Does layer exist?

Question

Is there a in-built way in Photoshop scripting to return if a layer exists or not? Bearing in mind that there may be duplicate layer names so getByName isn't what I'm after.  function does_layer_exist(id)
{
  var originalSelectedLayer = app.activeDocument.activeLayer;
  try
  {
    var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var ref1 = new ActionReference();
    ref1.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), id);
    desc1.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref1);
    executeAction(charIDToTypeID('slct'), desc1, DialogModes.NO);

app.activeDocument.activeLayervar = originalSelectedLayer;
    return true;
  }
  catch(eek)
  {
    return false;
  }
}  This works, but I'm just wondering if there is an in-built method to call.Curious, me, you see.

r-bin · Accepted Answer

c.pfaffenbichler · Answer

I suppose you could get the indices and check those without changing the selected Layer at all.

// 2024, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
alert (checkLayersByIdentifier (3))
};
////// collect layers with certain name //////
function checkLayersByIdentifier (theIdentifier) {
// get number of layers;
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putProperty(stringIDToTypeID('property'), stringIDToTypeID('numberOfLayers'));
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") ); 
var applicationDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var theNumber = applicationDesc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("numberOfLayers"));
// process the layers;
for (var m = 0; m <= theNumber; m++) {
try {
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putProperty (stringIDToTypeID ("property"), stringIDToTypeID ("layerID"));
ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), m);
var layerDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var theID = layerDesc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID('layerID'));
if (theID == theIdentifier) {return true}
}
catch (e) {};
};
return false
};

Edit: Whether it’s more efficient you’d need to test; but maybe someone else has a better idea altogether.

Sign up

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Sign in to Adobe Community

To post, reply, or follow discussions, please sign in with your Adobe ID.

Scanning file for viruses.

This file cannot be downloaded