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K
keelercreative
Participating Frequently
February 12, 2015
Answered

script to batch rename/number layers in Illustrator CS6

  • February 12, 2015
  • 1 reply
  • 3513 views

Is there a script that I can use in Illustrator to batch rename all sub-layers? I would also like to be able to add sequential numbers to each layer too. I saw an older post that contained a script to do this but it seemed outdated and doesn't work on CS6. Here it is for reference, maybe someone can modify it to work for CS6?

////START SCRIPT////

docRef=app.activeDocument;
topLayers=docRef.layers;
for(i=0;i<topLayers.length;i++){
var currLayer=topLayers;
var newNum=i+1;
currLayer.name="Layer "+newNum;
subLayers=topLayers.layers;
for(j=0;j<subLayers.length;j++){
  var currSubLayer=subLayers;
  var newSubNum=j+1;
  currSubLayer.name="Layer "+ newNum+"."+newSubNum;
  subSubLayers=subLayers.layers;
   for(k=0;k<subSubLayers.length;k++){
    var currSubSubLayer=subSubLayers;
    var newSubSubNum=k+1;
    currSubSubLayer.name="Layer "+ newNum+"."+newSubNum+"."+newSubSubNum;
   }
  }
}

////END SCRIPT////

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Silly-V

    I figured it out. They are just objects and paths, not layers (even though you can order them like layers), so that's why the script doesn't work with them. I found another thread that renames (selected) objects, so I combined with this one to add the incremental numbering. My only remaining question is how do you start numbering at "0" and not "1"?

    //how to use: select objects that you want to rename, then run script

    //note - new name may not display until you unselect objects

    var docRef = activeDocument;

    for (var i=0; i < docRef.pageItems.length; i++)

    {

           if (docRef.pageItems.selected == true)

    var newNum=i+1;      

           {

                   docRef.pageItems.name = "applyColor"+newNum;;

           }

    }


    So those were not even layers, but they looked like they were layers? I thought they were layers because it didn't look like they were inside any layer.. but it may have been just the screenshot?  But, I did consider this and dismissed this possibility when first looking at this.

    To start at 0, where it says var newNum = i+1, just change to var newNum = i;

    1 reply

    Silly-V
    Silly-V
    Legend
    February 12, 2015

    It didn't look like it wouldn't work, to me at a glance, except for a couple missing var keywords for best practice.

    Maybe you were no targeting the appropriate app?

    Try this:

    #target illustrator
    

    function test(){
    

        var docRef=app.activeDocument;
    

        var topLayers=docRef.layers;
    

        for(i=0;i<topLayers.length;i++){
    

            var currLayer=topLayers;
    

            var newNum=i+1;
    

            currLayer.name="Layer "+newNum;
    

            var subLayers=topLayers.layers;
    

            for(j=0;j<subLayers.length;j++){
    

                var currSubLayer=subLayers;
    

                var newSubNum=j+1;
    

                currSubLayer.name="Layer "+ newNum+"."+newSubNum;
    

                subSubLayers=subLayers.layers;
    

                for(k=0;k<subSubLayers.length;k++){
    

                    var currSubSubLayer=subSubLayers;
    

                    var newSubSubNum=k+1;
    

                    currSubSubLayer.name="Layer "+ newNum+"."+newSubNum+"."+newSubSubNum;
    

               }
    

            }
    

        }
    

    }
    

    

    

    test();
    K
    keelercreativeAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 12, 2015

    It doesn't work for any sub-layers, but it actually does rename the top layers. So somewhere after the line "var subLayers=topLayers.layers;" doesn't work.

    Silly-V
    Silly-V
    Legend
    February 12, 2015

    Can you attach a screenshot of your layers palette?

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