Did you know that you can automate processes using scripts in Bluebeam Revu? With a click of the mouse, you can add stamps, delete pages, and flatten markups; you can even do all this at once! In Bluebeam Revu, scripts let you automate complex processes and multi-step tasks. Revu offers a variety of default scripts, but you can also make your own to perform any function needed. You can run these scripts on a single document, or a batch of documents using Batch Script. 

This article will cover how to use Script and Batch Script to automate processes using Bluebeam Revu. The following examples are from Bluebeam Revu 20 Extreme edition. Scripting is only available within Bluebeam Revu Extreme (for versions 20 and below) and Bluebeam Revu Complete (for Revu 21).

What are Scripts?

Scripts are a series of instructions that are carried out by a specific program. These are most commonly used in computer programming, with script languages such as Javascript and C++. In Bluebeam Revu, scripts will work similarly. They are a sequence of instructions that the program will perform on the open document. Scripts can be as simple or complex as needed. For example, you could create a simple Bluebeam Revu script to email the PDF from within the program. However, you could also create a multi-step script to flatten, stamp, save, and attach the PDF to an email all at once. 

Once you create a script in Bluebeam Revu, you can apply it to either a single document, or multiple documents, all at once. You can even assign a script to a toolbar for easier access.

Although scripting can seem complicated, Bluebeam’s Script Editor makes the process easy. This editor provides autofill suggestions and tooltips to help you as you go. Additionally, it will validate scripts as they’re made to ensure that they work. 

Running a Default Script

You can run a script on a single document, or on a batch of documents. To start, let’s take a look at running a default script on a single document. Later in this article, we will take a look at the Batch Script tool as well.

To run a script on the open document, select Document > Script. The Script Manager will open, where you can choose a script and a document to run it on. In the Files box, you’ll see your open document listed. If desired, you can switch out this document by selecting it and clicking Remove. You can also upload new documents to run the script on by selecting Add. In this case, I’ll leave this on my open document.

In the Scripts box, you can choose a preset script to run on the selected file. Bluebeam Revu gives you access to the following default scripts:

• Flatten & Email: This will flatten all markups on the PDFs and attach it to an email. This script will use your locally installed email client to email out the document. 
• Export Tiff with Header: This will export the document as a Tiff image file with a with any saved header setup.
• Print with Draft Stamp: This will print the document with a Draft stamp placed on each page.
• Convert to Grayscale: This will convert a colored image into a black and white image.

Some of these scripts are multi-stepped (such as flatten and email), while some only perform one function (such as convert to grayscale). Currently, I have a PDF open that has color images. To make these pages easier to print, I’ll convert the document to grayscale. I’ll select the script option, and then select Run.

Along with the default scripts, you can also create your own custom scripts.

Creating a Custom Script

To create a custom script, select the + icon within the Script Manager window. This will open up the Script Editor, where you can begin building your script. First, give your script a Name – this does not need to be unique, but should describe what the script will be doing. I’ll name this “Add Blank Pages and Save to JPEG” to describe what I’ll be setting the script to do. Under Icon, you can choose an associated icon. You can even Import your own icons if none of these fit your script. 

Next, you can choose if you want to Commit Changes After Running Script. When enabled, the active PDF will apply the changes upon invoking the script. It is sometimes useful to not commit changes to the currently active PDF. For example, you could create a script that applies headers/footers, flattens markups, and then sends an email. By deselecting this, the PDF within the email will have the script’s modifications, but the active PDF will not. This option creates a copy of the open document to run the script on – without affecting the current document. In this case, however, I’ll keep this option on, as I plan on running the script on the active document.

Now, you can move down to the Script box. Here, you will enter commands to create the script. You can add multiple commands to one script, but each should be entered as a new line. Although scripting can be difficult, Revu offers a variety of tools to make it easier:

Script Reference Guide

For a full list of available commands and how to enter them, you can refer to Bluebeam Revu’s Script Reference Guide. This document covers all available commands, properties and syntax. As you build your script, it’s recommended to reference this document. It will show you what information you need to enter in for each script command.

Auto-Complete

As you enter text into the Script field, the Auto-Complete feature will pull up a list of accepted script commands. All you have to do is double-click one of these commands to select it. After selecting a command, this list will disappear. However, you can pull the list back up at any time by pressing CTRL+SPACE on your keyboard.

Tooltips

As you enter in commands, you can hover your mouse over a command to view tooltips. Tooltips will provide you with needed parameters and script examples. The tooltip will automatically appear after you select a command. Tooltips will disappear, but you can pull them back up at any time by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+SPACE on your keyboard.

