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Illustrator script embed selected art in selected layer

Community Beginner ,
Oct 18, 2021 Oct 18, 2021

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Hi there,

 

I have an Illustrator document with multiple layers and multiple layers with linked images/art in them. I would like to with a script select a specific layer and embed all images in the selecte layer only.

 

This is the script I have but as soon as I have multiple images in the layer it will only embed one of the images.

 

var i = 1
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var myLayers = doc.layers;

EmbedTestLayer();

function EmbedTestLayer()
{
//Layers visible and unlocked
for (a=0; a<myLayers.length; a++){
myLayer = myLayers[a];
myLayer.visible = true;
myLayer.locked = false;
}
}
try{
//Deselect all objects
app.activeDocument.selection = null;

//Embed objects in layer
myLayers.getByName ("Test Layer").hasSelectedArtwork = true;
placedArt = app.activeDocument.placedItems[i];
placedArt.embed("Test Layer");
}
catch (e) {}
 
Test Layer is the layer that I want to select as well as all elements/sublayers and then embed the Art.
 
Help will be greately appreciated.
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correct answers 3 Correct answers

Guide , Oct 18, 2021 Oct 18, 2021
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var myLayers = doc.layers;
EmbedTestLayer();
function EmbedTestLayer() {
    for (var a = 0; a < myLayers.length; a++){
        myLayer = myLayers[a];
        myLayer.visible = true;
        myLayer.locked = false;
    }
}
try {
    var targetLayer = myLayers["Test Layer"];
    var items = targetLayer.placedItems;
    for (var i = items.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
        items[i].embed();
    }
}
catch (e) {}

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Guide , Feb 26, 2022 Feb 26, 2022

That's because the above snippet was intended to traverse nested layers, as per your request.  But <Group> is a groupItem and not a layer.  With scripting one has to be specific.  (It's also my fault for not looking at the screenshot).  This will traverse nested groups, embedding placedItems:

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var targetLayer = doc.layers["Test Layer"];
targetLayer.visible = true;
targetLayer.locked = false;
var _placedItems = [];
function recurse(items) {
    for (var i = 0; i < item
...

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Guide , Mar 01, 2022 Mar 01, 2022

Yes, that is fine. 

 

Edit:  Or you could use this:

var doc = app.activeDocument;
try {
    var targetLayer = doc.layers["Test Layer"];
    targetLayer.visible = true;
    targetLayer.locked = false;
    var _placedItems = [];
    function recurse(items) {
        for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
            if (items[i].typename == "PlacedItem") {
                _placedItems.push(items[i]);
            } else if (items[i].typename == "GroupItem") {
                recurse(items[i].pageIte
...

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Community Expert ,
Oct 18, 2021 Oct 18, 2021

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The variable "i" has not changed its value to 1. So only one image is processed.

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Guide ,
Oct 18, 2021 Oct 18, 2021

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var doc = app.activeDocument;
var myLayers = doc.layers;
EmbedTestLayer();
function EmbedTestLayer() {
    for (var a = 0; a < myLayers.length; a++){
        myLayer = myLayers[a];
        myLayer.visible = true;
        myLayer.locked = false;
    }
}
try {
    var targetLayer = myLayers["Test Layer"];
    var items = targetLayer.placedItems;
    for (var i = items.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
        items[i].embed();
    }
}
catch (e) {}

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Community Beginner ,
Oct 19, 2021 Oct 19, 2021

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Femke, 

 

You are the best! Thank you very much!

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Community Beginner ,
Feb 25, 2022 Feb 25, 2022

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Hi there,

 

Sorry for asking again but I am running into another issue. 

Same script but then I need to not only in the picture embed all images in the "Test Layer" but also in all sub layers. So need to embed Images 1 through 4. 

 

This is the script that Femke helped with and it actually does embed Image 1 but nothing else.

 

Any help will be immensily appreciated.

 

Script:

 

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var layers = doc.layers;
var myLayers = doc.layers;
var placedImages = layers["Test Layer"];
var mayLayers = layers["Test Layer"];
myLayers.layers = true;

var myLayers = doc.layers;
for (a=0; a<myLayers.length; a++){
myLayer = myLayers[a];
myLayer.visible = true;
myLayer.locked = false;
}
//Embed Cloud Marks
try {
var targetLayer = myLayers.getByName("Test Layer");
var items = targetLayer.placedItems;
for (var i = 0, len = items.length; i < len; i--) {
items[i].embed();
}
}
catch (e) {}
 

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Guide ,
Feb 25, 2022 Feb 25, 2022

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var doc = app.activeDocument;
var targetLayer = doc.layers["Test Layer"];
targetLayer.visible = true;
targetLayer.locked = false;
targetLayer.prop1 = true;
function recurse(_layers) {
    for (var i = 0; i < _layers.length; i++) {
        _layers[i].prop1 = true;
        recurse(_layers[i].layers);
    }
}
recurse(targetLayer.layers);
var items = doc.placedItems;
for (var i = items.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
    if (items[i].parent.prop1 == true) {
        items[i].embed();
    }
}

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Community Beginner ,
Feb 25, 2022 Feb 25, 2022

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Hi Femke,

 

Thanks for the fast reply. Sorry but this also does not work. Anything outside the <Group> layer is embedded but nothing inside this layer. Not even if I change the name of the sublayer to Layer 1 or something else.

