Script for Batch-Moving Layers More Easily?

Hi @user2712901,

Sounds like sublayers might be best for your situation but personally I never use them because of annoying inconsistencies in the way they behave. Anyway, I was intrigued by the scripting challenge and I've had a go at making a script that does what you want I think. Would you mind giving it a try? You first select the items, then run script, and enter a number for how far you want to move them in Z order—positive means forwards, negative means backwards.

- Mark

/*
    Move Selected Items in Z Order
    for Adobe Illustrator 2022

    by m1b
    here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/script-for-batch-moving-layers-more-easily/m-p/12905152

    Usage:
    - select page items (preferably that are contiguous in layer order — see note below)
    - when prompted by script, enter a number to move selected items in Z order;
      a positive number will move towards front, a negative number will move towards back

    Known Limitations:
    - script is designed to be used when selected items
      are contiguous in Z order, otherwise script will
      bunch them together, which might be confusing

*/

var doc = app.activeDocument,
    items = doc.selection,
    n;

if (n = Number(prompt('Move selection forward by N items, N =', '5'))) {
    moveItems(items, n);
}

function moveItems(items, n) {
    var masterItem = undefined,
        offset = n < 0 ? -1 : items.length - 1;
    for (var i = items.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
        masterItem = moveItem(items[i], n + offset, masterItem);
    }
}

function moveItem(itemToMove, n, referenceItem) {
    if (referenceItem != undefined) {
        itemToMove.move(referenceItem, ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE);
        return itemToMove;
    }
    else {
        var allItems = doc.pageItems;
        for (var i = allItems.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
            if (
                i - n >= 0
                && i - n < allItems.length
                && allItems[i].uuid == itemToMove.uuid
            ) {
                itemToMove.move(allItems[i - n], ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE);
                return itemToMove;
            }
        }
    }
}