Layer Visibility Overrides for all Instances of a linked file

[aaronf31067511]

Is there a way to remove “layer visibility overrides” from all instances of a linked Illustrator file in InDesign? Example: I have 25 instances of an illustrator file and I want to change all of the instances to “use PDF layer visibility” without changing each manually.  Or alternatively, select all instances of a linked file and set all the visible layers for all instances in one place. 

[Laubender]

If you see no issue and all is working as expected: no.

Do not change anything.

If you want to do more with currentVisibility read into the linked thread above.

Also in this one: Activating object layers basing on document layers

Regards,
Uwe

[Laubender]

Hi aaronf31067511,

what's the exact error message you get?

Did you save the code back in July 2019 to a script file?
And are you using the same script file from back then with InDesign 2020?

If not, because you copied the code by the end of last year or this year and made a new script file, the reason why the code is broken is: The code was damaged while this thread was moved to the new Adobe InDesign forum.

Then we could only hope that crazyPanda stops by and corrects the code in his post or posts the not damaged code again.

I'm 100% sure that the code you can read and copy right now as I am writing this reply is damaged.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[aaronf31067511]

Thanks @Uwe,

Hopefully crazyPanda or someone is able to help! I'm still learning 🙂 

Yes using exactly the same script file with the new Adobe Indesign 2020... No error message.. the script doesn't seem "broken," as in it still runs, but the check boxes for the layers are no longer showing... 

InDesign 2020 (missing check boxes):

InDesign 2020

InDesign 2019 (check boxes showing): 

InDesign 2019

Original Script that worked with 2019

#targetengine batchLayerVisibility  
  
main();  
  
function main() {  
    proceed = false;  
     
    if (app.selection.length == 0) {  
        alert("Nothing selected.");  
        exit();  
    }  
  
    var sel = app.selection[0];  
     
    try {  
        var test = sel.graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers;  
        if (test.length == 0) {  
            alert("Selected object not supported.");  
            exit();  
        }  
        } catch (err) {  
            alert("Please select an .AI image with the white selection tool or click in the links panel on the graphic.");  
            exit();  
        }  
     
    var graphicFile = sel.itemLink.filePath;  
    instances = new Array();  
    var allGraphics= app.activeDocument.allGraphics;  
     
    // collect instances  
    for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {  
        if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {continue;}  
        if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath == graphicFile) {  
            instances.push(allGraphics[i]);  
        }  
    }  
  
    instancesCount = instances.length;  
     
    makeWindow();  
}  
  
function makeWindow() {  
    var w = new Window("dialog", "Batch Layer Visibility 1.2");  
    w.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];  
    checkboxes = new Array();  
     
    var panel = w.add("panel", undefined, "Layer Visibility");  
    panel.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];  
     
    layerList = panel.add("listbox", [0, 0, 400, 500], undefined, {multiselect: false, scrolling: true});  
     
    for (var i = 0; i < instances[0].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers.length; i++) {  
        var tempItem = layerList.add("item", instances[0].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers[i].name);  
        tempItem.checked = instances[0].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers[i].currentVisibility;  
        //tempItem.onClick = function () {alert();}  
    }  
  
    layerList.onChange =setCheckboxStatus; // call function setCheckboxStatus  
     
    checkboxes = layerList.items;  
     
    update_options = new Array();  
     
    updateOptionsPanel = w.add("panel", undefined, "Link Update Options");  
    updateOptionsPanel.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];  
    update_options[0] = updateOptionsPanel.add("radiobutton", undefined, "PDF Visibility");  
    update_options[1] = updateOptionsPanel.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Custom Visibility");  
     
    if (app.selection[0].graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption.toString() == "APPLICATION_SETTINGS") {  
        update_options[0].value = true;  
    } else {update_options[1].value = true;}  
     
    var btnGrp = w.add("group");  
    btnGrp.orientation = "row";  
     
    var closeBtn = btnGrp.add("button", undefined, "Exit");  
    closeBtn.onClick = function () {  
        proceed = false;  
        w.close();  
        exit();  
    }  
     
    var exeBtn = btnGrp.add("button", undefined, "OK", {name: "ok"});  
    exeBtn.onClick = function() {  
        proceed = true;  
        w.close();  
    }  
     
    w.show();  
}  
  
if (proceed == true) {  
    app.doScript(setVisibility, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.entireScript, "Batch Layer Visibility");  
}  
  
function setVisibility() {  
    pbar();  
     
    var graphicFile = app.selection[0].itemLink.filePath;  
     
    for (var c = 0; c < checkboxes.length; c++) {  
         
        var allGraphics= app.activeDocument.allGraphics;  
         
