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L
lan.mine
Inspiring
September 15, 2017
Answered

Ideas to group same color path items without a selection

  • September 15, 2017
  • 1 reply
  • 6156 views

I am looking for a way to group same color path items within a layer. Below is the script I have found to group the same selected color. But I would like to take this script one step further where it won't require slecting the path item. I have an idea of how to script it but it would be great if I can get some guidance from the experts.

Method 1) Loop through to select a Path Item one by one and skip Group Items if exist.

Method 2) Delete unwanted swatches, load used swatches, select path items with same swatch and group.

Which method do you recommend that is less complex for an entry level scriptor? Also, my major weakness are creating loops so any help in that area is greatly appreciated. Thank you.

function selSameColor (){  
     
    if(app.activeDocument.selection.length == 0){alert('Select a pathItem.'); return};  
    if(app.activeDocument.selection.length > 1){alert('Select just one pathItem.'); return};  
  
  
    var selFillColor = function(){  
     
        var groupColor =  app.activeDocument.groupItems.add();  
  
  
        if(app.activeDocument.selection[0].typename == 'PathItem'){   
        var colorSel = new CMYKColor;  
        colorSel.cyan = app.activeDocument.selection[0].fillColor.cyan;  
        colorSel.magenta = app.activeDocument.selection[0].fillColor.magenta;  
        colorSel.yellow = app.activeDocument.selection[0].fillColor.yellow;  
        colorSel.black = app.activeDocument.selection[0].fillColor.black;  
        }else{alert('This is not a pathitem.'); return};  
         
        var itemsLength = app.activeDocument.pageItems.length;  
        var items = app.activeDocument.pageItems;  
  
  
        for (i = 0; i < itemsLength; i++){   
  
            if(items.typename == 'PathItem'){   
  
                if(items.fillColor.cyan == colorSel.cyan && items.fillColor.magenta == colorSel.magenta && items.fillColor.yellow == colorSel.yellow && items.fillColor.black == colorSel.black){  
                    items.moveToBeginning(groupColor);  
                }else if(items.strokeColor.cyan == colorSel.cyan && items.strokeColor.magenta == colorSel.magenta && items.strokeColor.yellow == colorSel.yellow && items.strokeColor.black == colorSel.black){  
                    items.moveToBeginning(groupColor);  
                };  
            };  
     
        };  
    if(groupColor.pageItems.length > 0){groupColor.selected = true};  
    };  
  
  
    selFillColor ();  
     
};  
  
  
selSameColor ();  
   
This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Silly-V

Well when I made an action which creates a new color group, typed in "Art", then deleted this new group and re-played the action, it didn't name it "Art" after all. But, I did the action play without dialogs option on.


Oh, found your mistake!

  1.     for(var i=0; i<colorSwatches.length; i++){ 
  2.         thisSwatch = doc.swatches;  

you are going through colorSwatches, but are referencing doc.swatches!

1 reply

Silly-V
Silly-V
Legend
September 15, 2017

Sometimes, a selection is a good way to get a reference to the items you want, without having to loop through them- which causes script slowness. In a file of unknown size, such as when people can use hundreds of items, it becomes prohibitive to run loops.

What can be (sometimes) done is a narrowing down of the loop you have to create, by using a selection command such as app.executeMenuCommand("Find Fill Color menu item"); to have all your items selected, then loop through selection to pull out specific items, or use an app.executeMenuCommand("group"); to group them all in the same time.

L
lan.mineAuthor
Inspiring
September 15, 2017

Wow so these two lines of code replaced everything above.

app.executeMenuCommand("Find Fill Color menu item"); 
app.executeMenuCommand("group")

I am having trouble writing a loop. I am guessing that I will need to write a loop that counts the number of active swatches. And from them have it loop one by one applying the app.executeMenuCommand? Or am I over thinking this?

    Silly-V
    Silly-V
    Legend
    September 18, 2017

    Thank you Silly-V! This helps me learn a bit more about scripting. I wanted to see if there is a way to prevent having to select the color swatches. I have created an action to delete unused swatches. Now I can do one of the two methods.

    1) Create an action to add used swatches, select all swatches and run your script.

    But I've heard this might not be possible since there isnt a command to select all used swatches.

    So I was thinking I might need to go more of the 2nd method of:

    • Select all objects
    • New Color Group
    • Select New Color Group
    • Run test();

    I am going to work on the method 2 but wanted to see if this is the best method. Is there a better method that I haven't thought of yet?


    Yes you got it, if you use a Make new Color Group action, you can play it after selecting the art items. This will make the new color group with just the colors in your selection (instantly) and the new color group will be automatically selected. Then, running this script works. Furthermore you can incorporate the action into the script too (app.doScript(actionName, setName);), so that all you have to do before pressing the Run button which does everything, is to just select the art needed. Afterwards, your script can remove the new color group as the last step.

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