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sttk3
Legend
September 8, 2025
Answered

[ExtendScript] How to move layer children while preserving their order

  • September 8, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 350 views

I'm writing code to move the contents of a layer to another layer. Moving pageItems alone works fine, but when sublayers and pageItems are at the same level, I don't know how to move them while preserving their order.

 

As far as I know, the only way is to retrieve pageItems and layers separately, which results in two clusters after moving—like beer liquid and foam. How to solve this problem?

(function() {
  if(app.documents.length <= 0) {return ;}
  var doc = app.documents[0] ;
  var srcLayer = doc.layers[1] ;
  var dstLayer = doc.layers[0] ;

  var pageItems = srcLayer.pageItems ;
  for(var i = pageItems.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    pageItems[i].move(dstLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
  }
  var sublayers = srcLayer.layers ;
  for(var i = sublayers.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    sublayers[i].move(dstLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
  }
})() ;

 

Update:
Added the test data (.ai) and before/after image.

 

 

Correct answer CarlosCanto

yes, as far as I know, we have to move pageItems and sublayers separately. I was going to mess with absoluteZorderPosition but I thought it would be easier to add an "anchor" right before (or after) each sublayer.

 

(function() {
  if(app.documents.length <= 0) {return ;}
  var doc = app.documents[0] ;
  var srcLayer = doc.layers[1] ;
  var dstLayer = doc.layers[0] ;

  // add dummy placeholders above each sublayer
  var dummyPlacehodlers = [];

  var sublayers = srcLayer.layers ;
  for(var i = sublayers.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    dummyPlacehodlers[i] = srcLayer.pathItems.rectangle(0,0,1,1) ;
    dummyPlacehodlers[i].move(sublayers[i], ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE) ;
  }

  var pageItems = srcLayer.pageItems ;
  for(var i = pageItems.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    pageItems[i].move(dstLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
  }

  var sublayers = srcLayer.layers ;
  for(var i = sublayers.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    sublayers[i].move(dummyPlacehodlers[i], ElementPlacement.PLACEAFTER);
    dummyPlacehodlers[i].remove() ;
  }
})() ;

2 replies

CarlosCanto
Community Expert
CarlosCantoCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
September 8, 2025

yes, as far as I know, we have to move pageItems and sublayers separately. I was going to mess with absoluteZorderPosition but I thought it would be easier to add an "anchor" right before (or after) each sublayer.

 

(function() {
  if(app.documents.length <= 0) {return ;}
  var doc = app.documents[0] ;
  var srcLayer = doc.layers[1] ;
  var dstLayer = doc.layers[0] ;

  // add dummy placeholders above each sublayer
  var dummyPlacehodlers = [];

  var sublayers = srcLayer.layers ;
  for(var i = sublayers.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    dummyPlacehodlers[i] = srcLayer.pathItems.rectangle(0,0,1,1) ;
    dummyPlacehodlers[i].move(sublayers[i], ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE) ;
  }

  var pageItems = srcLayer.pageItems ;
  for(var i = pageItems.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    pageItems[i].move(dstLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATEND) ;
  }

  var sublayers = srcLayer.layers ;
  for(var i = sublayers.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    sublayers[i].move(dummyPlacehodlers[i], ElementPlacement.PLACEAFTER);
    dummyPlacehodlers[i].remove() ;
  }
})() ;
CarlosCanto
Community Expert
CarlosCantoCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 8, 2025

the layering order is upside down for now, but that the way your original function is.

S
sttk3Author
Legend
September 8, 2025

Thanks, your method made it possible. Here's the code that changed the reverse order to the intended order.

(function() {
  if(app.documents.length <= 0) {return ;}
  var doc = app.documents[0] ;
  var srcLayer = doc.layers[1] ;
  var dstLayer = doc.layers[0] ;

  // add dummy placeholders above each sublayer
  var dummyPlacehodlers = [] ;

  var sublayers = srcLayer.layers ;
  var lastSublayerIndex = sublayers.length - 1 ;
  for(var i = lastSublayerIndex ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    var dummyPlacehodler = srcLayer.groupItems.add() ;
    dummyPlacehodlers.unshift(dummyPlacehodler) ;
    dummyPlacehodler.move(sublayers[i], ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE) ;
  }

  var pageItems = srcLayer.pageItems ;
  for(var i = pageItems.length - 1 ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    pageItems[i].move(dstLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING) ;
  }

  for(var i = lastSublayerIndex ; i >= 0 ; i--) {
    sublayers[i].move(dummyPlacehodlers[i], ElementPlacement.PLACEAFTER) ;
    dummyPlacehodlers[i].remove() ;
  }
})() ;

 

m1b
Community Expert
m1bCommunity Expert
Community Expert
September 8, 2025

Hi @sttk3 can you please post a test case document showing how you'd like to control the layering? Before and after?

 

I know you are an expert, so I know this is going to be a challenge. I hope @CarlosCanto sees this!

- Mark

S
sttk3Author
Legend
September 8, 2025

Yes, I'll add the test data to the source question.

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