Group selection

[Max_red_cat]

hello, how to select only groups, without selecting layers?

needed for action😰

Or is there some kind of sorting? to show only groups

["Actions" tag added by moderator]

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Its an option with the move tool - Auto Select Group.

You can then record selecting the group (the action shows Layer selected, but it does select the group).

If you are asking about how to select ALL groups (not layers) Im not sure that is possible with an Action, but may be with some clever scripting.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

That being said, a Layer Panel filter for Groups would be a great idea for an enhancement. You can add that under the Ideas section of the forum and users can upvote it.

[Max_red_cat]

I will write in more detail, I want to create an action: select only groups - add a prefix to each group

[Stephen Marsh]

---

@Max_red_cat wrote:

I will write in more detail, I want to create an action: select only groups - add a prefix to each group

I'm away from the computer for a couple of days, however this can be scripted as it is beyond an action.

Can you type out before/after example layer group names or screenshot before/after images of the layers panel?

Is the prefix static, or is it incremental?

Are the groups nested within other groups or artboards?

[Max_red_cat]

for example, a small fragment of the layer hierarchy, the selected group is the final version

there is only one artboard, groups can be nested within groups, but the main thing is to rename the older groups, nested ones can remain unchanged

prefix is ​​always static "[merge]"

[Stephen Marsh]

@Max_red_cat – you have shown a layer group:

[merge] mouse-shadow

And then there are other groups, such as:

body

tail

etc.

If I understand your request correctly, then all top-level groups within the artboard should be renamed to have the prefix:

[merge] body

[merge] tail

etc?

(I asked for a before/after screenshot, however, I should have specified two separate screenshots to make it crystal clear what was wanted).

[Bojan Živković]

Maybe @r-bin , @c.pfaffenbichler or @Chuck Uebele can help in meantime.

[Stephen Marsh]

@Max_red_cat 

Select the artboard and then run the following script:

/*
Add prefix to top-level groups within the selected artboard.jsx
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/group-selection/td-p/13624612
v1.0 - 4th March 2023, Stephen Marsh
*/

#target photoshop

function main() {

    // Check if the active layer is an artboard
    if (isArtboard() === true) {

        // Set the layers variable to the layers contained within the artboard
        var theLayers = activeDocument.activeLayer.layers;

        // Forward loop over the layers
        for (var i = 0; i < theLayers.length; i++) {
            // Check if the layer is a top-level group
            if (theLayers[i].typename === "LayerSet" && theLayers[i].parent == activeDocument.activeLayer) {
                // Add the prefix to the name
                theLayers[i].name = "[merged] " + theLayers[i].name;
            }
        }
    } else {
        alert("Please select the artboard layer and re-run the script...");
    }
}
activeDocument.suspendHistory('Add prefix to top-level groups...', 'main()');

//// Functions ////

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("Error!" + "\r" + e + ' ' + e.line);
    }
}

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/11/downloading-and-installing-adobe-scripts.html

[Max_red_cat]

@Stephen Marsh 
I turn on the script, but nothing happens, only the history shows that the event was completed, but no tags were added =(

[Max_red_cat]

Maybe it's because I don't use artboards? they are not in the hierarchy ... I'm not strong in photoshop, I'm hearing about artboards for the first time)

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

Maybe it's because I don't use artboards? they are not in the hierarchy ... I'm not strong in photoshop, I'm hearing about artboards for the first time)

By @Max_red_cat

If there are no artrboards in the file, the script should have informed you of that fact:

That would be the problem, you previously wrote about an artboard and the screenshot had the top of the layer structure truncated where the artboard would have been visible:

for example, a small fragment of the layer hierarchy, the selected group is the final version

there is only one artboard, groups can be nested within groups, but the main thing is to rename the older groups, nested ones can remain unchanged

prefix is ​​always static "[merge]"

So, you only wish to prefix all top-level layer groups? If so, try this version:

