Script for Removing Illustrator "background" Layers from 1000+ files & then resave them to a folder

[#1]

Hello everyone!

This is my first support post. Thank you all in advance for your help and advice.

So here is our issue:

• We have 1000+ illustrator files.
• Each file has a layer with the name "background".
• We need to remove the "background" layer from the file and resave it to a folder on the desktop/or save over the original file. (whatever is easier).

My question is...is this possible with so many files?

[#2]

Hello everyone!

This is my first support post. Thank you all in advance for your help and advice.

So here is our issue:

• We have 1000+ illustrator files.
• Each file has a layer with the name "background".
• We need to remove the "background" layer from the file and resave it to a folder on the desktop/or save over the original file. (whatever is easier).

My question is...is this possible with so many files?

[#3]

Hi,

Try following snippet

function main() {
    var folder = Folder(Folder.desktop + "/New Files");
    if (!folder.exists)
        folder.create();
    for (var i = app.documents.length; i <= app.documents.length; i--) {
        try {
            var _backgroudLayer = app.documents[i].layers.getByName('background');
            _backgroudLayer.remove();
            var fileName = app.documents[i].name;
            app.documents[i].saveAs(File(folder + "/" + fileName));
            app.documents[i].close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        } catch (e) {

        }
    }
}

main()

This script will create a folder on Desktop with name "New Files" and all files will be saved inside the folder "New Files"

[#4]

there are over 1000 files. I don't think they will all be open in Illustrator. I have slightly modified your code

function main() {
    var folder = Folder(Folder.desktop + "/New Files");
    if (!folder.exists)
        folder.create();
    var fileList = File.openDialog("Selest Files", "All:*.ai*", true);
    for (var i = fileList.length; i <= fileList.length; i--) {
        app.open(fileList[i]);
        var doc = app.activeDocument;
        try {
            var _backgroudLayer = doc.layers.getByName('background');
            _backgroudLayer.remove();
            var fileName = doc.name;
            doc.saveAs(File(folder + "/" + fileName));
            doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        } catch (e) {

        }
    }
}

main()

[#5]

OK, firstly i would just like to thank you guys for your quick replies. 

Secondly, i just got my hands on the files in question and none of them have a layer with the name "background".

But, is there a possibility to delete sub or grouped layers with the standard "<rectangle>" named layers?

Thanks in advance!!

[#6]

if you need to remove the bottom layer but try this

function main() {
    var folder = Folder(Folder.desktop + "/New Files");
    if (!folder.exists)
        folder.create();
    var fileList = File.openDialog("Selest Files", "All:*.ai*", true);
    for (var i = fileList.length; i <= fileList.length; i--) {
        app.open(fileList[i]);
        var doc = app.activeDocument;
        try {
            //var _backgroudLayer = doc.layers.getByName('background');
            //_backgroudLayer.remove();
            var docLayers= doc.layers;
            var n = docLayers.length; 
            docLayers[n-1].remove();
            var fileName = doc.name;
            doc.saveAs(File(folder + "/" + fileName));
            doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        } catch (e) {

        }
    }
}

main()

if you need to delete only the bottom object, then try this

function main() {
    var folder = Folder(Folder.desktop + "/New Files");
    if (!folder.exists)
        folder.create();
    var fileList = File.openDialog("Selest Files", "All:*.ai*", true);
    for (var i = fileList.length; i <= fileList.length; i--) {
        app.open(fileList[i]);
        var doc = app.activeDocument;
        try {
            //var _backgroudLayer = doc.layers.getByName('background');
            //_backgroudLayer.remove();
            var pI= doc.pathItems;
            var n = pI.length; 
            pI[n-1].selected;
            pI[n-1].remove();
            var fileName = doc.name;
            doc.saveAs(File(folder + "/" + fileName));
            doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        } catch (e) {

        }
    }
}

main()

[#7]

Getting this error message...

[#8]

There is a typo in the loop.

for (var i = fileList.length; i <= fileList.length; i--) {

Should be:

for (var i = fileList.length-1; i >= 0; i--) {

[#9]

Thanks for the updated code. that worked.
but when I try to select the whole folder of EPS files, i get this error now.

[#10]

Ignore the previous message. The errors came from corrupt files. The code is working perfecly.
Thank you all for your help!