script to create a template layer & then add a layer? Possible?

[NYC_Nancy]

Hello, I am just starting to learn javascript and would like to know if it's possible to do the following:

1. Open multiple .tiff or .jpg files into illustrator
2. On each file's layer 1, template = yes (it's a check box) and click OK
3. Add new layer 2, click OK
4. Save file
5. Close file

I tried creating an action to do this, but it does not work. I am doing some illustrator and photoshop work which has quite a lot of repetitive tasks & I know a script would be a huge timesaver.  This is just one of several scripts that I'd like to learn how to write.  Thanks very much for reading this post and for your help.  Best, Nancy

[Jongware]

That's odd. According to the JS Object Model Viewer, you can change about everything in the standard Layer Option dialog using a script (print, preview, locked, visible, and even "dimPlacedImages") but not ... "template".

[mecdos]

is there a change to this? i'm trying to do the same.

[Silly-V]

You can use an action to do this. (play action with your script)

[o-marat]

I tried it (embed this action into the script)  – it's works! Thank you, Vasily!

This code sets attribute "Template" to the current layer:

act_setLayTmplAttr();
function act_setLayTmplAttr () {
    var str = '/version 3' + '/name [ 14' + ' 7365744c6179546d706c41747472' + ']' + '/isOpen 1' + '/actionCount 1' + '/action-1 {' + ' /name [ 14' + ' 7365744c6179546d706c41747472' + ' ]' + ' /keyIndex 0' + ' /colorIndex 0' + ' /isOpen 1' + ' /eventCount 1' + ' /event-1 {' + ' /useRulersIn1stQuadrant 0' + ' /internalName (ai_plugin_Layer)' + ' /localizedName [ 5' + ' 4c61796572' + ' ]' + ' /isOpen 1' + ' /isOn 1' + ' /hasDialog 1' + ' /showDialog 0' + ' /parameterCount 10' + ' /parameter-1 {' + ' /key 1836411236' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (integer)' + ' /value 4' + ' }' + ' /parameter-2 {' + ' /key 1851878757' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (ustring)' + ' /value [ 20' + ' 4c61796572732050616e656c204f7074696f6e73' + ' ]' + ' }' + ' /parameter-3 {' + ' /key 1953068140' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (ustring)' + ' /value [ 7' + ' 4c617965722031' + ' ]' + ' }' + ' /parameter-4 {' + ' /key 1953329260' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (boolean)' + ' /value 1' + ' }' + ' /parameter-5 {' + ' /key 1936224119' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (boolean)' + ' /value 1' + ' }' + ' /parameter-6 {' + ' /key 1819239275' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (boolean)' + ' /value 1' + ' }' + ' /parameter-7 {' + ' /key 1886549623' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (boolean)' + ' /value 1' + ' }' + ' /parameter-8 {' + ' /key 1886547572' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (boolean)' + ' /value 0' + ' }' + ' /parameter-9 {' + ' /key 1684630830' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (boolean)' + ' /value 1' + ' }' + ' /parameter-10 {' + ' /key 1885564532' + ' /showInPalette -1' + ' /type (unit real)' + ' /value 50.0' + ' /unit 592474723' + ' }' + ' }' +
      '}';
  var f = new File ('~/ScriptAction.aia');
  f.open ('w');
  f.write (str);
  f.close ();
  app.loadAction (f);
  f.remove ();
  app.doScript ("setLayTmplAttr", "setLayTmplAttr", false); // action name, set name
  app.unloadAction ("setLayTmplAttr", ""); // set name
}

[schroef]

I converted my own action for Make Color Group. Issue is i get 2 errors. one is that it cant play the action, second it returns error when removing it again.

Do you have any idea?

below is my version, ive added aia code so i could compare and alter your code more easily

// Omarat
// https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/script-to-create-a-template-layer-then-add-a-layer-possible/m-p/3111687#M154564
// Example used for Make Color Group
/*
    original aia action

    /version 3
    /name [ 11
        4c6f676f2d5061636b6572
    ]
    /isOpen 1
    /actionCount 1
    /action-1 {
        /name [ 16
            4d616b6520436f6c6f722047726f7570
        ]
        /keyIndex 0
        /colorIndex 1
        /isOpen 1
        /eventCount 1
        /event-1 {
            /useRulersIn1stQuadrant 0
            /internalName (ai_plugin_swatches)
            /localizedName [ 8
                5377617463686573
            ]
            /isOpen 0
            /isOn 1
            /hasDialog 1
            /showDialog 1
            /parameterCount 1
            /parameter-1 {
                /key 1835363957
                /showInPalette -1
                /type (enumerated)
                /name [ 15
                    4e657720436f6c6f722047726f7570
                ]
                /value 17
            }
        }
    }

*/
act_MakeColorGroup();

function act_MakeColorGroup () {
    var str = '/version 3' + 
                '/name [ 11' + 
                    ' 4c6f676f2d5061636b6572' + 
                ']' + 
                '/isOpen 1' + 
                '/actionCount 1' + 
                '/action-1 {' + 
                    ' /name [ 16' + 
                        ' 4d616b6520436f6c6f722047726f7570' + 
                    ' ]' + 
                    ' /keyIndex 0' + 
                    ' /colorIndex 1' + 
                    ' /isOpen 1' + 
                    ' /eventCount 1' + 
                    ' /event-1 {' + 
                        ' /useRulersIn1stQuadrant 0' + 
                        ' /internalName (ai_plugin_swatches)' + 
                        ' /localizedName [ 8' + 
                            ' 5377617463686573' + 
                        ' ]' + 
                        ' /isOpen 0' + 
                        ' /isOn 1' + 
                        ' /hasDialog 1' + 
                        ' /showDialog 1' + 
                        ' /parameterCount 1' + 
                        ' /parameter-1 {' + 
                            ' /key 1835363957' + 
                            ' /showInPalette -1' + 
                            ' /type (enumerated)' + 
                            '/name [ 15' + 
                                ' 4e657720436f6c6f722047726f7570' + 
                            ']' + 
                            '/value 17' + 
                        '}' + 
                    '}' + 
                '}';
  var f = new File ('~/MakeColorGroup.aia');
  f.open ('w');
  f.write (str);
  f.close ();
  app.loadAction (f);
  app.doScript ("Make Color Group", "Logo Packer", true); // action name, set name
  app.unloadAction ("Make Color Group", ""); // set name
  f.remove ();

}

the action and action group is created, but wont play. Weird thing is is when the group is selected you can actually press play, but it wont do it?! I wasnt sure what false does in doScript, neither false nor true work 

[schroef]

Ive found my isse 🙂 its a dash ion the Action Group folder name, when i add it, it does work

[o-marat]

NYC_Nancy, hello!

What you do not specifically work?

Which of the above points, you can not describe in the script?