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Tilles
Tilles
Inspiring
November 17, 2021
Answered

Convert to Smart Object script command not working anymore

  • November 17, 2021
  • 6 replies
  • 2083 views

hi guys,
With this last update (23.0.0), I realize that my script that convert layers to smart objects is throwing an error now. The error is attached below.
I try to route again the 'convert to smart object' command, with ScriptListener plugin, but the code output is still the same.
Any insights about this error?

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Tilles

    hi guys! thx for the answers. I took the time to debug the code properly. All these scripts to convert to smart object work just fine. My script loops through selected layers and convert each selection to one Smart Object.

    The problem was with the activeLayer property ... passing a layer to this property seems not to work in some situations, so the command "Convert to Smart Object" was not being able to execute without a layer selected.

    For example, this code, that should select the first layer:

    var docRef = app.activeDocument;
docRef.activeLayer = docRef.layers[0];

    It works when:
    - One or more layers are selected, but not the first layer.

    It doesn't work when:
    - No layer is selected
    - Some layers are selected, including the first

    This is specific to trying to select the first layer. If you change '0' for other index, it works fine.
    I did a workaround to fix this. Sorry about the confusion and thanks for the support.

    6 replies

    Tilles
    TillesAuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    November 18, 2021

    hi guys! thx for the answers. I took the time to debug the code properly. All these scripts to convert to smart object work just fine. My script loops through selected layers and convert each selection to one Smart Object.

    The problem was with the activeLayer property ... passing a layer to this property seems not to work in some situations, so the command "Convert to Smart Object" was not being able to execute without a layer selected.

    For example, this code, that should select the first layer:

    var docRef = app.activeDocument;
docRef.activeLayer = docRef.layers[0];

    It works when:
    - One or more layers are selected, but not the first layer.

    It doesn't work when:
    - No layer is selected
    - Some layers are selected, including the first

    This is specific to trying to select the first layer. If you change '0' for other index, it works fine.
    I did a workaround to fix this. Sorry about the confusion and thanks for the support.

    R
    r-bin
    Legend
    November 18, 2021
    quote

    For example, this code, that should select the first layer:

    var docRef = app.activeDocument;
docRef.activeLayer = docRef.layers[0];

    It works when:
    - One or more layers are selected, but not the first layer.

    It doesn't work when:
    - No layer is selected
    - Some layers are selected, including the first

    This is specific to trying to select the first layer. If you change '0' for other index, it works fine.
    I did a workaround to fix this. Sorry about the confusion and thanks for the support.


    By @Tilles

     

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/targeting-a-layer-when-none-is-selected/m-p/8535437#M279697

      Tilles
      TillesAuthor
      Inspiring
      November 19, 2021

      Hi r-bin, thx for your reply.
      I was looking for something like this, a layer ID or something, but the official guide doesn't say anything about it.
      In fact, scripting for Photoshop is so cumbersome ...
      Anyway, your code really worked, thanks. I'm surprised that you have to do some workaround to select a layer that should be selected with the actual code. And it's been 3 years ... I guess no one cares for PS scripting evolution

      J
      J453
      Legend
      November 17, 2021
      var idnewPlacedLayer = stringIDToTypeID( "newPlacedLayer" );
executeAction( idnewPlacedLayer, undefined, DialogModes.NO );

      This code seems to run fine for me on a single layer as well as multiple layers.

      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 17, 2021

      Strange, I have seen the opposite with other operations in older versions, the run menu item didn't work but the AM code did.

       

      Just curious, I converted the recorded command into an action and converted it into a script via xtools, does this work?

       

      #target photoshop
//
// Action29.jsx
//
//
// Generated Thu Nov 18 2021 07:25:21 GMT+1100
//
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
//
//==================== Action 29 ==============
//
function Action29() {
  // Convert to Smart Object
  function step1(enabled, withDialog) {
    if (enabled != undefined && !enabled)
      return;
    var dialogMode = (withDialog ? DialogModes.ALL : DialogModes.NO);
    executeAction(sTID('newPlacedLayer'), undefined, dialogMode);
  };
  step1();      // Convert to Smart Object
};
//=========================================
//                    Action29.main
//=========================================
//
Action29.main = function () {
  Action29();
};
Action29.main();
// EOF
"Action29.jsx"
// EOF
      Tilles
      TillesAuthor
      Inspiring
      November 17, 2021

      Using runMenuItem method did the job. For some reason, 'newPlacedLayer' is not available anymore, as a command.
      Thanks again!

      Tilles
      TillesAuthor
      Inspiring
      November 17, 2021

      hi Stephen! thanks for the reply.

      my bad, I thought of posting my code, but I forgot.
      It's the same as your first solution:

      var idnewPlacedLayer = stringIDToTypeID( "newPlacedLayer" );
executeAction( idnewPlacedLayer, undefined, DialogModes.NO );

      It's been working for years, but it's throwing this error now. I'll try your other methods / functions and come back here tomorrow.

      Stephen Marsh
      Community Expert
      Stephen MarshCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      November 17, 2021

      What is the layer content?

       

      I obviously don't know what code you are currently using as you didn't post it, but try this (presuming at least one selected layers):

       

      executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("newPlacedLayer"), undefined, DialogModes.NO);

       

      or

       

      newPlacedLayer();
function newPlacedLayer() {
        var s2t = function (s) {
            return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
        };
        executeAction(s2t("newPlacedLayer"), undefined, DialogModes.NO);
}

       

      or

      runMenuItem(stringIDToTypeID('newPlacedLayer'));

       

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