        // seek instances and change visibility  
        for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {  
            if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {continue;}  
            if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath == graphicFile) {  
                 
                //pbar_instance.value++;  
                 
                allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers[c].currentVisibility = checkboxes[c].checked;  
                 
                pbar_layer.value++;  
            }  
        }  
    }  
  
    allGraphics = app.activeDocument.allGraphics;  
     
    // set link update option  
    for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {  
        if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {continue;}  
        if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath ==graphicFile) {  
            if (updateOptionSel = updateOptionsPanel.children[0].value == true) {  
                allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption = UpdateLinkOptions.APPLICATION_SETTINGS;  
            } else {  
                allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption = UpdateLinkOptions.KEEP_OVERRIDES;  
            }  
            pbar_layer.value++;  
        }  
    }  
     
    pbarWindow.close();  
     
}  
  
function setCheckboxStatus() {  
     
    if (layerList.selection.checked == true) {  
        layerList.selection.checked = false;  
    } else {layerList.selection.checked = true;}  
    var tempSel = layerList.selection;  
    layerList.selection = null;  
  
}  
  
function pbar () {  
    pbarWindow = new Window ("palette", "Processing ...", undefined);  
    pbarPanel = pbarWindow.add("panel");  
     
    //pbarPanel.add("statictext", undefined, "Instances");  
    //pbar_instance = pbarPanel.add("progressbar", undefined, 0, instancesCount);  
     
    pbarPanel.add("statictext", undefined, "Progress:");  
    pbar_layer = pbarPanel.add("progressbar", undefined, 0, (instancesCount * checkboxes.length) + instancesCount);  
    pbar_layer.preferredSize.width = 200;  
     
    pbarWindow.show();  
     
}  

[Laubender]

Checkboxes not showing?

Ah. I see. Well, that could be a new bug with InDesign 2020 in the ScriptUI component.

Don't think that crazyPanda can do something about it.

Other than revising the code completely.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Laubender]

Ok. Found the thread that I had in mind. It is indeed a new bug with InDesign 2020:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/listitem-checked-on-indesign-15-0-2020/m-p/10734040#M160426

Here some code by mirco1981 for testing CC 2019 vs 2020:

#targetengine checkbox-test

var x = new Window ("dialog","test win", [0,0,150,150])
var y = x.add("listbox",[10,10,140,116])
for (var i=0;i<5;i++) {
y.add("item", "test " + i)

// this is the problem... on object model i can find this property but checkmark are not show...
y.items[i].checked = true
}
x.center()
x.show()

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[aaronf31067511]

Uwe,

Is this an easy modification or does this require extensive re-write? 

[Laubender]

aaronf31067511 said: Is this an easy modification or does this require extensive re-write?

I cannot speak for crazyPanda, but I think the UI part needs an extensive re-write to work around the bug.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[aaronf31067511]

Uwe,
Would you be willing to help with a rewrite? Looks like @crazyPanda is off
the radar.

Best,
Aaron

[crazyPanda · Accepted solution]

Hi,

here's a version with a modified interface with "real" checkboxes. The graphic layers will now be listed on several pages in the interface. Currently 10 layers per page will be shown. If you want a different number per page, change the value of the variable layersPerPage.

Edit: I wrote this on a Windows 10 notebook with ID 14.0.3 so I don't know if there will be problems with the latest ID version or Mac OS.

