2018.1

Optimizing scripts
In the process of output generation, the execution of scripts may take up more time than
necessary. To optimize a template, it helps to disable scripts that don't have an effect on the
output; see "Managing scripts" on page329.
This topic presents a number of other ways to speed up script execution by optimizing the
scripts.
Use an ID as selector
Scripts (except Control Scripts) start with a query. The selector in the second column in the
Scripts pane is what a script looks for in the template. If you've used the drag-and-drop method
(without pressing the Alt or Ctrl key) to insert a data field in a template, the selector is a small
text: the name of the data field surrounded by @ signs, @firstname@ for example.
Looking for text in a text is a less optimized operation and may impact output speeds in longer
documents. To speed up the output process, point the script to the element that contains the
placeholder, by using its ID as selector. This narrows the scope of the search and results in a
very fast query, as elements with an ID are indexed by Connect Designer's layout engine.
To learn how to put a placeholder or placeholders inside an element that has an ID, see
"Boxes" on page211. To use that ID as the script's selector: double-click the script in the
Scripts pane and change the Find method to Selector and Text, or to Selector if the
placeholder is the only content of the container. Enter the ID of the wrapper element in the
Selector field, preceded by #, for example: #firstname.
Tip
When using the drag-and-drop method to insert data fields in a template:
l
Press the Alt key while dragging, to wrap the placeholder in a span, give the span
an ID and have that ID used as the script's selector.
l
Press the Ctrl key while dragging, to wrap the placeholder in an absolute
positioned box (a div) at the cursor position. A unique ID is assigned to the box and
used as the script's selector.
Page 336