@arnault_6305
Rather than processing all artboards, this new script only works on (multiple) selected artboards.
EDIT: 20th September, code updated to v1.1 to handle groups.
/*
Convert Selected Artboards Content to Separate Linked Smart Objects.jsx
Stephen Marsh
v1.0 - 19th September 2025: Revised to work on selected artboards instead of all top-level layerSets
v1.1 - 20th September 2025: Corrected the layer selection code to include groups
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/converting-a-bunch-of-artboards-into-separate-linked-smart-objects/m-p/15510949
Partly based on:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/converting-to-linked-smart-object/m-p/13357539
Note: The linked smart object will have four guides indicating the original artboard bounds, which might be useful if you have content extending beyond the artboard edges.
*/
#target photoshop
app.activeDocument.suspendHistory("Convert Selected Artboard's Content to Separate Linked Smart Objects", "main()");
function main() {
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var docName = doc.name.replace(/\.[^\.]+$/, '');
///// Process selected layers - from jazz-y /////
var s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('targetLayersIDs'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
var lrs = executeActionGet(r).getList(p),
sel = new ActionReference();
for (var i = 0; i < lrs.count; i++) {
sel.putIdentifier(s2t('layer'), p = lrs.getReference(i).getIdentifier(s2t('layerID')));
(r = new ActionReference()).putIdentifier(s2t('layer'), p);
(d = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(s2t("target"), r);
executeAction(s2t('select'), d, DialogModes.NO);
var currentLayer = doc.activeLayer;
if (isArtboard() === true) {
artboardBounds(currentLayer, doc);
deselectAllLayers();
var selectedCount = selectAllLayersInGroup(currentLayer);
if (selectedCount > 0) {
var newSOName = docName + "_" + currentLayer.name;
convertToEmbeddedSmartObject(newSOName);
convertToLinkedSmartObject();
} else {
alert("No layers found in artboard: " + currentLayer.name);
}
} else {
alert("Unexpected error: Are all selected layers artboards?");
return;
}
}
processSavedPSBs(doc);
alert(lrs.count + " artboards processed to linked smart objects.");
app.beep();
} else {
alert("A document must be open to use this script!");
}
}
///// Helper Functions /////
function selectAllLayersInGroup(group) {
var selectedCount = 0;
var childLayers = group.layers;
for (var j = 0; j < childLayers.length; j++) {
var layer = childLayers[j];
// Select ArtLayers (regular layers)
if (layer.typename === "ArtLayer") {
selectLayerById(layer.id, selectedCount > 0);
selectedCount++;
}
// Select LayerSets (groups/subgroups)
else if (layer.typename === "LayerSet") {
selectLayerById(layer.id, selectedCount > 0);
selectedCount++;
}
}
return selectedCount;
}
function isArtboard() {
// modified from a script by greless with hints from jazz-y!