#targetengine "batchLayerVisibility"

var graphicInstances = null, instancesCount = null, checkboxes = null, ui_layerList = null, sel = null, pbarWindow = null;

main();

function main() {

	proceed = false;

	if (app.selection.length == 0) {
		alert("Nothing selected.");
		exit();
	}

	sel = app.selection[0];
	
	sel = sel instanceof PDF ? sel : sel.graphics[0];
	try {
		var test = sel.graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers;

		if (test.length == 0) {
			alert("Selected object not supported.");
			exit();
		}

		} catch (err) {
			alert("Please select an .AI image with the white selection tool or click in the links panel on the graphic.");
			
			exit();
		}
		
		var graphicFile = sel.itemLink.filePath;

		graphicInstances = [];

		var allGraphics= app.activeDocument.allGraphics;

    // collect instances

    for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {

	if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {
		continue;
	}

	if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath == graphicFile) {
		graphicInstances.push(allGraphics[i]);
	}
    }
	
	instancesCount = graphicInstances.length;

	makeDialog();
}

function makeDialog() {
	var w = new Window("dialog", "Batch Layer Visibility 1.3");
	w.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	checkboxes = [];
	
	var panel = w.add("panel", undefined, "Page x of y");
	panel.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	
	var panelStack = panel.add("group");
	panelStack.orientation = "stack";
	
	var g_options = graphicInstances[0].graphicLayerOptions;
	var g_layers = graphicInstances[0].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers;
	var g_layersCount = g_layers.length;
	
	var layersPerPage = 10;
	var pages2create = (g_layersCount / layersPerPage);
	pages2create = g_layersCount % layersPerPage == 0 ? pages2create : pages2create +1;
	var stackPages = [];
	var curLayer = 0;
	
	for (var p = 0; p < pages2create; p++){
		stackPages.push(panelStack.add("group"));
		stackPages[p].orientation = "column";
		stackPages[p].alignment = ["fill", "top"];
		
		for (var i = 0; i < layersPerPage; i++){
			//curLayer++;
			
			var cb_group = stackPages[p].add("group");
			cb_group.alignment = ["fill", "fill"];
			cb_group.orientation = "row";
			checkboxes.push( cb_group.add("checkbox") );
			
			var cb_label = cb_group.add("statictext", undefined, g_layers[curLayer].name);
			checkboxes[curLayer].value = g_layers[curLayer].currentVisibility;
			
			curLayer++;
			
			if(curLayer > g_layersCount -1){
				break;
			}
		}
		
		if (p == 0){
			stackPages[p].visible = true;
		} else {
			stackPages[p].visible = false;
		}
		
		if(curLayer > g_layersCount -1){
			break;
		}
	}
	
	panel.text = "Page 1 of " + stackPages.length;
	
	var pageBtns = panel.add("group");
	pageBtns.alignment = ["fill", "bottom"];
	
	var prevBtn = pageBtns.add("button", undefined, "Previous Page");
	var nextBtn = pageBtns.add("button", undefined, "Next Page");
	
	var curPage = 0;
	
	prevBtn.onClick = function(){
		if(curPage == 0){
			return;
		}
		
		stackPages[curPage].visible = false;
		stackPages[curPage -1].visible = true;
		panel.text = "Page " +  (curPage) + " of " + stackPages.length;
		
		if(curPage > 0){
			curPage--;
		}

	}
	
	nextBtn.onClick = function(){
		if(curPage == stackPages.length -1){
			return;
		}
		
		stackPages[curPage].visible = false;
		stackPages[curPage +1].visible = true;
		panel.text = "Page " +  (curPage +2) + " of " + stackPages.length;
		
		if(curPage < stackPages.length -1){
			curPage++;
		}
	}
	
	update_options = [];   
	
	updateOptionsPanel = w.add("panel", undefined, "Link Update Options");
	updateOptionsPanel.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	update_options[0] = updateOptionsPanel.add("radiobutton", undefined, "PDF Visibility");
	update_options[1] = updateOptionsPanel.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Custom Visibility");   
	
	if (sel.graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption.toString() == "APPLICATION_SETTINGS") {
		update_options[0].value = true;
	} else {
		update_options[1].value = true;
	} 
	
	var btnGrp = w.add("group");
	
	btnGrp.orientation = "row";   
	
