Skip to main content
A
arteangelus
Inspiring
August 22, 2016
Answered

How to delete every layer except of selected layer?

  • August 22, 2016
  • 3 replies
  • 2872 views

Hi,

I would like to delete all layers including background and layer sets except of selected layer.

It seemed easy first but it stops... I tried several ways; What am I doing wrong ?

#target photoshop
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
app.bringToFront();
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var currentLayer = doc.activeLayer; // remember the selected layer
var selectedlayername = currentLayer.name;
currentLayer.move( activeDocument, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING );  
  function DeleteLayer(layername) {  var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var ref1 = new ActionReference();   ref1.putName(cTID('Lyr '), layername);
    desc1.putReference(cTID('null'), ref1);     var list1 = new ActionList();
    list1.putInteger(17);  desc1.putList(cTID('LyrI'), list1);  executeAction(cTID('Dlt '), desc1, DialogModes.NO);
  };
function DeleteBackground() { var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();  var ref1 = new ActionReference();   ref1.putProperty(cTID('Lyr '), cTID('Bckg')); desc1.putReference(cTID('null'), ref1);     var list1 = new ActionList();     list1.putInteger(1);   desc1.putList(cTID('LyrI'), list1);    executeAction(cTID('Dlt '), desc1, DialogModes.NO); };
function initial () {
for(var i = 0 ; i < doc.layers.length;i++){    if (doc.layers.isBackgroundLayer == true ) {  DeleteBackground();} }
var layerNum = doc.layers.length;
for(var  s = 1 ; s <= layerNum;s++){
   if ( doc.layers.name != selectedlayername ) {   
       DeleteLayer (doc.layers.name);
       }
   else if ( doc.layers.name == selectedlayername ) {
       }
   }
}
initial();

Thank you,

Best Regards.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer natrev

Hi arteangelus,

Try this Code...

#target photoshop  
var docRef = app.activeDocument;  
var layName = docRef.activeLayer.name  
var l = Number(docRef.layers.length)+1;
while(--l){
    if(docRef.layers[l-1].name!=layName && docRef.layers[l-1].name!="Background"){
        docRef.layers[l-1].remove();
    }
else{continue;}
}

-yajiv

3 replies

natrev
natrevCorrect answer
Legend
August 26, 2016

Hi arteangelus,

Try this Code...

#target photoshop  
var docRef = app.activeDocument;  
var layName = docRef.activeLayer.name  
var l = Number(docRef.layers.length)+1;
while(--l){
    if(docRef.layers[l-1].name!=layName && docRef.layers[l-1].name!="Background"){
        docRef.layers[l-1].remove();
    }
else{continue;}
}

-yajiv

A
arteangelusAuthor
Inspiring
August 26, 2016

Thank you natrev​,

I have combined your script with Delete background function as well so here is a working example if someone needs it;

#target photoshop 
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
var docRef = app.activeDocument; 
var layName = docRef.activeLayer.name 
function DeleteBackground() { var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();  var ref1 = new ActionReference();  ref1.putProperty(cTID('Lyr '), cTID('Bckg')); desc1.putReference(cTID('null'), ref1);    var list1 = new ActionList();    list1.putInteger(1);  desc1.putList(cTID('LyrI'), list1);    executeAction(cTID('Dlt '), desc1, DialogModes.NO); };
for(var i = 0 ; i < docRef.layers.length;i++){
    if (docRef.layers.isBackgroundLayer == true ) {  DeleteBackground();} }
var l = Number(docRef.layers.length)+1;
while(--l){
    if(docRef.layers[l-1].name!=layName && docRef.layers[l-1].name!="Background"){
        docRef.layers[l-1].remove();
    }
else{continue;}
}
Chuck Uebele
Community Expert
Chuck UebeleCommunity Expert
Community Expert
August 23, 2016

The reason yours may not be working is that you're using the actual length of the layers in your loop, and that changes as you delete the layers. You need to assign that number to a variable that will not change as you delete the layers. Try this script:

#target photoshop
var doc = activeDocument;
var curLayer = doc.activeLayer
curLayer.isBackgroundLayer = false;
curLayer.move (doc.layers[0],ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE);
var numLayers = doc.layers.length
for(var i=1;i<numLayers;i++){
    doc.layers[1].remove();
    }
    Jarda Bereza
    Jarda Bereza
    Inspiring
    August 23, 2016

    If you want faster performance, then I would recomend you

    1) Remeber your selected layer

    2) Try unlock background

    try{

    var idsetd = charIDToTypeID( "setd" );

        var desc24 = new ActionDescriptor();

        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );

            var ref13 = new ActionReference();

            var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );

            var idBckg = charIDToTypeID( "Bckg" );

            ref13.putProperty( idLyr, idBckg );

        desc24.putReference( idnull, ref13 );

        var idT = charIDToTypeID( "T   " );

            var desc25 = new ActionDescriptor();

            var idOpct = charIDToTypeID( "Opct" );

            var idPrc = charIDToTypeID( "#Prc" );

            desc25.putUnitDouble( idOpct, idPrc, 100.000000 );

            var idMd = charIDToTypeID( "Md  " );

            var idBlnM = charIDToTypeID( "BlnM" );

            var idNrml = charIDToTypeID( "Nrml" );

            desc25.putEnumerated( idMd, idBlnM, idNrml );

        var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );

        desc24.putObject( idT, idLyr, desc25 );

        var idLyrI = charIDToTypeID( "LyrI" );

        desc24.putInteger( idLyrI, 3229 );

    executeAction( idsetd, desc24, DialogModes.NO );}

    catch(){;}

    3) Choose menu item "Select > All layers"

    var idselectAllLayers = stringIDToTypeID( "selectAllLayers" );

        var desc20 = new ActionDescriptor();

        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );

            var ref9 = new ActionReference();

            var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );

            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );

            var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );

            ref9.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );

        desc20.putReference( idnull, ref9 );

    executeAction( idselectAllLayers, desc20, DialogModes.NO );

    4) Unlock all locks on this selection Photoshop: Javascript - can't unlock folder with script which was generated by ScriptListener | Photoshop Family Custome…

    5) Deselect layer you remebered in variable

    6) Delete

    Loops are incredible slow if call some in Photoshop method in each step. This algorithm is without loop.

    JJMack
    Community Expert
    JJMackCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    August 22, 2016

    I think it may be easier to open a new document with a transparent canvas the size of the current documents canvas then duplicate the selected layers into that new document.  Layers names may not be unique and if you start deleting layers layers positions in the stack change. The selected layer may no longer be selected.  If you noted the selected layer name there may be more than one layer with the same name which do you delete which do you keep. It not an easy thing to program.

    If you make that new document you could delete all layers but one copy the new document layers back in close no save the new document and the delete the bottom two layer..

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