Totally with you on that, I meanwhile added a similar functionality into Export to All Formats script and happy with it so far. It works similarly to variable instances, without the .glyphsproject because I don’t understand the concept of having instances in a separate file. In case you find it useful:
How to for the script (beta):
“Static Settings” allow exporting different versions of the same instances, bulk-applying different custom parameters/names/properties:
- Add an instance(s) with “Static Setting” in its name. Deactivate it.
- Add custom parameters and/or change properties (such as the family name) of the “Static Setting” instance. You can find-replace in properties with
->like so: Localized Family Name =Sans->Serifwill replace family names such as “New Sans” to “New Serif”, as an example (useful if you already have multiple family names in your original instances).- On export, the custom parameters and properties of the “Static Setting” instance will be applied to all other instances.
- If you want to also export the original instances as-is, add “+” to any of the "Static Setting” name (“Static Setting+”), meaning it will be exported in addition to the original instances.
- To turn a Static Setting off, just remove (or otherwise break) “Static Setting” from the instance name.