Example Script: Add Blank Pages and Save to JPEG

In this example, I’ll be creating a custom script to perform two tasks. First, I want to add a blank page to the PDF document. Second, I want to save the document as a .JPEG file. With the help of Auto-complete and Tooltips, I can easily do this.

First, I’ll type in the letter I, and then select Insert Blank Pages from the auto-complete list. The tooltip will tell you how to set up the script – such as, where do you want to place the page? What size is it? What’s the style? I want to add two 8.5″ x 11″ pages to the beginning of this document. To do this, I’ll follow the tooltip and enter in InsertBlankPages(0, 8.5, 11, 2). 0 indicates the placement of the page – ie, before the first page. 8.5 and 11 indicate the width and height of the entered page. Lastly, 2 indicates the number of pages I wish to add. I could also enter in a value for style, but if I leave this blank, the program will use the default style.

If you’re not sure what properties you want to use, press the TAB on your keyboard key to use the default parameters. For inserting a blank page, the default option will insert in one blank page with a size of 8.5″ x 11″.

Next, I’ll add another line to the script by pressing the Enter key on my keyboard. You will need to add a new line for each command within the script. This time, I’ll enter in the letter S and select SaveAs from the list. Using the tooltip for reference, I’ll enter in SaveAs(“jpeg”).

With my script complete, I’ll select OK. I can now run it on my open document by selecting the script from the list and pressing Run. Automatically, the Save As window will open, allowing me to save the document as a JPEG. Once I press Save, the new document will open in Revu. The script not only saved this document as a JPEG file, but it also added two blank pages to the beginning of it.

Using Batch Script

The Script tool is also available as a Batch tool, allowing you to use scripts on groups of PDFs at once. Once you’ve created a script, you can use it with Batch Script as well.

To use Batch Script, select Batch > Script.

The Script Manager will open, where you can add documents, select scripts, and run them. This is the same window as we saw earlier, with all the same capabilities. The only difference here is that Batch Script can run on batches of documents at once. Using the Add button, I can add a variety of files, or even a folder of files, to the Script Manager. With files added, you can choose the desired script and run it on all of them at simultaenously.

Attaching a Script to the Toolbar

The benefit to scripts is that they allow you to perform a multi-step process with just one click. However, having to pull up the Scripts window each time can make this process take longer than needed. To help speed up the process of using scripts, you can attach a script to a toolbar.

Bluebeam Revu toolbars provide faster access to tools. They allow you to quickly access tools otherwise found in the Menu Bar. By attaching a script to a toolbar, you’ll always have access to it – without having to open any menus.

To attach a script to a toolbar, return to the Script window by selecting either Document > Script or Batch > Script. Within the Script Manager, select the desired script. Then, select Add to Toolbar.

The Customize Toolbars window will open. In the Commands box, you’ll find a list of all preset and customized scripts added. You can add any of these to any of the listed toolbar. In the Toolbar menu, select the desired toolbar to add the script to. If you don’t want to adjust any of the default toolbars, you can even create your own.

I’ll create a new toolbar specifically for scripts by pressing the + button in the Toolbar menu. I’ll name the toolbar Scripts and press OK. With the Scripts toolbar selected, I can now select the desired scripts from the Commands box. Using the right facing arrow, I can move the script to the Items box – which is the list of tools available within the toolbar. I’ll move all the scripts into this toolbar, and then press OK.

The toolbar will  automatically appear at the top of the Revu workspace. Now, I can simply select one of these Script buttons to apply it to the document. If you have certain processes that you need to do regularly, it may be a good idea to create a script for it and add it to a toolbar for quick access.

Summary

In Bluebeam Revu, Scripts allow you to automate multi-step and complex processes. By defining a script, you can perform a variety of tasks on the PDF with just one click. The program provides you with several default scripts – but you can also create your own. With scripts, you can add stamps, adjust pages, flatten markups, print or export the document. You could even set up a script to perform all these functions at one time. Although scripting may seem complicated, Revu makes it easy with its Script Editor tool. Using Autocomplete and Tooltips, you can create and configure needed scripts with ease. Once created, you can run these scripts as a batch process on multiple PDFs at once. You can even assign scripts to your toolbars – letting you run them at any time. Using scripts, you can efficiently automate your everyday tasks within Bluebeam Revu.

If you have any comments, questions or suggestions, please use the comment section on the bottom of this page. Don’t forget to subscribe to our blog to get more Bluebeam tips & tricks directly in your inbox!

Lauren Hecker is a Bluebeam Certified Instructor and teaches onsite and virtual Bluebeam Revu training courses. To schedule an onsite or custom course, please contact us!