Is there an official ExtendScript API to detect opacity masks, live effects, and complex appearances on Illustrator objects without installing a plug-in?

Hello,

I am developing a standalone macOS application that generates JAN/EAN-13 barcodes and integrates with Adobe Illustrator.

The application uses Apple Events to execute ExtendScript in Illustrator. I am investigating how to safely identify simple rectangle objects before performing automatic barcode fitting.

My primary concern is avoiding unintended changes to existing Illustrator artwork.

Environment

• Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.8.11)

• macOS Sonoma

• ExtendScript executed through Apple Events

• Illustrator 2026 support is also being considered

What I have tested

I created four test cases:

A. A normal rectangle (PathItem)

B. A rectangle with an opacity mask

C. A rectangle with a live "Round Corners" effect

D. A clipping group containing a clipping path

Using the public ExtendScript DOM, I examined properties including:

• typename

• clipping / clipped

• filled / stroked

• opacity

• blendingMode

• parent hierarchy

In my tests, cases B and C returned essentially identical values for these basic properties, despite having different appearances.

For example, both were reported as PathItem objects with:

• clipping = false

• opacity = 100

• blendingMode = BlendModes.NORMAL

The clipping group in case D could be identified using GroupItem.clipped and PathItem.clipping.

However, I have not found a reliable public ExtendScript API to determine whether a PathItem has an opacity mask, live effect, or additional appearance attributes.

My questions

1. Is there an official ExtendScript API that can reliably detect opacity masks applied to PathItem objects?

2. Can ExtendScript determine whether an object has live effects or multiple fills/strokes in its Appearance panel?

3. Is there an official way to inspect the complete appearance of an object, including relevant parent objects or layers?

4. Can this information be obtained from an external macOS application without installing an Illustrator plug-in or extension?

5. If these capabilities are not available through ExtendScript, is there another officially supported scripting interface for this purpose?

I understand that the Illustrator C++ SDK may provide additional access to art styles and masks, but my application must work without requiring users to install an Illustrator plug-in.

The goal is to reject unsupported objects rather than modify them.

I am specifically looking for a read-only way to verify object eligibility before any modification is attempted.

Any guidance or references to official documentation would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.