	var closeBtn = btnGrp.add("button", undefined, "Exit", {name: "cancel"});
	
	closeBtn.onClick = function () {
		w.close();
		exit();
	}   

	var exeBtn = btnGrp.add("button", undefined, "OK", {name: "ok"});
	
	if(w.show() ==1) {
		app.doScript(setVisibility, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.entireScript, "Batch Layer Visibility");
	}
}

function setVisibility() {
	pbar();
	var graphicFile = sel.itemLink.filePath;
	for (var c = 0; c < checkboxes.length; c++) {
		var allGraphics= app.activeDocument.allGraphics;
		
		// seek instances and change visibility
		
		for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {
			if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {
				continue;
			}
			
			if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath == graphicFile) {
				allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers[c].currentVisibility = checkboxes[c].value;
				pbar_layer.value++;
			}
		}
	}
	
	allGraphics = app.activeDocument.allGraphics;
	
	// set link update option
	for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {
		if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {continue;}
		if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath ==graphicFile) {
			if (updateOptionSel = updateOptionsPanel.children[0].value == true) {
				allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption = UpdateLinkOptions.APPLICATION_SETTINGS;
			} else {
				allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption = UpdateLinkOptions.KEEP_OVERRIDES;
			}
			
			pbar_layer.value++;
		}
	}
	
	pbarWindow.close();
}

function setCheckboxStatus() {
	if (ui_layerList.selection.checked == true) {
		ui_layerList.selection.checked = false;
	} else {
		ui_layerList.selection.checked = true;
	}

	var tempSel = ui_layerList.selection;
	ui_layerList.selection = null;
}

function pbar () {

	pbarWindow = new Window ("palette", "Processing ...", undefined);
	pbarPanel = pbarWindow.add("panel");
	pbarPanel.add("statictext", undefined, "Progress:");
	pbar_layer = pbarPanel.add("progressbar", undefined, 0, (instancesCount * checkboxes.length) + instancesCount);
	pbar_layer.preferredSize.width = 200;
	pbarWindow.show();

}

[aaronf31067511]

Brilliant!!! Thank you once again @crazyPanda it works perfect! 

Would adding a button for "check all"  & "check none" be a difficult ask?  Alternatively, shift+click to select first and last. 

[crazyPanda · Accepted solution]

Well,

just for the heck of it I added a third button that inverts the selection.

#targetengine "batchLayerVisibility"

var graphicInstances = null, instancesCount = null, checkboxes = null, ui_layerList = null, sel = null, pbarWindow = null, pbar_layer, pbarText;

main();

function main() {

	proceed = false;

	if (app.selection.length == 0) {
		alert("Nothing selected.");
		exit();
	}

	sel = app.selection[0];
	
	sel = sel instanceof PDF ? sel : sel.graphics[0];
	try {
		var test = sel.graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers;

		if (test.length == 0) {
			alert("Selected object not supported.");
			exit();
		}

		} catch (err) {
			alert("Please select an .AI image with the white selection tool or click in the links panel on the graphic.");
			
			exit();
		}
		
		var graphicFile = sel.itemLink.filePath;

		graphicInstances = [];

		var allGraphics= app.activeDocument.allGraphics;

    // collect instances

    for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {

	if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {
		continue;
	}

	if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath == graphicFile) {
		graphicInstances.push(allGraphics[i]);
	}
    }
	
	instancesCount = graphicInstances.length;

	makeDialog();
}

function makeDialog() {
	var w = new Window("dialog", "Batch Layer Visibility 1.4");
	w.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	checkboxes = [];
	
	var panel = w.add("panel", undefined, "Page x of y");
	panel.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	
	var panelStack = panel.add("group");
	panelStack.orientation = "stack";
	
	var g_options = graphicInstances[0].graphicLayerOptions;
	var g_layers = graphicInstances[0].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers;
	var g_layersCount = g_layers.length;
	
	var layersPerPage = 10;
	var pages2create = (g_layersCount / layersPerPage);
	pages2create = g_layersCount % layersPerPage == 0 ? pages2create : pages2create +1;
	var stackPages = [];
	var curLayer = 0;
	
