The script I linked was for searching artboards (better fit for the OP's needs)....
If you need to search for the symbols in your documents Symbols palette, you can try the script below. It uses a searchable list box from the book ScriptUI for dummies by Peter Kahrel and the Symbols collection from the API (learn more). Whatever symbol you select in the dialog will be available in the script as the variable `symbol` (learn more).
Note: this does not search the actual symbols placed on the document artboard(s), just the base symbols in the palette...
Finally, I'm not sure what you plan to do with the selected symbol after selecting so let us know and we can help you with the next step(s) if you need it. Cheers!
/*
SearchableDocumentSymbolsDialog.jsx for Adobe Illustrator
---------------------------------------------------------
Display a searchable listbox dialog of all the symbols in the current document.
Uses the example dialog from ScriptUI for dummies by Peter Kahrel found at https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/scriptui.html.
Created in response to this question on the Adobe forum:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/create-a-searchable-icon-library/m-p/14730647#M412580
REVISED 2026-01-15:
- Expand search query match to match any part of the symbol name.
- Added error handling for no active documents, and documents without symbols.
- Added ability to double-click symbol name to select it.
- Added ability to add selected symbol to the document (from request: https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/create-a-searchable-icon-library/m-p/15664070#M461163).
- Fixed error when exiting the popup with the Escape key.
*/
(function () {
//@target illustrator
// Check if a document is open
if (!app.documents.length) {
alert("Please open a document first.");
return;
}
var doc = app.activeDocument;
// Check if document has symbols
if (doc.symbols.length === 0) {
alert("This document has no symbols.");
return;
}
// get symbols from current document
var symbols = [];
for (var i = 0; i < doc.symbols.length; i++) {
symbols.push(doc.symbols[i].name);
}
// show symbol picker
var picked = picker(symbols);
// exit if no symbol was picked (picker popup closed without a selection or by the Escape key)
if (typeof picked === "undefined") return;
// select symbol for later use
var symbol = doc.symbols.getByName(picked);
// do you want to add the selected symbol to the document?
var placeSelectedSymbol = Window.confirm(
"Add symbol '" + symbol.name + "' to the current document?",
false,
"Add Selected Symbol To Document"
);
// add selected symbol to the document
if (placeSelectedSymbol) {
var newSymbol = doc.symbolItems.add(symbol);
// move to page origin
newSymbol.top = 0;
newSymbol.left = 0;
}
// "type-ahead" listbox found in ScriptUI for dummies by Peter Kahrel (pgs. 37-38)
// https://creativepro.com/files/kahrel/indesign/scriptui.html
// NOTE: If you document has lots of symbols you may want to read the "Processing long lists" section (pgs. 39-40)
function picker(arr) {
var w = new Window('dialog {text: "Document Symbols", alignChildren: "fill"}');
var entry = w.add("edittext {active: true}");
var list = w.add("listbox", [0, 0, 250, 250], arr);
list.selection = 0;
entry.onChanging = function () {
var temp = this.text;
list.removeAll();
for (var i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
if (arr[i].toLowerCase().indexOf(temp.toLowerCase()) > -1) {
list.add("item", arr[i]);
}
}
if (list.items.length > 0) {
list.selection = 0;
}
};
// Allow symbol selection by double clicking it (closes window and continues)
list.onDoubleClick = function () {
w.close(1);
};
// We need the button to catch the Return/Enter key (CC and later)
w.add("button", undefined, "Ok", { name: "ok" });
if (w.show() === 1) {
return list.selection.text;
}
}
})();
1 Correct answer
8
Replies
AdChoices