Skip to main content
edvardkrupke
edvardkrupke
Known Participant
March 20, 2017
Answered

Automatically search for specific layernames and execute action?

  • March 20, 2017
  • 2 replies
  • 1994 views

Hey!

Let's assume I have a document thet looks like this:

I want a script that does this [Pseudocode... Sortof]:

Set array = ["Template", "Product", "Canvas", "Document Version 1"];

loop trough layernames & groupnames based on array and set to active layer{

if(doc.activeLayer.name === "Template") Dothiscode1();

if(doc.activeLayer.name === "Product") Dothiscode2();

if(doc.activeLayer.name === "Canvas") Dothiscode3();

if(doc.activeLayer.name === "Document Version 1") Dothiscode4();

}

loop trough layernames & groupnames based on array{

  if(layer "template" doesn't exists) { Dothisaction(); }

}

I've only just started scripting (like... an hour this friday, and another three hours today) with javascript, and the things I've tried so far either only find layers that's not within groups, or it only detects layers in groups.

Please tell me if you need further information - do you want me to include code that I've tested so far?

[Moved out of the Coding Corner​ forum and into the more specific Photoshop Scripting​ forum - moderator]

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer pixxxelschubser

Hey!

Thank you for your response - I'll look into it!

Will mark your post as "Correct Answer" and make a how-to if it turns out it's working


Hi johny roger​,

nice try for the beginning.

Keep up the good work!

But there are much more efficient ways.

edvardkrupke​,

you could try something like this:

// layer_selectLayerOrLayerSet_oneByOne_byArrayNameList.jsx
// siehe: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2292377
// select layers or layerSets one by one by a name list in array
// regards pixxxel schubser
var aDoc = activeDocument;
var aLay;
var arr = ["Template", "Product", "Canvas", "Not_in_Doc", "Document Version 1"];
for (i=0; i <=arr.length-1; i++){
    try {
        (ref1 = new ActionReference()).putName(stringIDToTypeID('layer'), arr );
        (desc1 = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(stringIDToTypeID('null'), ref1);
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID('select'), desc1, DialogModes.NO);
        aLay = aDoc.activeLayer;
        switch ( aLay.name )   
        {
            case "Template":
            //alert("show first array name"); // do something
            alert(aLay.typename + " " + aLay.name + " is active now");
            break;
            case "Product":
            //alert("show second array name"); // do something
            alert(aLay.typename + " " + aLay.name + " is active now");
            break;
            case "Canvas":
            //alert("show third array name"); // do something
            alert(aLay.typename + " " + aLay.name + " is active now");
            break;
            case "Document Version 1":
            //alert("show last array name"); // do something
            alert(aLay.typename + " " + aLay.name + " is active now");
            break;
        }
    } catch (e) {
        alert("Sorry, this layername: " + arr + " does not exists");
    }
}

Have fun

2 replies

johny roger
johny roger
Inspiring
March 20, 2017

maybe this helps : Test whether a layer with a specific name exists?

You can loop through the array of all the layers, checking if the name  you're looking for is in there.
You can even place it in a function that returns a boolean, like so:

function doesLayerExist(layers, name) {
    for (i=0; i<layers.length; i++) {
        if (layers.name==name) return true;
    }
    return false;
}

You can then call it like so:

if (doesLayerExist(app.activeDocument.layers, "Layer1")) {
// do something if the layer exists
} else {
// do something if the layer doesn't exists
}

Or This Thread: Checking if layer is visible and run a function depending on answer

edvardkrupke
edvardkrupkeAuthor
Known Participant
March 21, 2017

The problem persists with selecting layers inside of groups, unfortunately. Try the following while having the layer "Canvas" in agroup anywhere in the document:

if (doesLayerExist(app.activeDocument.layers, "Canvas"))

  {

  alert("True");

  }

else

  {

  alert("False");

  }

function doesLayerExist(layers, name)

  {

  for (i=0; i<layers.length; i++)

  {

  if (layers.name==name) return true;

  }

  return false;

  }

This returns "False" even though the layer exists in the document.

As stated by Jarda Bereza, an easy way of doing this would be by using a normal action, but then the action would stop if say, "Document Version 1" was absent and the document was Version 3 or 4 instead.

Thank you for your reply - I'll try to look further into it:/

johny roger
johny roger
Inspiring
March 21, 2017

Hello Edvard

i'm not a pro at all when it comes to scripting and just started a few days ago with it myself

But from what i've learned by now i could suggest the following for your problem:

  1. Record the action (as you said that would be easy).
  2. Either record the action with scriptinglistener or use one of the scripts available from Xbytor that converts an action to a script.
  3. if your documents have some constant wording in it's name i.E. "Version" but then changing numers like "4" , "5" and so on. Check your document with something like the following :

// Checks if current LayerName contains the wording "FLEX" (i.E. "Flex" nr. 4 or This is a "FLEX".
  if(app.activeDocument.activeLayer.name.toLowerCase().indexOf("flex") >= 0){
  // Do something
        }
//Check if any of the opened documents contain the wording "Mockup" (i.e. Car "Mockup" or "Mockup" Nr. 5)
var docs = app.documents;
  for(var i = docs.length - 1; i >= 0; i--){
  if(docs.name.indexOf('Mockup') > 0){
      //Do something
    }
  }

So, then you can combine your recorded action which you converted to a script with this logic for checking doc names or layer names.

Hope this is something which could help you

Jarda Bereza
Jarda Bereza
Inspiring
March 20, 2017

There is possibility in Action Manager code select layer by name directly by name. No loop needed.

edvardkrupke
edvardkrupkeAuthor
Known Participant
March 21, 2017

Hey Jarda!

Thank you for your answer:)

I know this is possible, but the method doesn't allow the layer to be absent - if batching an action with "Select layer 'X'" - and the layer doesn't exist, the action stops... I need something that lets me see if layers exists, and doesn't stop if it's unavailable.

Hopefully you get what I mean?

Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices