Duplicate object into multiple selected frame

[Jean-Claude Tremblay]

I’m looking for a script that will duplicate the selected object or the content of the clipboard into multiple selected layers inside a document.

I have not find any discussions around this, but I’m asking if anyone have already seen such script.

Thanks

Jean-Claude

[Jump_Over]

Hi,

"multiple selected layers" could be a main issue here, cause - as far as I know - script is not able to read UI panels states (except active property).

But if you may find other condition rule...

Jarek

[Kai Rübsamen]

Just a idea: What if the user select the layers not in the normal panel, instead he click on checkboxes in a dialog?

–Kai

[Jump_Over]

Hi Kai,

If so - good condition is found.

Jarek

[Kai Rübsamen]

Hi Jarek,

what do you mean with good condition?

I would display a dialog with checkboxes, based on the layers names in the acual document. If the checkboxes are checked, the selected object will be duplicated on these layers.

We had a similiar goal some weeks ago with checked layers in ai-files in our german forum.

–Kai

[Jump_Over]

Hi Kai,

I ment the way code could be based on that input and output data are defined definitely.

A dialog with check boxes is a good solution.

Jarek

[Kai Rübsamen]

O.K. lets wait what Jean-Claude thinks about a dialog and if he wants to duplicate only single objects, multiple objects, groups …

[Jean-Claude Tremblay]

My first idea was indeed a dialog with layers names in it. Much quicker than having to turn on/off visibilities of layers, than return to original stay of document.

For the objects, it could be a single or multiple object or groups.

[Laubender]

@Jean-Claude – that is all doable, also a "deluxe" version where the dialog is a panel constantly updating the list of layers, if you add and remove, change order or turn on/off visibility.

For your basic need, the following snippet in ExtendScript should be sufficient.
All selected objects will be duplicated to all layers that are visible and not locked:

var mySel = app.selection;
var myLayers = app.documents[0].layers.everyItem().getElements();

for(var s=0;s<mySel.length;s++){

    var layerOfSelection = mySel.itemLayer;

    for(var n=0;n<myLayers.length;n++){

        if(
            myLayers !== layerOfSelection

            && myLayers.visible === true
            && lmyLayers.locked === false

            ){
            mySel.duplicate(myLayers);
            };
        };

};

Uwe

[Kai Rübsamen]

Hi Guys,

I rewrite Hans Haeslers script a bit. In a first step it will only work with single selected items and will not check, if the selected layers are locked or hidden:

// duplicate on different layers _b01

// vorbeugenderweise das Anzeigen von Dialogen aktivieren 
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.interactWithAll; 

// prüfen, ob ein Dokument geöffnet ist 
if ( app.documents.length == 0 ) { 
    alert ( "Open a document" ); 
    exit(); 
} 

// die Auswahl speichern ... 

if ( app.selection.length == 1 ) {
    var curSel = app.selection[0];
}
else {
    alert ( "Warning\rWorks only with one selected item at the moment" );
    exit();
}

var curDoc = app.activeDocument;
var allLayers = curDoc.layers;
var nLayers = allLayers.length;

// eventuell vorhandene Dialoge entfernen 
try { 
    app.dialogs.everyItem().destroy(); 
} 
catch (e) { 
} 

var layerNames = new Array(); 

for ( var i = 0; i < nLayers; i++ ) { 
    layerNames.push( allLayers.name ); 
} 

// eventuell vorhandene Dialoge entfernen 
try { 
    app.dialogs.everyItem().destroy(); 
} 
catch (e) { 
} 

// den Dialog vorbereiten ... 
var dlogCheckList = new Array(); 
var aDialog = app.dialogs.add({ name: "Duplicate object to selected layers", canCancel: true }); 
with ( aDialog ) { 
    with ( dialogColumns.add() ) { 
        with ( dialogRows.add() ) { 
            staticTexts.add({ staticLabel: "active = duplicate"} ); 
            for ( var n = 0; n < nLayers; n++ ) { 
                with (dialogRows.add()) { 
                    dlogCheckList.push( checkboxControls.add({ staticLabel: layerNames })); 
                } 
            } 
        } 
    } 
} 
// ... anzeigen und die Wahl des Anwenders anwenden 
if ( aDialog.show() == true ) { 
    for ( var k = 0; k < dlogCheckList.length; k++ ) {
        var curCheckBox = dlogCheckList;
        if ( curCheckBox.checkedState ) {
            var curLayer = curDoc.layers.itemByName( layerNames ); 
            curSel.duplicate( curLayer );
        }
    } 
    aDialog.destroy(); 
} 
else { 
    aDialog.destroy(); 
} 

Kai

[Jean-Claude Tremblay]

@Uwe Your snippets fail/stop at if( each time. Thanks!

