1 Correct answer
#target illustrator
var docRef = app.activeDocument;
with (docRef) {
for (var i = 0; i < layers.length; i++) {
layers.name = layers.length - i;
}
}
Explore related tutorials & articles
55
Replies
Does your file structure follow the one outlined in the thread. Here's an example of what will happen with this script.
Hi I am trying to modify this script by changing the 'ca' to something else more relevant to my project in this case 'PBW'. But I get this error whenever I change it.
could someone tell me why this is happening? I would love to be able to rename layers and change the names according to my project.
#target illustrator
var docRef = app.activeDocument;
with (docRef) {
for (var i = 0; i < layers.length; i++) {
layers.name = 'ca' + (layers.length - i).toString();
}
}
#target illustrator
var docRef = app.activeDocument;
with (docRef) {
for (var i = 0; i < layers.length; i++) {
layers.name = ‘PBW’ + (layers.length - i).toString();
}
}
It would be nice to be able to rename sub-layers with this script 
Alan I'd like to see what you come up with; I have many script ideas for Ps and or Illustrator; I'm learning Ps DOM and not going as fast as I had planned 
I use Layers Control 2; although as of PsCC-2015 it isn't stable
I read all of the above, but I didn't quite find out if there is a script available to only rename selected layers with the option to add a prefix. This would be a very good script to have in the arsenal Anyone know where to look? Is it difficult to make?
I was playing with this mid last year, it may do what you want.
var doc = app.activeDocument, lays = [];
for(var i = 0; i < doc.layers.length; i++){
lays.push(doc.layers.name);
}
var w = new Window('dialog',"Layer Name Editor");
var list = w.add('group');
list.orientation = "Column";
var head = list.add('group');
head.alignment = "left";
var p = head.add('statictext', undefined, "Prefix");
var n = head.add('statictext', [0,0,165,20], " Layer Name");
var s = head.add('statictext', undefined, "Suffix");
var pre = [], nam = [], suf = [];
for(var i = 0; i < lays.length; i++){
newLine(i,"item" + i);
}
function newLine(num,item){
item = list.add('group');
item.alignment = "left";
pre[num] = item.add('checkbox', undefined,"");
nam[num] = item.add('edittext', [0,0,200,20], lays);
nam[num].characters = 50;
suf[num] = item.add('checkbox', undefined, "");
}
var sep1 = list.add("panel");
sep1.alignment = ["fill","fill"];
sep1.minimumSize.height = sep1.maximumSize.height = 2;
var prefixt = list.add('statictext', undefined, "Prefix to add to checked layers");
var prefix = list.add('edittext', [0,0,250,20], "");
var sep2 = list.add("panel");
sep2.alignment = ["fill","fill"];
sep2.minimumSize.height = sep2.maximumSize.height = 2;
var prefixt = list.add('statictext', undefined, "Suffix to add to checked layers");
var suffix = list.add('edittext', [0,0,250,20], "");
var sep3 = list.add("panel");
sep3.alignment = ["fill","fill"];
sep3.minimumSize.height = sep3.maximumSize.height = 2;
var ButtonGroup = w.add("group");
ButtonGroup.margins = [0,-10,0,-8];
ButtonGroup.alignment = "right";
var go = ButtonGroup.add ("button", undefined, "OK");
var stop = ButtonGroup.add ("button", undefined, "Cancel");
stop.onClick = function(){
w.close();
}
go.onClick = function(){
var validatePre = false, validateSuf = false, validateMessage = "";
for(var i = 0; i < lays.length; i++){
if(pre.value == true && prefix.text == ""){validatePre = true}
if(suf.value == true && suffix.text == ""){validateSuf = true}
}
if(validatePre == true){validateMessage = "Layers have been marked for Prefix, but no Prefix entered\n"}
if(validateSuf == true){validateMessage = validateMessage + "Layers have been marked for Suffix, but no Suffix entered"}
if(validateMessage != ""){
alert(validateMessage);
}else{
w.close();
goTime();
}
}
w.show();
function goTime(){
for(var i = 0; i < lays.length; i++){
var na = nam.text;
var pr = "";
var su = "";
if(pre.value == true){pr = prefix.text + " - "}
if(suf.value == true){su = " - " + suffix.text}
doc.layers.name = pr + na + su;
}
}
Whoops, ran into a hiccup though, that comes up because of the kind of anims I'm doing (importing AI files into After Effects, using them as moving elements).
Qwertyfly...'s script's dialog box shows all the documents layers. When I added a few dozen more layers, the script became unusable because the dialog box ain't resizable and has no scroll bars.
I think tomorrow I'll do a workaround and just save a copy of the AI file, delete the layers I don't want to rename, run this script, and paste the results into my 'real' AI file.
I'm running 2017 on a PC, and yes I'm using this script with Illustrator (21.0.2) The language of the system is English. The only characters that exist in the layer names are underscores & there are over ten layers.
Ok I just installed 2017.
I had not seen this yet as I have been busy with other things.
WOW what a difference.
I am guessing things have changed a bit...
scriptUI was ugly at best.
now it is terrible. as you say the tabs are crap, and the check boxes are near invisible!
and it crashed!
just starting the script and pressing cancel crashed it.
as I have had a few issues getting 2017 to open without crashing, its still taking about 7-8min to start up.
I am in no way confident of the cause.
I may need to revisit the code and jig it to work with the new illy, I will need to learn what does not work now.
Watch this space...
AdChoices