Automation Filter Sample with Groups and Layer

[Hitz_M]

Hello,

I have a file with 1 Group (Group 1). This group contains one layer (Layer 1).

While using the AutomationFilter Plugin from sample project in SDK, number of layers is given 3 with the Layer names: </Layer group>, Group 1, Layer 1.

Is this a problem with the SDK or this is expected?

Souldn't just Layer 1 be the only layer?

Thanks,

Hitesh

[Chris Cox]

Expected, you're seeing the structure of the group.

[Hitz_M]

What is the significance of </Layer Group>? Is this indeed a Layer?

[Hitz_M]

Also, in the structure, how can I differentiate between a layer and group?

Does the PSActionDescriptor provide this information? Which key should be used?

[Tom Ruark]

Getter is your friend. Install that plug-in and run it via File > Automate

> Getter

This plug-in dumps all the keys from application/layer/channel and tells you what is available when asking Photoshop.

For your question the

PlayGetting Layer Info

section shows

error = sPSActionDescriptor->PutString(desc0000000000000578, keyName, "</Layer group>");

error = sPSActionDescriptor->PutString(desc0000000000000590, keyName, "Layer 1");

error = sPSActionDescriptor->PutString(desc00000000000005A8, keyName, "Group 1");

for the three layers you are seeing in that dialog (note the dialog needs to get fixed to not show group layers!) and has major problems when trying to use the other buttons when a layer group is selected!

The layer stack is upside down when looking at it sequentially in the getter.log file. You will first find these keys for the </Layer group> entry.

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSection", &runtimeKeyID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSectionEnd", &runtimeEnumID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSectionType", &runtimeTypeID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionDescriptor->PutEnumerated(desc0000000000000578, runtimeKeyID, runtimeTypeID, runtimeEnumID);

if (error) goto returnError;

You will see this for the "Layer 1" entry

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSection", &runtimeKeyID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSectionContent", &runtimeEnumID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSectionType", &runtimeTypeID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionDescriptor->PutEnumerated(desc0000000000000590, runtimeKeyID, runtimeTypeID, runtimeEnumID);

if (error) goto returnError;

And then the the "Group 1" entry

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSection", &runtimeKeyID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSectionStart", &runtimeEnumID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionControl->StringIDToTypeID("layerSectionType", &runtimeTypeID);

if (error) goto returnError;

error = sPSActionDescriptor->PutEnumerated(desc00000000000005A8, runtimeKeyID, runtimeTypeID, runtimeEnumID);

if (error) goto returnError;

Another interesting key on a layer is keyText. This will tell you that you are on a text layer and you can get information about the text on that layer by inspecting the descriptor found in that key. This key is not present on the "Layer 1" dump from above.

error = sPSActionDescriptor->PutObject(desc0000000000000E70, keyText, classTextLayer, desc0000000000000E78);

[Hitz_M]

Thanks a ton for this details information. I'll try this out.

Thanks,

Hitesh