@Kai Wow! This works on a single group object too. Might be enough for my need.

[Kai Rübsamen · Accepted solution]

Jean-Claude try the following one:

1. Should work with a single object, multiple objects, group

2. Should alert a warning, if you select nothing or select some text

3. Will not honor, if layers are hidden or locked

Does it work for you?

// duplicate on different layers _b02
// by Kai Rübsamen, credits to Hans Haesler

// vorbeugenderweise das Anzeigen von Dialogen aktivieren
app.scriptPreferences.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevels.interactWithAll;

// prüfen, ob ein Dokument geöffnet ist
if ( app.documents.length == 0 ) {
    alert ( "Warning\rOpen a document!" );
    exit();
}

// die Auswahl speichern ...
var allSel = app.selection;
var nItems = allSel.length;

// und prüfen
if ( !nItems ) {
    alert ( "Warning\rSelect something!" );
    exit();
}

if ( nItems == 1 && app.selection[0].hasOwnProperty("baseline") ) {
    alert ( "Warning\rDoes not work with text. Select only frames!" );
    exit();
}

var curDoc = app.activeDocument;
var allLayers = curDoc.layers;
var nLayers = allLayers.length;

// eventuell vorhandene Dialoge entfernen
try {
    app.dialogs.everyItem().destroy();
}
catch (e) {
}

var layerNames = new Array();

for ( var i = 0; i < nLayers; i++ ) {
    layerNames.push( allLayers.name );
}

// eventuell vorhandene Dialoge entfernen
try {
    app.dialogs.everyItem().destroy();
}
catch (e) {
}

// den Dialog vorbereiten ...
var dlogCheckList = new Array();
var aDialog = app.dialogs.add({ name: "Duplicate object to selected layers", canCancel: true });
with ( aDialog ) {
    with ( dialogColumns.add() ) {
        with ( dialogRows.add() ) {
            staticTexts.add({ staticLabel: "active = duplicate"} );
            for ( var n = 0; n < nLayers; n++ ) {
                with (dialogRows.add()) {
                    dlogCheckList.push( checkboxControls.add({ staticLabel: layerNames }));
                }
            }
        }
    }
}
// ... anzeigen und die Wahl des Anwenders anwenden
if ( aDialog.show() == true ) {
    for ( var k = 0; k < dlogCheckList.length; k++ ) {
        var curCheckBox = dlogCheckList;
        if ( curCheckBox.checkedState ) {
            var curLayer = curDoc.layers.itemByName( layerNames );
            for ( var i = nItems-1; i >= 0; i-- ) {
                var curSel = allSel;
                curSel.duplicate( curLayer );
            }
        }
    }
    aDialog.destroy();
}
else {
    aDialog.destroy();
}

–Kai

[Laubender]

@Jean-Claude – sorry, a little typo sneaked in.

I had an additional character in the the variable name of myLayers inside of the if statement.

Here the code again:

var mySel = app.selection; 
var myLayers = app.documents[0].layers.everyItem().getElements(); 

for(var s=0;s<mySel.length;s++){ 

    var layerOfSelection = mySel.itemLayer; 

    for(var n=0;n<myLayers.length;n++){ 

        if( 
            myLayers !== layerOfSelection 

            && myLayers.visible === true 
            && myLayers.locked === false 

            ){ 
            mySel.duplicate(myLayers); 
            }; 
        }; 

};

Uwe

[Jean-Claude Tremblay]

Kai & Uwe, both solutions works perfectly. Both are useful depending on specific need and situation.

Thanks a lot guys for your help and generosity. Hope this can be useful to others too.