How to search / filter objects by name in Layers panel?

[MurzNN]

Is there any way exists for filter (via typing substring) list of all document objects in Adobe Illustrator Layers panel? For quick find and select objects with same word in name.

[S_Gans]

As far as I can tell, the only way to accomplish this would be with a script. I did find one online, but it seems to be a work in progress. I'm not a scripting expert, but perhaps someone on this forum would be more adept in writing something like that. I'd find it helpful, as well!

[pixxxelschubser · Accepted solution]

Yes, possible with scripting.

Here you go:

// select_byPartOfName.jsx
// does not work with 'automatically' named text frame items
// https://forums.adobe.com/message/10636405#10636405
var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
var pI = aDoc.pageItems;
aDoc.selection = null;
    $.writeln(pI.length)
for (i=pI.length-1; i>=0; i--) {
    $.writeln(pI.name.match(/test/i))
    if (pI.name.match(/test/i) != null) {
        pI.selected = true;
        }
    }

[MurzNN]

Thanks for so short but very useful script! Will be good to have build-in object filter in Adobe Illustrator interface, for example in bottom line of Objects panel.

[CarlosCanto]

agree, it would be great to be able to customize the UI but it is not possible at the moment.

[MurzNN]

I create a feature request about this: Implement quick filter by object name in Illustrator Layers panel – Adobe Illustrator Feedback  - let's vote!

[fredh95841124]

Can someone explain step-by-step to a scripting newbie how to use this? I was able to make the script file have it appear in the scripts file, but when I select it I get an error:

Error 1302: No such element / $.writeln(pI.name.match(/test/i))

So obviously I'm not using it right. It looks like the key is with the "test" in the code, but I don't really understand if this is a string or a variable or what. I tried changing "test" to a word that appeared in some layer names, but I still got that error (with the new string substituted for "test").
Can someone offer help here?

[pixxxelschubser]

You are right.

It is a known bug. The change to the new forum software removed parts of code ( mostly the counter "i" )

Try this version:

// select_byPartOfName.jsx
// does not work with 'automatically' named text frame items
// https://forums.adobe.com/message/10636405#10636405

var aDoc = app.activeDocument;
var pI = aDoc.pageItems;
aDoc.selection = null;
for (i=pI.length-1; i>=0; i--) {
	if (pI[i].name.match(/test/i) != null) {
		pI[i].selected = true;
		}
	}

[Srishti Bali]

moved to Illustrator Scripting​

[Felix289659655rfw]

I have a very good idea:

you could just open the svg in a text editor and then pattern search there. Cannot filter... but IntelliJ does the trick for searching with complex regexes