	for (var p = 0; p < pages2create; p++){
		stackPages.push(panelStack.add("group"));
		stackPages[p].orientation = "column";
		stackPages[p].alignment = ["fill", "top"];
		
		for (var i = 0; i < layersPerPage; i++){
			//curLayer++;
			
			var cb_group = stackPages[p].add("group");
			cb_group.alignment = ["fill", "fill"];
			cb_group.orientation = "row";
			checkboxes.push( cb_group.add("checkbox") );
			
			var cb_label = cb_group.add("statictext", undefined, g_layers[curLayer].name);
			checkboxes[curLayer].value = g_layers[curLayer].currentVisibility;
			
			curLayer++;
			
			if(curLayer > g_layersCount -1){
				break;
			}
		}
		
		if (p == 0){
			stackPages[p].visible = true;
		} else {
			stackPages[p].visible = false;
		}
		
		if(curLayer > g_layersCount -1){
			break;
		}
	}
	
	panel.text = "Page 1 of " + stackPages.length;
	
	var btnsPanel = w.add("group");
	btnsPanel.orientation = "column";
	
	var selectBtns = btnsPanel.add("panel");
	selectBtns.orientation = "row";
	selectBtns.alignment = ["fill", "bottom"];
	selectBtns.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	selectBtns.orientation = "row";
	
	var selectAllBtn = selectBtns.add("button", undefined, "Select all");
	var invertAllBtn = selectBtns.add("button", undefined, "Invert Selection");
	var deselectAllBtn = selectBtns.add("button", undefined, "Deselect all");
	
	selectAllBtn.onClick = function(){
		for (var i = 0; i < checkboxes.length; i++){
			checkboxes[i].value = true;
		}
	}
	
	deselectAllBtn.onClick = function(){
		for(var i = 0; i < checkboxes.length; i++){
			checkboxes[i].value = false;
		}
	}
	
	invertAllBtn.onClick = function(){
		for(var i = 0; i < checkboxes.length; i++){
			checkboxes[i].value = checkboxes[i].value == true ? false : true;
		}
	}
	
	var pageBtns = btnsPanel.add("panel");
	pageBtns.alignment = ["fill", "bottom"];
	pageBtns.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	pageBtns.orientation = "row";
	
	var prevBtn = pageBtns.add("button", undefined, "Previous Page");
	var nextBtn = pageBtns.add("button", undefined, "Next Page");
	
	var curPage = 0;
	
	prevBtn.onClick = function(){
		if(curPage == 0){
			return;
		}
		
		stackPages[curPage].visible = false;
		stackPages[curPage -1].visible = true;
		panel.text = "Page " +  (curPage) + " of " + stackPages.length;
		
		if(curPage > 0){
			curPage--;
		}

	}
	
	nextBtn.onClick = function(){
		if(curPage == stackPages.length -1){
			return;
		}
		
		stackPages[curPage].visible = false;
		stackPages[curPage +1].visible = true;
		panel.text = "Page " +  (curPage +2) + " of " + stackPages.length;
		
		if(curPage < stackPages.length -1){
			curPage++;
		}
	}
	
	update_options = [];   
	
	updateOptionsPanel = w.add("panel", undefined, "Link Update Options");
	updateOptionsPanel.alignChildren = ["fill", "fill"];
	update_options[0] = updateOptionsPanel.add("radiobutton", undefined, "PDF Visibility");
	update_options[1] = updateOptionsPanel.add("radiobutton", undefined, "Custom Visibility");   
	
	if (sel.graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption.toString() == "APPLICATION_SETTINGS") {
		update_options[0].value = true;
	} else {
		update_options[1].value = true;
	} 
	
	var btnGrp = w.add("group");
	
	btnGrp.orientation = "row";   
	
	var closeBtn = btnGrp.add("button", undefined, "Exit", {name: "cancel"});
	
	closeBtn.onClick = function () {
		w.close();
		exit();
	}   

	var exeBtn = btnGrp.add("button", undefined, "OK", {name: "ok"});
	
	if(w.show() ==1) {
		app.doScript(setVisibility, ScriptLanguage.JAVASCRIPT, undefined, UndoModes.entireScript, "Batch Layer Visibility");
	}
}

function setVisibility() {
	pbar();
	var graphicFile = sel.itemLink.filePath;
	for (var c = 0; c < checkboxes.length; c++) {
		var allGraphics= app.activeDocument.allGraphics;
		
