Messaging framework API reference

This application programming interface (API) defines a communication protocol between message-enabled applications. These objects are available to all ExtendScript scripts when any of the applications is loaded.

The messaging protocol is extensible. Although it is primarily designed to send scripts, you can use it to send other kinds of data.

The messaging API defines the BridgeTalk class. Static properties and methods of the class provide access to environmental information relevant for communication between applications. Instantiate the class to create a BridgeTalk message object, which encapsulates the message itself. For discussion and examples, see Communicating through messages, and the example code provided with the Adobe ExtendScript SDK.

Example code

The sample code distributed with the Adobe ExtendScript SDK includes these code examples that specifically demonstrate the use of interapplication messaging:

Interapplication messaging example	Description
MessagingBetweenApps.jsx	Shows how to send a message to a Creative Suite application and receive a response.
MessageSendingToInDesign.jsx	Sends message to InDesign through BridgeTalk.
SendArrayToPhotoshop.jsx	Sends message to Photoshop that creates an array in the target and passes it back to the sender.
SendObjectToPhotoshop.jsx	Sends message to Photoshop that creates a JavaScript object in the target and passes it back to the sender.
SendDOMObjectToPhotoshop.jsx	Sends message to Photoshop that creates a Photoshop object in the target and passes values from it back to the sender.
SaveAsDifferentFileType.jsx	Locates an image file, uses messaging to load it into Photoshop and save it as a different file type.