distribute the text based on the returns into each text box.
The text remains fully editable. I prepare the text in a blank text edit or notepad file first, so that I can simply copy and paste it over.
Get the Script
You’ll find the script below. Simply copy the text into a blank notepad or text edit file, and save it as a .jsx file as whatever you like. I call mine ‘split-text-frames’.
Get the code text here
I hope you find it useful!