// returns true or false
try {
var d = new ActionDescriptor();
var r = new ActionReference();
r.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID('layer'), stringIDToTypeID('ordinal'), stringIDToTypeID('targetEnum'));
var options = executeActionGet(r);
return options.hasKey(stringIDToTypeID('artboard')); // test for the required key
} catch (e) {
//alert(e);
}
}
function sanitiseName(name) {
return name.replace(/[\/\\:\*\?"<>\|]/g, "_");
}
function selectLayerById(id, add) {
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), id);
var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID("null"), ref);
if (add) {
desc.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("selectionModifier"),
stringIDToTypeID("selectionModifierType"),
stringIDToTypeID("addToSelection"));
}
desc.putBoolean(charIDToTypeID("MkVs"), false);
executeAction(charIDToTypeID("slct"), desc, DialogModes.NO);
}
function deselectAllLayers() {
try {
var idselectNone = stringIDToTypeID("selectNoLayers");
executeAction(idselectNone, undefined, DialogModes.NO);
} catch (e) {
app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers[0];
}
}
function convertToEmbeddedSmartObject(newName) {
try {
var idapplyLocking = stringIDToTypeID("applyLocking");
var desc1113 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idnull = charIDToTypeID("null");
var ref514 = new ActionReference();
var idLyr = charIDToTypeID("Lyr ");
var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID("Ordn");
var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID("Trgt");
ref514.putEnumerated(idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt);
desc1113.putReference(idnull, ref514);
var idlayerLocking = stringIDToTypeID("layerLocking");
var desc1114 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idprotectNone = stringIDToTypeID("protectNone");
desc1114.putBoolean(idprotectNone, true);
desc1113.putObject(idlayerLocking, idlayerLocking, desc1114);
executeAction(idapplyLocking, desc1113, DialogModes.NO);
var idnewPlacedLayer = stringIDToTypeID("newPlacedLayer");
executeAction(idnewPlacedLayer, undefined, DialogModes.NO);
app.activeDocument.activeLayer.name = sanitiseName(newName);
} catch (e) {
alert("Error converting to smart object: " + e.toString());
}
}
function convertToLinkedSmartObject() {
var doc = app.activeDocument;
var docName = doc.name.replace(/\.[^\.]+$/, '');
var assetsFolder = new Folder(doc.path + "/" + sanitiseName(docName) + "_Assets");
if (!assetsFolder.exists) {
assetsFolder.create();
}
var baseName = sanitiseName(doc.activeLayer.name);
var fileName = baseName + ".psb";
var file = new File(assetsFolder.fsName + "/" + fileName);
var counter = 1;
while (file.exists) {
var suffix = "_" + ("000" + counter).slice(-3);
fileName = baseName + suffix + ".psb";
file = new File(assetsFolder.fsName + "/" + fileName);
counter++;
}
var idplacedLayerConvertToLinked = stringIDToTypeID("placedLayerConvertToLinked");
var desc346 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idnull = stringIDToTypeID("null");
var ref49 = new ActionReference();
var idlayer = stringIDToTypeID("layer");
var idordinal = stringIDToTypeID("ordinal");
var idtargetEnum = stringIDToTypeID("targetEnum");
ref49.putEnumerated(idlayer, idordinal, idtargetEnum);
desc346.putReference(idnull, ref49);
var idusing = stringIDToTypeID("using");
desc346.putPath(idusing, file);
executeAction(idplacedLayerConvertToLinked, desc346, DialogModes.NO);
}
function artboardBounds(group, doc) {
var boundsLayer = group.artLayers.add();
boundsLayer.name = "artboardBounds";
doc.activeLayer = boundsLayer;
var fillColor = new SolidColor();
fillColor.rgb.red = 127;
fillColor.rgb.green = 127;
fillColor.rgb.blue = 127;
doc.selection.selectAll();
doc.selection.fill(fillColor);
doc.selection.deselect();
boundsLayer.opacity = 0;
boundsLayer.fillOpacity = 0;
boundsLayer.move(group.layers[0], ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE);
}
function processSavedPSBs(doc) {
try {
var docName = doc.name.replace(/\.[^\.]+$/, '');
var assetsFolder = new Folder(doc.path + "/" + sanitiseName(docName) + "_Assets");
if (!assetsFolder.exists) {
return;
}
var psbFiles = assetsFolder.getFiles("*.psb");
for (var i = 0; i < psbFiles.length; i++) {
var f = psbFiles[i];
if (f instanceof File) {
try {
var openedDoc = app.open(f);
var idnewGuidesFromTarget = stringIDToTypeID("newGuidesFromTarget");
executeAction(idnewGuidesFromTarget, undefined, DialogModes.NO);
app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.layers["artboardBounds"];
app.activeDocument.activeLayer.remove();
openedDoc.close(SaveOptions.SAVECHANGES);
} catch (e) {
alert("Error opening " + f.name + ": " + e.toString());
}
}
}
} catch (e) {
alert("Error while opening saved .psb files: " + e.toString());
}
}
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