		// seek instances and change visibility
		
		for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {
			if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {
				continue;
			}
			
			if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath == graphicFile) {
				allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.graphicLayers[c].currentVisibility = checkboxes[c].value;
				pbar_layer.value++;
				pbarText.text = "Layer " + (c+1) + " of " + checkboxes.length; 
			}
		}
	}
	
	allGraphics = app.activeDocument.allGraphics;
	
	// set link update option
	for (var i = 0; i < allGraphics.length; i++) {
		if (allGraphics[i].itemLink == null) {continue;}
		if (allGraphics[i].itemLink.filePath ==graphicFile) {
			if (updateOptionSel = updateOptionsPanel.children[0].value == true) {
				allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption = UpdateLinkOptions.APPLICATION_SETTINGS;
			} else {
				allGraphics[i].graphicLayerOptions.updateLinkOption = UpdateLinkOptions.KEEP_OVERRIDES;
			}
			
			pbar_layer.value++;
		}
	}
	
	pbarWindow.close();
}

function setCheckboxStatus() {
	if (ui_layerList.selection.checked == true) {
		ui_layerList.selection.checked = false;
	} else {
		ui_layerList.selection.checked = true;
	}

	var tempSel = ui_layerList.selection;
	ui_layerList.selection = null;
}

function pbar () {

	pbarWindow = new Window ("palette", "Processing ...", undefined);
	var pbarPanel = pbarWindow.add("panel", undefined, undefined);
	pbarText = pbarPanel.add("statictext", undefined, "Progress:");
	pbarText.alignment = ["fill","fill"];
	pbar_layer = pbarPanel.add("progressbar", undefined, 0, (instancesCount * checkboxes.length) + instancesCount);
	pbar_layer.preferredSize.width = 200;
	pbarWindow.show();

}

[aaronf31067511]

@crazyPanda,  I can't thank you enough. This script has been a serious time saver for me. Thank you for your continued support while perfecting this incredibly useful tool. 

[Little_Matty]

@crazyPanda This script is excellent. The fact that this doesn't exist built in is a shame but luckily there's people like you around. Does anyone know if it's possible to modify this to include INDD files? Also would there be a way to select multiple files at once and change the layers without having to blanket change every instance in the document?

[ML Rahman]

@crazyPanda What about layered InDesign file placed in an InDesign file. Anybody tried for that..

[denbykev]

Yes this Script does work with placed, layered InDesign files…

…but is there any way to stop the script altering items that are on locked layers?

[brycebr]

Why doesn't AI just have tthis built in? I just wasted 2 hours trying to figure out where these features were, only to find that this intuitive, expected feature requires a script. Do proactive, complete work, Adobe. How many users' time are you wasting? 

[Little_Matty]

Hi All,

Just wanted to follow up on this. I use @crazyPanda 's script pretty regularly but I wanted to see if anyone had found a way to pick and chose the files you want to change the layers to, or trick it somehow by locking ones you didn't want it to touch, hiding, etc.

Any updates?

Best,

Matt

[GraphicsFORstructuresMN]

I just found this script, it seems the only way to do what you are asking is to copy/paste the file and rename it for the ones you want to use differnt layer options. I was looking for a script that you could select all the instances you want to change and have the options you select only effect those instances of the file. Copy/pasteing once, compared to selecting several in InDesign is still faster for me.

[Robert Tkaczyk]

Hi All,

Just wanted to follow up on this. I use @crazyPanda 's script pretty regularly but I wanted to see if anyone had found a way to pick and chose the files you want to change the layers to, or trick it somehow by locking ones you didn't want it to touch, hiding, etc.

Any updates?

Best,

Matt

By @Little_Matty

My ID-Tasker can do this - and a lot more - but it's PC only...