REQUEST: Photoshop script - load files to stack INCLUDING layers (in order)

2026 UPDATE

I have updated my script to a v1.4:

 

/*
Stacker - To Groups Retaining Source Layers v1-4.jsx
Stephen Marsh

3rd November 2023 - v1.0, Stacks to layers using ungrouped smart objects
3rd November 2023 - v1.1, Stacks to layers without leveraging smart objects
3rd November 2023 - v1.2, Stacks to groups
16th July 2026 - v1.3, Added a GUI and various user options
17th July 2026 - v1.4, Added an option to convert each source layer into its own individual Smart Object before grouping

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/request-photoshop-script-load-files-to-stack-including-layers-in-order/td-p/14202346
Based on:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/combining-tiffs/m-p/13475955
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/layers-creating-layers/td-p/13252109
*/

#target photoshop

if (app.documents.length === 0) {
    (function () {
        var STRIP_EXTENSION = true; // false to retain the source file extension

        var dialogResult = showStackerDialog();
        if (dialogResult === null) {
            return; // user cancelled
        }

        var savedDisplayDialogs = app.displayDialogs;
        app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.NO;
        var origUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
        app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;

        var inputFolder = dialogResult.folder;

        // Choose alignment methods based on the user's selection
        // AdCH/AdCV = centre horizontal/vertical (default), AdLf/AdTp = left/top
        var alignMethodH = dialogResult.alignTopLeft ? 'AdLf' : 'AdCH';
        var alignMethodV = dialogResult.alignTopLeft ? 'AdTp' : 'AdCV';

        // Add or remove file extensions as required
        var inputFiles = inputFolder.getFiles(/\.(jpg|jpeg|tif|tiff|png|psd|psb|gif|webp)$/i);
        inputFiles.sort();
        if (dialogResult.reverseOrder) {
            inputFiles.reverse();
        }

        if (inputFiles.length === 0) {
            alert('No matching image files were found in the selected folder.');
            app.displayDialogs = savedDisplayDialogs;
            app.preferences.rulerUnits = origUnits;
            return;
        }

        var firstFile = app.open(File(inputFiles[0]));
        activeDocument.duplicate("Stacker", false);
        if (activeDocument.mode === DocumentMode.BITMAP) {
            activeDocument.changeMode(ChangeMode.GRAYSCALE);
            activeDocument.changeMode(ChangeMode.RGB);
        } else if (activeDocument.mode === DocumentMode.INDEXEDCOLOR) {
            activeDocument.changeMode(ChangeMode.RGB);
        }
        firstFile.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        var docStack = app.documents[0];
        activeDocument = docStack;

        // Convert a Background layer (if any) to a normal layer so it can be grouped
        try {
            docStack.backgroundLayer.isBackgroundLayer = false;
        } catch (e) {}

        // Group the first file's layer(s) into a set named after the source file
        selectAllLayers();

        // Convert each of the first file's layers into its own individual smart object (optional)
        if (dialogResult.convertLayersToSmartObjects) {
            convertLayersToIndividualSmartObjects(docStack, docStack.layers.length);
        }

        groupTargetedLayers(getGroupName(inputFiles[0]));

        // Optionally create a smart object from the group
        if (dialogResult.convertToSmartObjects) {
            executeAction( stringIDToTypeID( "newPlacedLayer" ), undefined, DialogModes.NO );
        }

        for (var i = 1; i < inputFiles.length; i++) {
            var remainingFiles = app.open(File(inputFiles[i]));
            if (activeDocument.mode === DocumentMode.BITMAP) {
                activeDocument.changeMode(ChangeMode.GRAYSCALE);
                activeDocument.changeMode(ChangeMode.RGB);
            } else if (activeDocument.mode === DocumentMode.INDEXEDCOLOR) {
                activeDocument.changeMode(ChangeMode.RGB);
            }
            selectAllLayers();
            var layerCountBeforeAdd = docStack.layers.length;
            remainingFiles.layers[0].duplicate(docStack, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);
            remainingFiles.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);

            // The just-duplicated layer(s) are already targeted/selected in docStack;
            activeDocument = docStack;

            // Optionally convert each newly-added layer into its own individual smart object
            if (dialogResult.convertLayersToSmartObjects) {
                var newlyAddedLayerCount = docStack.layers.length - layerCountBeforeAdd;
                convertLayersToIndividualSmartObjects(docStack, newlyAddedLayerCount);
            }

            // group them into a set named after this source file
            groupTargetedLayers(getGroupName(inputFiles[i]));

