How can I convert a layer to Smart Layer in Photoshop using AppleScript?

[soybaby]

I've searched the documentation, AppleScript dictionary as well as the Adobe forums here and can't find a way to convert a layer to a Smart Object. Is it possible?

[John V Knowles]

Are you trying to Automate this fucntion? If so ehy not use Actions?

WM

[soybaby]

Yes actually I'm trying to automate a series of steps like resizing and saving where creating a smart object is part of it but without using actions 

[Jeeeeerome]

Did you find a solution, I searched a lot and I can't find it either... 😉

[Stephen_A_Marsh · Accepted solution]

I haven't checked the AS scripting reference, however, both AS and JS DOM coding is limited. What the DOM doesn't cover, one can usually achieve using AM code (Action Manager).  The most accessible form of this is recorded by the ScriptingListener plug-in.

AppleScript can call "inline" code or reference an external script file to perform tasks not directly covered in the AS DOM.

The AM code to convert the active layer to an Embedded Smart Object:

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

The AppleScript code:

tell application "Adobe Photoshop 2024"
	
	set js to "executeAction(stringIDToTypeID(\"newPlacedLayer\"), undefined, DialogModes.NO);"
	
	do javascript js
	
end tell

Notice how the " double-quotes in the original code have been escaped \" with a backslash as the JS code is contained within open/close double-quotes in the AS code.

Another option rather than escaping the double-quotes, is to use single-quotes:

tell application "Adobe Photoshop 2024"
	
	set js to "executeAction(stringIDToTypeID('newPlacedLayer'), undefined, DialogModes.NO);"
	
	do javascript js
	
end tell

If you wanted to reference an external JSX file:

tell application "Adobe Photoshop 2024"
	activate
	do javascript of file "~/Desktop/createSO.jsx"
end tell

or

tell application "Adobe Photoshop 2024"
	activate
	do javascript (file "Users:username:Desktop:createSO.jsx")
end tell

[Jeeeeerome]

Wooow you're a boss! 

I've been trying to do this with Applescript for months and I can't find a solution. Even ChatGpt can't do it 😉 Congratulations on your code

It works perfectly.

It was the only thing I didn't know how to do with Applescript on Photoshop. I don't know about Script Listener but I'll look more carefully.
Thank you very much Stephen!

[Jeeeeerome]

Hi Stephen

I can't install Scripting Listener on my iMac Pro.
A priori, according to the forum, few people manage to do it.
Have you installed it on a recent mac?

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

I still use an Intel Mac.

I doubt that Adobe will update the plug-in to work with Apple Silicon as Adobe are transitioning scripting from ExtendScript and Action Manager to UXP JS and batchPlay... Later versions of Photoshop allow conversion directly to batchPlay JS without needing a plugin.

I haven't done much work with UXP, so I'll need to test if AS can use such code.

As UXP JS is cross-platform, one may have to do without using AppleScript if it can't run UXP JS.

[Lumigraphics]

An iMac Pro is Intel, so it should work. I have used it with my 2019 MacBook Pro/Sonoma so yes it does work.