How to Convert a Multi-Layered IL File TO 1 Layer Per File - SVG Format?

Report · Mar 13, 2013

Hi there,

I recently found the following jsx script, which saves a multi-layered IL file into 1-layer-per-file with PNG format.

This file is very useful, but i'm currently working on a project that requires the files to be saved into SVG format.

Is there anyway to edit this script to save the files as SVG instead of PNG?

Your kind help is appreciated.

// *** Export Layers as PNG files (in multiple resolutions) ***
//
// Version: 1.0 (29 Aug 2012)
// Copyright Arcticmill 2012
// www.arcticmill.com
// Developed by: Johan Otterud
//
// This script will export all layers that have a name starting with "#", or "%" into a subfolder of the current .ai document.
// These options can be configured below:
// *** Config options ***
var subFolderName = "Export";
var saveInMultipleResolutions = false;
// ...
// Note: only use one character!
var exportLayersStartingWith = "#";
var exportLayersWithArtboardClippingStartingWith = "%";
// ...
var lowResolutionFileAppend = "@Low";
var normalResolutionFileAppend = "";
var highResolutionFileAppend = "@High";
// ...
var lowResolutionScale = 50;
var normalResolutionScale = 100;
var highResolutionScale = 200;
// *** Start of script ***
var doc = app.activeDocument;
// Make sure we have saved the document
if (doc.path != "") {
    // Check if we need to create the export directory or we will get errors up ahead
    var exportDirectoryPath = doc.path + "/" + subFolderName;
    var exportDirectory = new Folder(exportDirectoryPath);
    if (!exportDirectory.exists) {
        // We must create the export directory it seems
        var newFolder = new Folder(exportDirectoryPath);
        newFolder.create();
    }
    var layerData = new Array();
    // Finds all layers that should be saved and saves these to the export layers array
    collectLayerData(doc, null);
    var layersToExportCount = 0;
    for (var i = 0; i < layerData.length; i++) {
        if ((layerData.tag == "include") || (layerData.tag == "include_and_clip")) {
            // Hide all layers first
            hideAllLayers();
            var clipToArtboard = false;
            if (layerData.tag == "include_and_clip") {
                clipToArtboard = true;
            }
            // Now show all layers needed to actually display the current layer on screen
            layerData.showIncludingParentAndChildLayers(); //showIncludingParents();
            // Now we can export the layer as one or multiple PNG files!
            var savePath = doc.path; // Save to same folder as document but in a sub directory
            if (saveInMultipleResolutions) {
                // iPhone 3GS (50%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length) + fixFileAppend(lowResolutionFileAppend));
                savePNG(savePath, lowResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
                savePath = doc.path;
                // iPhone 4 (100%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length) + fixFileAppend(normalResolutionFileAppend));
                savePNG(savePath, normalResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
                savePath = doc.path;
                // iPad Retina (200%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length) + fixFileAppend(highResolutionFileAppend));
                savePNG(savePath, highResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
            } else {
                // Save normally (100%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length));
                savePNG(savePath, normalResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
            }
            layersToExportCount++;
        }
    }
    // Restore everything like it was before!
    restoreAllLayers();
    // Was there anything exported? If not make a warning!
    if (layersToExportCount == 0) {
        alert("Ooops, Found no layers to export!\n\nRemember that you must add a \"" + exportLayersStartingWith + "\" (when exporting the layer cropped to it's bound) or \"" + exportLayersWithArtboardClippingStartingWith + "\" (when layer should be clipped to artboard) to the beginning of the layer name. Also make sure that they layers you want to export are not locked or hidden.");
    } else {
        // Show a completed message
        alert(layersToExportCount + " layer(s) was successfully exported to: \n" + exportDirectoryPath);
    }
} else {
    // Document not saved yet!
    alert("Sorry, but you must save your document before you can use the export layers script! This is because exported images are saved in a subfolder to your original file.");
}
function fixFileAppend(fileAppend) {
    if (fileAppend == "") {
        return "";
    } else {
        return fileAppend + ".png";
    }
}
function hideAllLayers() {
    for (var i = 0; i < layerData.length; i++) {
        layerData.hide();
    }
}
function restoreAllLayers() {
    for (var i = 0; i < layerData.length; i++) {
        layerData.restoreVisibility();
    }
}
// Collects information about the various layers
function collectLayerData(rootLayer, extendedRootLayer) {
    for (var i = 0; i < rootLayer.layers.length; i++) {
        // We never even process locked or hidden layers
        if ((!rootLayer.layers.locked) && (rootLayer.layers.visible)) {
            var extendedLayer = new ExtendedLayer(rootLayer.layers);
            // Set up parent
            extendedLayer.parentLayer = extendedRootLayer;
            // Also add this layer to the parents child collection
            if (extendedRootLayer != null) {
                extendedRootLayer.childLayers.push(extendedLayer);
            }
            layerData.push(extendedLayer);
            // Tag these layers so that we later can find out if we should export these layers or not
            if (rootLayer.layers.name.substring(0, 1) == exportLayersStartingWith) {
                extendedLayer.tag = "include";
            } else if (rootLayer.layers.name.substring(0, 1) == exportLayersWithArtboardClippingStartingWith) {
                extendedLayer.tag = "include_and_clip";
            } else {
                extendedLayer.tag = "skip";
            }
            // We should not export this layer but we continue looking for sub layers that might need to be exported
            collectLayerData(rootLayer.layers, extendedLayer);
        }
    }
}
// Holds info and additional methods for layers
function ExtendedLayer(layer) {
    this.originalVisibility = layer.visible;
    this.layer = layer;
    this.tag = "";
    this.hide = hide;
    this.show = show;
    this.showIncludingParentAndChildLayers = showIncludingParentAndChildLayers;
    this.restoreVisibility = restoreVisibility;
    this.restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers = restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers;
    this.layerName = layer.name;
    // Set after creating
    this.childLayers = new Array();
    this.parentLayer = null;
    function hide() {
        layer.visible = false;
    }
    function show() {
        layer.visible = true;
    }
    // Shows this layer including it's parent layers (up to the root) and it's child layers
    function showIncludingParentAndChildLayers() {
        var parentlayerName = "";
        if (this.parentLayer != null) {
            parentlayerName = this.parentLayer.layerName;
        }
        // Show all parents first
        var aParentLayer = this.parentLayer;
        while (aParentLayer != null) {
            aParentLayer.restoreVisibility();
            // Keep looking
            aParentLayer = aParentLayer.parentLayer;
        }
        // Show our own layer finally
        this.restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers();
    }
    function restoreVisibility() {
        layer.visible = this.originalVisibility;
    }
    function restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers() {
        this.restoreVisibility();
        // Call recursively for each child layer
        for (var i = 0; i < this.childLayers.length; i++) {
            this.childLayers.restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers();
        }
    }
}
// Save PNG file
function savePNG(file, scale, artBoardClipping) {
    var exp = new ExportOptionsPNG24();
    exp.transparency = true;
    exp.horizontalScale = scale
    exp.verticalScale = scale;
    exp.artBoardClipping = artBoardClipping;
    doc.exportFile(file, ExportType.PNG24, exp);
}