            // Optionally create a smart object from the group
            if (dialogResult.convertToSmartObjects) {
                executeAction( stringIDToTypeID( "newPlacedLayer" ), undefined, DialogModes.NO );
            }

            // Align the new group (centred or top-left, per the user's selection)
            align2SelectAll(alignMethodH);
            align2SelectAll(alignMethodV);
        }

        // Expand the canvas to fit layer content
        activeDocument.revealAll();
        //deselectLayers();

        // Collapse all groups/sets
        //executeAction( stringIDToTypeID( "collapseAllGroupsEvent" ), new ActionDescriptor(), DialogModes.NO );

        // End of script notification
        app.beep();
        alert(inputFiles.length + ' files stacked into named groups (retaining layers)!');
        app.displayDialogs = savedDisplayDialogs;
        app.preferences.rulerUnits = origUnits;


        ////////// Functions //////////

        // scriptUI
        function showStackerDialog() {
            var dlg = new Window('dialog', 'Stacker - To Groups Retaining Source Layers (v1.4)');
            dlg.orientation = 'column';
            dlg.alignChildren = ['fill', 'top'];
            dlg.spacing = 10;
            dlg.margins = 16;

            // Panel containing folder selection and user options
            var sourcePanel = dlg.add('panel', undefined, 'Source Folder');
            sourcePanel.orientation = 'column';
            sourcePanel.alignChildren = ['fill', 'top'];
            sourcePanel.margins = 16;
            sourcePanel.spacing = 8;

            var folderGroup = sourcePanel.add('group');
            folderGroup.orientation = 'row';
            folderGroup.alignChildren = ['left', 'center'];
            folderGroup.spacing = 8;

            var selectFolderBtn = folderGroup.add('button', undefined, 'Select Folder...');

            var folderPathText = sourcePanel.add('statictext', undefined, 'No folder selected', { truncate: 'middle' });
            folderPathText.alignment = ['fill', 'top'];
            folderPathText.preferredSize.width = 350;

            var reverseOrderCheckbox = sourcePanel.add('checkbox', undefined, 'File Stacking Order = A-Z');
            // True = Reversed order to A-Z, False = Default order Z-A
            reverseOrderCheckbox.value = true;

            // Keep the label in sync with the checkbox state
            reverseOrderCheckbox.onClick = function () {
                reverseOrderCheckbox.text = reverseOrderCheckbox.value ?
                    'File Stacking Order = A-Z' :
                    'File Stacking Order = Z-A';
            };

            var alignmentGroup = sourcePanel.add('group');
            alignmentGroup.orientation = 'row';
            alignmentGroup.alignChildren = ['left', 'center'];
            alignmentGroup.spacing = 8;

            var alignmentLabel = alignmentGroup.add('statictext', undefined, 'Layer Alignment:');

            var alignmentDropdown = alignmentGroup.add('dropdownlist', undefined, ['Centred', 'Top-Left']);
            alignmentDropdown.selection = 0; // Default = Centred

            var smartObjectCheckbox = sourcePanel.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Convert Groups to Smart Objects');
            smartObjectCheckbox.value = false; // Default = Off

            var perLayerSmartObjectCheckbox = sourcePanel.add('checkbox', undefined, 'Convert Each Layer to an Individual Smart Object');
            perLayerSmartObjectCheckbox.value = false; // Default = Off

            var selectedFolder = null;

            selectFolderBtn.onClick = function () {
                var folder = Folder.selectDialog('Select the folder containing files to stack (retaining layers):');
                if (folder !== null) {
                    selectedFolder = folder;
                    folderPathText.text = folder.fsName;
                }
            };

            // Cancel/OK buttons, right-aligned, outside the panel
            var buttonGroup = dlg.add('group');
            buttonGroup.orientation = 'row';
            buttonGroup.alignment = ['right', 'top'];
            buttonGroup.spacing = 8;

            var cancelBtn = buttonGroup.add('button', undefined, 'Cancel', { name: 'cancel' });
            var okBtn = buttonGroup.add('button', undefined, 'OK', { name: 'ok' });

            cancelBtn.onClick = function () {
                dlg.close(0);
            };

            okBtn.onClick = function () {
                if (selectedFolder === null) {
                    alert('Please select a source folder first.');
                    return;
                }
                dlg.close(1);
            };

            var result = dlg.show();
            if (result !== 1) {
                return null;
            }

            return {
                folder: selectedFolder,
                reverseOrder: reverseOrderCheckbox.value,
                alignTopLeft: (alignmentDropdown.selection.index === 1),
                convertToSmartObjects: smartObjectCheckbox.value,
                convertLayersToSmartObjects: perLayerSmartObjectCheckbox.value
            };
        }

