ExtendScript: how to get screens size?

[frmorel]

Hello,

I'm trying to get working an old jsx script + applescript that split my main screen with the two frontmost Photoshop documents - it was very useful for comparing two documents.
This script worked with an old Photoshop CS6 but it gives an error on Photoshop 2025 when I try to retrieve my screen sizes.
I was using :

app.getCustomOptions('screensSize').getString(0)

Do you know any Photoshop 2025 compatible equivalent?

[Ciccillotto]

If I understand correctly, do you need this?

[frmorel]

Thank you for your answer.

Yes, this kind of display.
But better:
- I would like only the windows of the two frontmost documents to be modified
- I would also like the windows of any other documents not to be placed in tabs

[Ciccillotto]

you could put a screenshot of what you would like. 

[Agred_Agfu4710]

its nice I like that script.. but I don't know the compatible thing.

Online gamer

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Did you »app.putCustomOptions(…« before trying to get them? 

Otherwise there being nothing to retrieve seems logical. 

Please post screenshots illustrating what you mean exactly. 

If you (understandably for a Mac-user) don’t want tabs please disable them via the Preferences (»Open Documents as Tabs« and QEnable Floating Document Window Docking«). 

[frmorel]

app.getCustomOptions('screensSize')

returns "error 1302" -> Nonexistent element

These are some screen captures:

1 - initial demo state (please note the order of the windows : car and cat are the two frontmost documents)

2 - what I want (what I had in CC6!) - dog document has not been affected, it is below the others

3 - what I have with Arrange > 2-up Vertical - note the tab (though open docs in tabs is not checked in the settings)

[c.pfaffenbichler]

3 - what I have with Arrange > 2-up Vertical - note the tab (though open docs in tabs is not checked in the settings)

But is »Enable Floating Document Window Docking« checked? 

Edit: Never mind, apparently the Preferences settings are disregarded when invoking those arrangements. 

Again: Did you putCustomOptions? 

If not what would be there to retrieve? 

I suspect you set this up when installing the Script/s originally on CS6 and you would have to do the same for 2025. 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I generally use txt-files to store data across runs of a Script but in this thread 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/how-to-record-javascript-dialog-input...

I posted an example @Paul Riggott had originally posted (though I may have changed the code somewhat, I cannot locate the original thread) that shows how to use getCustomOptions and putCustomOptions to store and retrieve information. 

[frmorel]

Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. This is a part of my script and the results.

	var myProp = 'screensSize';
	var myString = 'Hello';
	var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
	app.putCustomOptions(myProp, desc, false);
	
	alert(app.getCustomOptions('screensSize')); // --> [ActionDescriptor] : [count]'0' [typename]'ActionDescriptor'
	alert(app.getCustomOptions('screensSize').getString(0)); // --> ERROR 8500 : property doesn't exist

I'll try with your links.

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Forgive the bluntness, but that code seems contradictory to me.

You define »desc« as a new ActionDescriptor, put it in custom options with the name »myProp«, then

• try to retrieve it by the name »screensize« and

• expect it to carry some specific information. 

But … I seem to vaguely recall that custom options cannot be defined by simple names anymore but need to be identified by a UUID – a change that was implemented some time after CS6, I expect.  

[frmorel]

You're right, there is a small mistake in my demo code.

But if I write :

app.putCustomOptions('screensSize', desc, false);

I have the same error. Maybe it's due to the UUID identifier... but what is an UUID? Where could I find some detailed informations about app.putCustomOptions()?

Anyhow, if it's too complicated, I think I can make a workaround for my problem with an Applescript.

[Stephen Marsh]

but what is an UUID?

By @frmorel

You can Goolge or ask AI about  UUID or GUID.

For Photoshop, they are most “commonly” used in scripts to provide a unique I.D. for a custom menu item, such as the <eventid></eventid> used in the <javascriptresource></javascriptresource> block in scripts such as Export Layers to Files. I have also used them when adding a layer that should have a "unique" name.

Here are a couple of script examples:

alert(generateGuid());

function generateGuid() {
  // GUID generator
  /* http://blog.shkedy.com/2007/01/createing-guids-with-client-side.html */
  /* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universally_unique_identifier */
  var result, i, j;
  result = '';
  for (j = 0; j < 32; j++) {
    if (j == 8 || j == 12 || j == 16 || j == 20)
      result = result + '-';
    i = Math.floor(Math.random() * 16).toString(16).toUpperCase();
    result = result + i;
  }
  return result;
}

Or:

alert(uuid());

function uuid() {
  /* https://stackoverflow.com/questions/105034/how-to-create-a-guid-uuid */
  var chars = '0123456789abcdef'.split('');

  var uuid = [],
    rnd = Math.random,
    r;
  uuid[8] = uuid[13] = uuid[18] = uuid[23] = '-';
  uuid[14] = '4'; // version 4

  for (var i = 0; i < 36; i++) {
    if (!uuid[i]) {
      r = 0 | rnd() * 16;

      uuid[i] = chars[(i == 19) ? (r & 0x3) | 0x8 : r & 0xf];
    }
  }

  return uuid.join('');
}

[frmorel]

Thank you Stephen for your explanations.

[r-bin · Accepted solution]

Sorry, I forgot to answer your question. This is a part of my script and the results.

	var myProp = 'screensSize';
	var myString = 'Hello';
	var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
	app.putCustomOptions(myProp, desc, false);
	
	alert(app.getCustomOptions('screensSize')); // --> [ActionDescriptor] : [count]'0' [typename]'ActionDescriptor'
	alert(app.getCustomOptions('screensSize').getString(0)); // --> ERROR 8500 : property doesn't exist

I'll try with your links.

By @frmorel

First, you use getString(), but I don't see putString().

Second, don't use 0 for the key(id) argument.   more 

[frmorel]

It works! Thank you very much for your help.

	var myProp = 'screensSize';
	var myString = 'Hello';
	
	var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
	desc.putString(1, myString); 
	app.putCustomOptions(myProp, desc, false);

	alert(app.getCustomOptions(myProp).getString(1)); // --> "Hello"

[c.pfaffenbichler]

I apologize, I was mistaken, the UUID-identification is apparently not necessary.