Report · Mar 13, 2013

Since this script has a copyright, did you contact the owner of the copyright to see if he would be willing to help.

Report · Mar 13, 2013

Thanks for the reply Larry,

I did send him a message through the contact form on his site (listed with the script), however, I think since then their site has changed into some gaming site, and no longer has the script listed there - so i'm not sure if they will ever reply.

Report · Mar 13, 2013

It may not be as easy as it looks. The ExportOptionsSVG are different than the ones for PNG. You'll need to change the final function to saveSVG and then experiment to see how to apply the proper SVG options.

Report · Mar 17, 2013

I managed to edit the last part and make it work!

Only issue is that it saves ONLY the first layer in the 'Export' subfolder, however for the rest of the layers, it prompts the (Save As) dialog box, which asks for the desired file name / location of every layer.

Is there a way to supress the SAVE AS dialog box and make it save all layers?

Regards

// *** Export Layers as SVG files (in multiple resolutions) ***
//
// Version: 1.0 (29 Aug 2012)
// Copyright Arcticmill 2012
// www.arcticmill.com
// Developed by: Johan Otterud
//
// This script will export all layers that have a name starting with "#", or "%" into a subfolder of the current .ai document.
// These options can be configured below:
// *** Config options ***
var subFolderName = "Export";
var saveInMultipleResolutions = false;
// ...
// Note: only use one character!
var exportLayersStartingWith = "#";
var exportLayersWithArtboardClippingStartingWith = "%";
// ...
var lowResolutionFileAppend = "@Low";
var normalResolutionFileAppend = "";
var highResolutionFileAppend = "@High";
// ...
var lowResolutionScale = 50;
var normalResolutionScale = 100;
var highResolutionScale = 200;
// *** Start of script ***
var doc = app.activeDocument;
// Make sure we have saved the document
if (doc.path != "") {
    // Check if we need to create the export directory or we will get errors up ahead
    var exportDirectoryPath = doc.path + "/" + subFolderName;
    var exportDirectory = new Folder(exportDirectoryPath);
    if (!exportDirectory.exists) {
        // We must create the export directory it seems
        var newFolder = new Folder(exportDirectoryPath);
        newFolder.create();
    }
    var layerData = new Array();
    // Finds all layers that should be saved and saves these to the export layers array
    collectLayerData(doc, null);
    var layersToExportCount = 0;
    for (var i = 0; i < layerData.length; i++) {
        if ((layerData.tag == "include") || (layerData.tag == "include_and_clip")) {
            // Hide all layers first
            hideAllLayers();
            var clipToArtboard = false;
            if (layerData.tag == "include_and_clip") {
                clipToArtboard = true;
            }
            // Now show all layers needed to actually display the current layer on screen
            layerData.showIncludingParentAndChildLayers(); //showIncludingParents();
            // Now we can export the layer as one or multiple SVG files!
            var savePath = doc.path; // Save to same folder as document but in a sub directory
            if (saveInMultipleResolutions) {
                // iPhone 3GS (50%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length) + fixFileAppend(lowResolutionFileAppend));
                saveSVG(savePath, lowResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
                savePath = doc.path;
                // iPhone 4 (100%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length) + fixFileAppend(normalResolutionFileAppend));
                saveSVG(savePath, normalResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
                savePath = doc.path;
                // iPad Retina (200%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length) + fixFileAppend(highResolutionFileAppend));
                saveSVG(savePath, highResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
            } else {
                // Save normally (100%)
                savePath.changePath(subFolderName + "/" + layerData.layer.name.substring(1, layerData.layer.name.length));
                saveSVG(savePath, normalResolutionScale, clipToArtboard);
            }
            layersToExportCount++;
        }
    }
    // Restore everything like it was before!
    restoreAllLayers();
    // Was there anything exported? If not make a warning!
    if (layersToExportCount == 0) {
        alert("Ooops, Found no layers to export!\n\nRemember that you must add a \"" + exportLayersStartingWith + "\" (when exporting the layer cropped to it's bound) or \"" + exportLayersWithArtboardClippingStartingWith + "\" (when layer should be clipped to artboard) to the beginning of the layer name. Also make sure that they layers you want to export are not locked or hidden.");
    } else {
        // Show a completed message
        alert(layersToExportCount + " layer(s) was successfully exported to: \n" + exportDirectoryPath);
    }
} else {
    // Document not saved yet!
    alert("Sorry, but you must save your document before you can use the export layers script! This is because exported images are saved in a subfolder to your original file.");
}
   function fixFileAppend(fileAppend) {