        function getGroupName(fileObj) {
            var fileName = fileObj.name;
            // File.name can come back URI-encoded (e.g. spaces as %20);
            // decode it so group names show real characters, not escape sequences.
            try {
                fileName = decodeURIComponent(fileName);
            } catch (e) {
                // Malformed escape sequence (e.g. a literal "%" in the filename) - keep original
            }
            if (!STRIP_EXTENSION) {
                return fileName;
            }
            var dotIndex = fileName.lastIndexOf('.');
            return (dotIndex > 0) ? fileName.substring(0, dotIndex) : fileName;
        }

        function groupTargetedLayers(groupName) {
            var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
            var ref = new ActionReference();
            ref.putClass(stringIDToTypeID("layerSection"));
            desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID("null"), ref);
            var layerListRef = new ActionReference();
            layerListRef.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt"));
            desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID("From"), layerListRef);
            executeAction(charIDToTypeID("Mk  "), desc, DialogModes.NO);
            if (groupName) {
                try {
                    activeDocument.activeLayer.name = groupName;
                } catch (e) {}
            }
        }

        function convertLayersToIndividualSmartObjects(doc, count) {
            // Converts the top "count" layers (indices 0..count-1) of "doc" into
            // separate embedded Smart Objects, one at a time, then re-targets all
            // of them together so a subsequent groupTargetedLayers() call picks them all up.
            if (!count || count < 1) {
                return;
            }
            for (var j = 0; j < count; j++) {
                try {
                    targetOnlyLayer(doc.layers[j]);
                    executeAction( stringIDToTypeID( "newPlacedLayer" ), undefined, DialogModes.NO );
                } catch (e) {}
            }
            targetLayerRange(doc, count);
        }

        function targetOnlyLayer(layer) {
            // Targets (selects) a single specific layer, replacing any existing selection
            var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
            var ref = new ActionReference();
            ref.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), layer.id);
            desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref);
            executeAction(charIDToTypeID('slct'), desc, DialogModes.NO);
        }

        function targetLayerRange(doc, count) {
            // Targets (selects) the top "count" layers (indices 0..count-1) of "doc"
            // together, replacing any existing selection
            for (var j = 0; j < count; j++) {
                var layer = doc.layers[j];
                var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
                var ref = new ActionReference();
                ref.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), layer.id);
                desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref);
                if (j > 0) {
                    desc.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifier'), stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifierType'), stringIDToTypeID('addToSelection'));
                }
                executeAction(charIDToTypeID('slct'), desc, DialogModes.NO);
            }
        }

        function align2SelectAll(method) {
            /*
            AdLf = Align Left
            AdRg = Align Right
            AdCH = Align Centre Horizontal
            AdTp = Align Top
            AdBt = Align Bottom
            AdCV = Align Centre Vertical
            */
            activeDocument.selection.selectAll();
            var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
            var ref = new ActionReference();
            ref.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt"));
            desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID("null"), ref);
            desc.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID("Usng"), charIDToTypeID("ADSt"), charIDToTypeID(method));
            try {
                executeAction(charIDToTypeID("Algn"), desc, DialogModes.NO);
            } catch (e) {}
            activeDocument.selection.deselect();
        }

        function selectAllLayers(ignoreBackground) {
            // Select all layers (doesn't include Background)
            try {
                var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
                var ref = new ActionReference();
                ref.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt'));
                desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref);
                executeAction(stringIDToTypeID('selectAllLayers'), desc, DialogModes.NO);
            } catch (e) {}
            if (!ignoreBackground) {
                // Add Background Layer to the selection (if it exists)
                try {
                    activeDocument.backgroundLayer;
                    var bgID = activeDocument.backgroundLayer.id;
                    var ref = new ActionReference();
                    var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
                    ref.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), bgID);
                    desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref);
                    desc.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifier'), stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifierType'), stringIDToTypeID('addToSelection'));
                    desc.putBoolean(charIDToTypeID('MkVs'), false);
                    executeAction(charIDToTypeID('slct'), desc, DialogModes.NO);
                } catch (e) {}
            }
        }

        function deselectLayers() {
            var desc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
            var ref01 = new ActionReference();
            ref01.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt'));
            desc01.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref01);
            executeAction(stringIDToTypeID('selectNoLayers'), desc01, DialogModes.NO);
        }

    })();

} else {
    alert('Please close all open files before running this script...');
}

Info to save/run the script code:

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html