duplicate layer to different document

[Guest]

Hi All,

I'm new to javascript and would like a little help please!!

I recently found a script that creates a new layer in the active document and then duplicates the contents of 'Layer 1' of the active doc to it.

#target illustrator

var docRef = app.activeDocument;

with(docRef) {

     var ln = 'Layer 1'

     var ol = layers.getByName(ln);

     var nl = layers.add();

     nl.name = ln+' Copy';

     for (var a = ol.pageItems.length-1; a >= 0; a--) {

          ol.pageItems.duplicate(nl, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);

     }

}

what I would like to do is duplicate a named layer in Document A into Document B. I'm not sure if duplicate is the right word as I suppose the process would have to be to copy the contents of a named layer in Document A then create a layer in Document B with the same name and paste the contents.

Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks,

Nik

[chris_gebab · Accepted solution]

Hi Nik,

use of with() is generally not good, maybe:

http://yuiblog.com/blog/2006/04/11/with-statement-considered-harmful/

without with() it looks like that:

#target illustrator

var docRef = app.activeDocument;

var ln = 'Layer 1';

var ol = docRef.layers.getByName(ln);

var nl = docRef.layers.add();

nl.name = ln+' Copy';

for (var a = ol.pageItems.length-1; a >= 0; a--) {

    ol.pageItems.duplicate(nl, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);

}

the second document is a new document?

var doc2 =app.documents.add();

or you can get it by name just like the layer

or by index

var doc2 = app,documets[ indexnumber  ];

then var nl should be:

var nl = doc2.layers.add();

chris

[Guest]

Hi Chris,

Many thanks for you reply, it's most helpful and appreciated!

I'll look at reworking the script.

Thanks,

Nik

[CarlosCanto]

I took a little too long, here's my version

#target illustrator

var docRef = app.activeDocument;

alert(docRef.name);

var docList = "Enter the Destination Document Index \n \n";

var docCount = app.documents.length;

for (i=0 ; i<docCount ; i++)

     {

          docList = docList + i + " - " + app.documents + "\n";

     }

var docIndex = Window.prompt (docList, 0, "Copy layer to same or other document")

if (docIndex == null || docIndex >= docCount)

     {

          alert("Enter a number between 0 and " + (docCount-1) + " and press Enter");          

     }

else

     {

          var destDoc = app.documents[docIndex];

          //alert(destDoc.name);

          with(docRef)

               {

                    var ln = 'Layer 1'

                    var ol = layers.getByName(ln);

                    var nl = destDoc.layers.add();

                    nl.name = ln //+' Copy';

                    for (var a = ol.pageItems.length-1; a >= 0; a--)

                         {

                              ol.pageItems.duplicate(nl, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);

                         }

               }

     }

[Guest]

Hi Carlos,

I really appreciate you looking and replying too.

In relation to this script does anybody know if you can select multiple files from dialog window?

I know how to select a single file or folder but can't find any javascript reference to selecting multiple files

Thanks again,

Nik

[Muppet_Mark-QAl63s]

Multi-select is a parameter of File.openDlg(Prompt,fileFilter,true) default is false…

[Guest]

Hi Mark,

Thanks for that, it works a treat.

One last question, I promise!

I want to display a list for a user to select an item from. I think the ListBox command is what I need but I'm not sure of the syntax. Could somebody point me in the right direction.

Thanks,

Nik

[CarlosCanto]

here's a usage sample, I don't remember where I got it from to give proper credits.

var myList = ["Item 1","Item 2","Item 3","Item 4","Item 5","Item 6","Item 7","Item 8","Item 9","Item 10"];
var win = new Window('dialog', 'myDlg');
var ddL = win.add('dropdownlist',undefined,myList);
ddL.onChange = function(){alert("Item changed");}
win.center();
win.show();