Error when running script through a batch action

Question

So I’m obviously missing an important step here, but I cannot get my script to run via a batch action.

I’ve put together a script that does the following to an open file:

-names the path the same as the filename - extension

-add text frame withe contents of the filename - extension

-sends the text frame to the back

-aligns the text frame to the bottom center of the path

-hides the textframe

-groups the path and textframe together

-names the group as the filename - extension

(removed these final steps for testing:
-copies the group

-open the .ai file - All.ai

-paste group from first file in place on all.ai

-save all.ai

-close all.ai)

This script runs perfectly when I run it from File->Scripts but the second I put it into an action it doesn’t work properly. I’ve narrowed it down the the select sections that appear to be messing up.

I’ve tried the select a few different ways to try and get it to work with the action, but the multiple ways don’t seem to be working.
Select before sending the textframe to the back and align script:

// clear selection
selection = [];

// get all text frames
var textFrames = app.activeDocument.textFrames;

// grouped text frames will have a 'GroupItem' as parent
for (var i = 0; i < textFrames.length; i++) {
    if (textFrames[i].parent.typename == "Layer") {
        textFrames[i].selected = true;
   }
}
doc.textFrames.getByName('sidepanelsOutline');

app.executeMenuCommand("sendToBack");  //Send to Back

app.activeDocument.layers["Layer 1"].hasSelectedArtwork = true;  ///Select before align

script for textframe visibility and to make all objects into a group.

selection = [];
app.activeDocument.textFrames.getByName("sidepanelsOutline").selected = true;

app.executeMenuCommand("hide");

app.activeDocument.layers["Layer 1"].hasSelectedArtwork = true;

app.executeMenuCommand("group");
app.activeDocument.groupItems[0].name = docName;

I’ve tried multiple different ways to select and complete this but none seem to have worked when running the script from an action. But they work perfect just running the script by itself.

Are there certain commands (like executeCommands) that you can’t use if you are going to run the script through an action for batch work?

CarlosCanto · Accepted Answer

@JustMeTrying5564oh ok, I re-wrote your script, it does the same your script does for now. I’ll show you how to process multiple files later, to avoid using Actions// add text frame, rename both frame and compound path as file name, align frame to bottom of compound path// https://community.adobe.com/questions-652/script-runs-correctly-on-its-own-but-errors-when-ran-with-a-batch-action-1553642?postid=7518669#post7518669function main() {    var doc = app.activeDocument;    selection = null; // clear selection from the start    var docName = doc.name.replace(/\.[^\.]+$/, '');    var compoundPathItems = app.activeDocument.compoundPathItems;    var grp = doc.groupItems.add(); // add an empty group;    // name and move compound paths to group - this is not really needed if there's always on compound path    for (var a = compoundPathItems.length - 1; a>=0; a--) {        compoundPathItems[a].name = docName;        compoundPathItems[a].move (grp, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);    }    var labelFrame = doc.textFrames.add();     labelFrame.contents = docName;    labelFrame.name = "TextField";    // align text to compound path bottom-center;    labelFrame.position = [        grp.left + grp.width/2 - labelFrame.width/2,        grp.top - grp.height + labelFrame.height];    // group text frame to compound path    labelFrame.move (grp, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND); // SEND TO BACK    labelFrame.hidden = true;    grp.name = docName;    // removed for testing purposes.    //app.activeDocument.layers["Layer 1"].hasSelectedArtwork = true;    //app.executeMenuCommand('copy');    //app.open(File('~/all.ai'));   //actual filepath removed.     //app.executeMenuCommand('pasteInPlace');    //app.executeMenuCommand("save");    //app.executeMenuCommand("close");}main();

CarlosCanto · Answer

your script is all over the place, I can fix it for you if you share a sample file

also, is there a reason to run the script in batch Action? you could have the script handle the whole thing sans the Action

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