Combine ungrouped layers

Question

How can I combine layers that are out of group using scripts? Thanks.

Stephen Marsh · Accepted Answer

@Stephen Marsh

Thanks for the script, it does what I want, but what I really want is for it to combine all the layers that don't belong to a group, regardless of whether they are before or after any group.

By @Delta2487

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

EDIT: This is what you were really wanting but didn't properly describe:

1) Turn visibility of all layers off

2) Turn visibility on for all layers EXCEPT layer groups

3) Merge visible layers

4) Turn visibility of all layers on

5) Deselect all layers

/*
Merge Ungrouped Layers.jsx
Stephen Marsh
v1.0 - 20th November 2025: Initial release
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/select-and-combine-layers-outside-of-group/td-p/15597925
*/

#target photoshop

app.activeDocument.suspendHistory("Merge Ungrouped Layers", "processLayers()");

function processLayers() {

    if (!app.documents.length) {
        alert("A document must be open to run this script!");
        return;
    }

    var doc = app.activeDocument;

    // Get the top ungrouped layer name
    var rootLayers = doc.layers;
    var topArtLayer = null;
    for (var i = 0; i < rootLayers.length; i++) {
        if (rootLayers[i].typename === "ArtLayer") {
            topArtLayer = rootLayers[i];
            break;
        }
    }
    var targetLayerName = topArtLayer.name;

    // Add a new dummy layer to the top of the stack
    doc.artLayers.add()

    // Deselect all layers
    app.runMenuItem(stringIDToTypeID('selectNoLayers'));

    // Turn visibility of all layers off
    setAllVisibility(doc.layers, false);

    // Turn visibility on for layers EXCEPT LayerSet groups
    showNonGroupLayers(doc.layers);

    // Merge visible layers
    doc.mergeVisibleLayers();

    // Rename the layer
    doc.activeLayer.name = targetLayerName;

    // Turn visibility of all layers on
    setAllVisibility(doc.layers, true);

    // Deselect all layers
    app.runMenuItem(stringIDToTypeID('selectNoLayers'));


    ///// Helper functions /////

    // Recursively toggle visibility for all layers
    function setAllVisibility(layers, state) {
        for (var j = 0; j < layers.length; j++) {
            try {
                layers[j].visible = state;
            } catch (e) {}
            if (layers[j].typename === "LayerSet") {
                setAllVisibility(layers[j].layers, state);
            }
        }
    }

    // Turn visibility ON for non-group layers
    function showNonGroupLayers(layers) {
        for (var k = 0; k < layers.length; k++) {
            var lyr = layers[k];
            if (lyr.typename === "ArtLayer") {
                try { lyr.visible = true; } catch (e) {}
            } else if (lyr.typename === "LayerSet") {
                // leave group visibility OFF
                showNonGroupLayers(lyr.layers);
            }
        }
    }
}

Stephen Marsh · Answer

@Delta2487 - Try this, no layers need to be selected, it works just as your screenshot:

/*
Merge Continuous Ungrouped Bottom Layers.jsx
Stephen Marsh
v1.0 - 19th November 2025: Initial release
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/select-and-combine-layers-outside-of-group/td-p/15597925
*/

#target photoshop

app.activeDocument.suspendHistory("Merge Continuous Ungrouped Bottom Layers", "processLayers()");

function processLayers() {

    if (!app.documents.length) {
        alert("A document must be open to run this script!");
        return;
    }

    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var rootLayers = doc.layers;

    if (rootLayers.length === 0) return;

    var bottomIndex = rootLayers.length - 1;
    var layersToSelect = [];

    for (var i = bottomIndex; i >= 0; i--) {
        var lyr = rootLayers[i];
        if (lyr.typename === "LayerSet") break;
        if (lyr.parent !== doc) break;
        layersToSelect.push(lyr);
    }

    if (layersToSelect.length === 0) {
        alert("No continuous bottom layers found.");
        return;
    }

    /*
    // Reverse so the top-most of the contiguous layers
    layersToSelect.reverse();
    // Get the name of the top selected layer
    var topSelectedName = layersToSelect[0].name;
    */

    // Select the layers
    selectByID(layersToSelect[0].id);
    for (var j = 1; j < layersToSelect.length; j++) {
        addToSelection(layersToSelect[j].id);
    }

    // Convert selected layers to a smart object
    executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("newPlacedLayer"), undefined, DialogModes.NO);

    // Rasterize the smart object
    var idrasterizeLayer = stringIDToTypeID("rasterizeLayer");
    var desc449 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idnull = charIDToTypeID("null");
    var ref57 = new ActionReference();
    var idLyr = charIDToTypeID("Lyr ");
    var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID("Ordn");
    var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID("Trgt");
    ref57.putEnumerated(idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt);
    desc449.putReference(idnull, ref57);
    executeAction(idrasterizeLayer, desc449, DialogModes.NO);

    // Deselect the layer
    app.runMenuItem(stringIDToTypeID('selectNoLayers'));

    
    ///// Helper functions /////

    function selectByID(id) {
        var ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIdentifier(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), id);
        var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
        desc.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), ref);
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("select"), desc, DialogModes.NO);
    }

    function addToSelection(id) {
        var ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIdentifier(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), id);
        var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
        desc.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), ref);
        desc.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("selectionModifier"),
                           stringIDToTypeID("selectionModifierType"),
                           stringIDToTypeID("addToSelection"));
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("select"), desc, DialogModes.NO);
    }
}

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