       if (fileAppend == "") {
           return "";
       } else {
           return fileAppend + ".svg";
       }
   }
function hideAllLayers() {
    for (var i = 0; i < layerData.length; i++) {
        layerData.hide();
    }
}
function restoreAllLayers() {
    for (var i = 0; i < layerData.length; i++) {
        layerData.restoreVisibility();
    }
}
// Collects information about the various layers
function collectLayerData(rootLayer, extendedRootLayer) {
    for (var i = 0; i < rootLayer.layers.length; i++) {
        // We never even process locked or hidden layers
        if ((!rootLayer.layers.locked) && (rootLayer.layers.visible)) {
            var extendedLayer = new ExtendedLayer(rootLayer.layers);
            // Set up parent
            extendedLayer.parentLayer = extendedRootLayer;
            // Also add this layer to the parents child collection
            if (extendedRootLayer != null) {
                extendedRootLayer.childLayers.push(extendedLayer);
            }
            layerData.push(extendedLayer);
            // Tag these layers so that we later can find out if we should export these layers or not
            if (rootLayer.layers.name.substring(0, 1) == exportLayersStartingWith) {
                extendedLayer.tag = "include";
            } else if (rootLayer.layers.name.substring(0, 1) == exportLayersWithArtboardClippingStartingWith) {
                extendedLayer.tag = "include_and_clip";
            } else {
                extendedLayer.tag = "skip";
            }
            // We should not export this layer but we continue looking for sub layers that might need to be exported
            collectLayerData(rootLayer.layers, extendedLayer);
        }
    }
}
// Holds info and additional methods for layers
function ExtendedLayer(layer) {
    this.originalVisibility = layer.visible;
    this.layer = layer;
    this.tag = "";
    this.hide = hide;
    this.show = show;
    this.showIncludingParentAndChildLayers = showIncludingParentAndChildLayers;
    this.restoreVisibility = restoreVisibility;
    this.restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers = restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers;
    this.layerName = layer.name;
    // Set after creating
    this.childLayers = new Array();
    this.parentLayer = null;
    function hide() {
        layer.visible = false;
    }
    function show() {
        layer.visible = true;
    }
    // Shows this layer including it's parent layers (up to the root) and it's child layers
    function showIncludingParentAndChildLayers() {
        var parentlayerName = "";
        if (this.parentLayer != null) {
            parentlayerName = this.parentLayer.layerName;
        }
        // Show all parents first
        var aParentLayer = this.parentLayer;
        while (aParentLayer != null) {
            aParentLayer.restoreVisibility();
            // Keep looking
            aParentLayer = aParentLayer.parentLayer;
        }
        // Show our own layer finally
        this.restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers();
    }
    function restoreVisibility() {
        layer.visible = this.originalVisibility;
    }
    function restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers() {
        this.restoreVisibility();
        // Call recursively for each child layer
        for (var i = 0; i < this.childLayers.length; i++) {
            this.childLayers.restoreVisibilityIncludingChildLayers();
        }
    }
}
// Save SVG file
function saveSVG(file, scale, artBoardClipping) {
var exp = new ExportOptionsSVG();
exp.embedRasterImages = true;
exp.embedAllFonts = false;
exp.fontSubsetting = SVGFontSubsetting.GLYPHSUSED;
doc.exportFile(file, ExportType.SVG, exp);
}

How to Convert a Multi-Layered IL File TO 1 Layer Per File - SVG Format?

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