/*
Add prefix to top-level groups.jsx
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/group-selection/td-p/13624612
v1.0 - 4th March 2023, Stephen Marsh
*/

#target photoshop

function main() {
    // Capture the initial layer visibility and layer selection
    var currentLayersState = getLayersVisiblity();
    // Set the layer groups variable
    var theLayerSets = activeDocument.layerSets;
    // Forward loop over the layer groups
    for (var i = 0; i < theLayerSets.length; i++) {
        // Check if the layer is a group and a top level group
        // if (theLayerSets[i].typename === "LayerSet" && theLayerSets[i].parent == activeDocument) {
        if (theLayerSets[i].typename === "LayerSet") {
            theLayerSets[i].name = "[merged] " + theLayerSets[i].name;
        }
    }
    // Restore the initial layer visibility and selection
    setLayersVisiblity(currentLayersState);
}
activeDocument.suspendHistory('Add prefix to top-level groups...', 'main()');


//// Functions ////

function getLayersVisiblity() {
    // by jazz-y
    var s2t = stringIDToTypeID,
        t2s = typeIDToStringID;
    (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('targetLayersIDs'));
    r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
    var targetLayers = executeActionGet(r).getList(p),
        seletion = [],
        visiblity = {};
    for (var i = 0; i < targetLayers.count; i++) seletion.push(targetLayers.getReference(i).getIdentifier());
    (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('numberOfLayers'));
    r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
    var len = executeActionGet(r).getInteger(p);
    for (var i = 1; i <= len; i++) {
        (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('layerSection'));
        r.putIndex(s2t('layer'), i);
        if (t2s(executeActionGet(r).getEnumerationValue(p)) == 'layerSectionEnd') continue;
        (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('layerID'));
        r.putIndex(s2t('layer'), i);
        var id = executeActionGet(r).getInteger(p);
        (r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('visible'));
        r.putIndex(s2t('layer'), i);
        var visible = executeActionGet(r).getBoolean(p);
        visiblity[id] = visible;
    }
    return {
        selection: seletion,
        visiblity: visiblity
    };
}

function setLayersVisiblity(layersStateObject) {
    // by jazz-y
    var s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
    for (var a in layersStateObject.visiblity) {
        makeVisible = layersStateObject.visiblity[a] ? "show" : "hide";
        (r = new ActionReference()).putIdentifier(s2t('layer'), a);
        (d = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(s2t('target'), r);
        executeAction(s2t(makeVisible), d, DialogModes.NO);
    }
    if (layersStateObject.selection.length) {
        var r = new ActionReference();
        for (var i = 0; i < layersStateObject.selection.length; i++)
            r.putIdentifier(s2t("layer"), layersStateObject.selection[i]);
        (d = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(s2t("target"), r);
        d.putBoolean(s2t("makeVisible"), false);
        executeAction(s2t("select"), d, DialogModes.NO);
    } else {
        (r = new ActionReference()).putEnumerated(s2t("layer"), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
        (d = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(s2t('target'), r);
        executeAction(s2t('selectNoLayers'), d, DialogModes.NO);
    }
}

[Max_red_cat]

it works! thanks man, you are the best!

[Stephen Marsh]

it works! thanks man, you are the best!

By @Max_red_cat

You're welcome!

[Stephen Marsh]

I forgot to post this at the time, however, the good old Layer Name Edit script from Paul Riggott is also an option:

https://github.com/Paul-Riggott/PS-Scripts/blob/master/Layer%20Name%20Edit.jsx

[Greg von Neulich]

we made a Photoshop plug-in that can do this. The unlimited version is 12$. 

Full Version (12$):
https://exchange.adobe.com/apps/cc/c36e02fb/swift

Trial Version (Limited to 5 Actions):
https://exchange.adobe.com/apps/cc/412c1dcd/swift-trial-version

Its also a big help with getting the layers renamed after you select them.