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Guide ,
Feb 26, 2022 Feb 26, 2022

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That's because the above snippet was intended to traverse nested layers, as per your request.  But <Group> is a groupItem and not a layer.  With scripting one has to be specific.  (It's also my fault for not looking at the screenshot).  This will traverse nested groups, embedding placedItems:

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var targetLayer = doc.layers["Test Layer"];
targetLayer.visible = true;
targetLayer.locked = false;
var _placedItems = [];
function recurse(items) {
    for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
        if (items[i].typename == "PlacedItem") {
            _placedItems.push(items[i]);
        } else if (items[i].typename == "GroupItem") {
            recurse(items[i].pageItems);
        }
    }
}
recurse(targetLayer.pageItems);
for (var i = _placedItems.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
    _placedItems[i].embed();
}

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Community Beginner ,
Feb 26, 2022 Feb 26, 2022

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Femke,

 

Seriously you are the best! Thank you soooooo much this works perfeclty!

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 01, 2022 Mar 01, 2022

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Hi Femke,

 

Sorry to be such a hassle but when I run this script and the Test Layer is not present it gives me an error. How can I get around that?

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Guide ,
Mar 01, 2022 Mar 01, 2022

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The following prompts you to enter the name of a specific layer to target.  (Is this what you want?)  Alternatively, you can leave the text area empty to target all layers. 

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var _placedItems;
var _name = prompt("Enter target layer name or leave empty to target all layers", "Test Layer");
if (_name == "") {
    _placedItems = doc.placedItems;
    _embed()
} else {
    try {
        var targetLayer = doc.layers[_name];
        targetLayer.visible = true;
        targetLayer.locked = false;
        _placedItems = [];
        function recurse(items) {
            for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
                if (items[i].typename == "PlacedItem") {
                    _placedItems.push(items[i]);
                } else if (items[i].typename == "GroupItem") {
                    recurse(items[i].pageItems);
                }
            }
        }
        recurse(targetLayer.pageItems);
        _embed()
    } catch(e) {
        alert(e.message);
    }
}
function _embed() {
    for (var i = _placedItems.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
        _placedItems[i].embed();
    }
}

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 01, 2022 Mar 01, 2022

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Hi Femke,

 

This is actually used in an automated script. What needs to happen is the script needs to check if the "Test Layer" is available and if yes embed all images in the "Test Layer" and if the "Test Layer" not continue without doing anything.

 

I hope it is clear.

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Community Beginner ,
Mar 01, 2022 Mar 01, 2022

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Hi Femke,

 

I think I fixed it myself this way:

 

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var _placedItems;
var _name = doc.layers[""];
if (_name == "") {
_placedItems = doc.placedItems;
_embed()
} else {
try {
var targetLayer = doc.layers["Test Layer"];
targetLayer.visible = true;
targetLayer.locked = false;
_placedItems = [];
function recurse(items) {
for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
if (items[i].typename == "PlacedItem") {
_placedItems.push(items[i]);
} else if (items[i].typename == "GroupItem") {
recurse(items[i].pageItems);
}
}
}
recurse(targetLayer.pageItems);
_embed()
} catch(e) {}
}
function _embed() {
for (var i = _placedItems.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
_placedItems[i].embed();
}
}
If you dont mind having a quick look, I will be forever greatfull!

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Guide ,
Mar 01, 2022 Mar 01, 2022

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Yes, that is fine. 

 

Edit:  Or you could use this:

var doc = app.activeDocument;
try {
    var targetLayer = doc.layers["Test Layer"];
    targetLayer.visible = true;
    targetLayer.locked = false;
    var _placedItems = [];
    function recurse(items) {
        for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
            if (items[i].typename == "PlacedItem") {
                _placedItems.push(items[i]);
            } else if (items[i].typename == "GroupItem") {
                recurse(items[i].pageItems);
            }
        }
    }
    recurse(targetLayer.pageItems);
    for (var i = _placedItems.length - 1; i > -1; i--) {
        _placedItems[i].embed();
    }
} catch(e) {}

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