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J
joer74233125
Known Participant
December 30, 2019
Answered

Script to remove the word 'copy' from layer text

  • December 30, 2019
  • 2 replies
  • 3779 views

I use very specific titles for my illustrator files and do a lot of duplicating layers, which in many cases creates the word 'copy' after the layer. 

For example:

Layer 1

 - Sublayer 1

 - Sublayer 2

Layer 1 copy

 - Sublayer 1 copy

 - Sublayer 2 copy

 

It's easy enough to remove from a few layers, but sometime's I need to remove it from hundereds of layers. Is there either: an option to turn that off, or a script that either removes the word copy or allows me to rename layers easily?

I've looked around for quite a bit and can't seem to find anything related.

I use a script to rename individual objects, but can't seem to make it work for layers.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer rcraighead

Edited:
This function will update main and sublayer names. Still working to incorporate possible "copy 2" names, etc.

 

 

 

updateLayerNames();

function updateLayerNames() {
  var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
  var i;
  var ii;
  for (i = 0; i < aDoc.layers.length; i++) {
    aDoc.layers[i].name = aDoc.layers[i].name.replace(" copy", "");
    for (ii = 0; ii < aDoc.layers[i].layers.length; ii++) {
      aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name = aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name.replace(" copy", "");
    }
  }
}

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 replies

rcraighead
rcraighead
Legend
December 31, 2019

@joer74233125

I'm sure there's a more elegant way, but this will take care of 3 levels of copied layer names. Add a " copy 4" line if you think you need it.

 

Edit: Forgot to add lines for "Main Layers" as well.

updateLayerNames();

function updateLayerNames() {
  var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
  var i;
  var ii;
  for (i = 0; i < aDoc.layers.length; i++) {
    aDoc.layers[i].name = aDoc.layers[i].name.replace(" copy 3", "");
    aDoc.layers[i].name = aDoc.layers[i].name.replace(" copy 2", "");
    aDoc.layers[i].name = aDoc.layers[i].name.replace(" copy", "");
    for (ii = 0; ii < aDoc.layers[i].layers.length; ii++) {
      aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name = aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name.replace(" copy 3", "");
      aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name = aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name.replace(" copy 2", "");
      aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name = aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name.replace(" copy", "");
    }
  }
}

 

 

This could be made more editable with the use of a few variables. 🙂

    J
    joer74233125Author
    Known Participant
    December 31, 2019

    This is perfect, and much more elegant that what I was thinking, of just running a version of the script for each layer. I'll just edit the script with 'copy n' each time I run up against more layers.

     

    Thank you so much!

    rcraighead
    rcraigheadCorrect answer
    Legend
    December 31, 2019

    Edited:
    This function will update main and sublayer names. Still working to incorporate possible "copy 2" names, etc.

     

     

     

    updateLayerNames();

function updateLayerNames() {
  var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
  var i;
  var ii;
  for (i = 0; i < aDoc.layers.length; i++) {
    aDoc.layers[i].name = aDoc.layers[i].name.replace(" copy", "");
    for (ii = 0; ii < aDoc.layers[i].layers.length; ii++) {
      aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name = aDoc.layers[i].layers[ii].name.replace(" copy", "");
    }
  }
}

     

     

     

     

     

     

      J
      joer74233125Author
      Known Participant
      December 31, 2019

      This is awesome, thank you!

      Getting 'copy' out of the sublayers would be incredible, it's such a time consuming process by hand.

       

      If removing 'copy #' is too much, it's not a big deal.  I use an action to duplicate layers, so I can easily add the 'remove copy' script as part of the action, so it'll remove it as I go. Otherwise I can just duplicate your script down and change (" copy", ""); to (" copy 2", "");, (" copy 2", "");, ect.

       

      Edit: Updated while I was responding. This is exactly what I was looking for, you're a lifesaver.

        rcraighead
        rcraighead
        Legend
        December 31, 2019

        See update. Still does not address # suffixes when a layer is copied multiple times. I'll see if I can figure that out. Glad it helps.

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