How can I record layer alignment baseline?

[KlausKi]

I'm trying to record an Action that's aligning a layer. However, no step is recorded when I change the alignment baseline from "layer" to "canvas". So, the recorded Action will be very brittle, depending on the future current value of this application setting.

Is there a way to persist the layer alignment baseline setting?

I couldn't find a corresponding ExtendScript property for this setting, too. So I cannot create a corresponding script, either. Which property would I need to set in JavaScript?

Your answers are appreciated.

[Michael Bullo · Accepted solution]

What if you first did a Select > All?

[KlausKi]

Excellent answer! Thank you 🙂

[Michael Bullo]

Thank you. Happy to help.

[Bojan Živković]

Just to add to @Michael Bullo suggestion, record Select > All as action step, selection must be active when playing action, action will align to selection not to canvas.

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Here is align to canvas via scripting listener:

https://gist.github.com/MarshySwamp/618a08fd04c4f3ed0027f6926b6d9d62

// Align Active Layer to Canvas.jsx

/* 
ADSLefts      =   Align Left
ADSRights     =   Align Right
ADSCentersH   =   Align Centre Horizontal
ADSTops       =   Align Top
ADSBottoms    =   Align Bottom
ADSCentersV   =   Align Centre Vertical
null          =   insert "null" to quickly disable one of the two alignment options
*/

alignToCanvas(true, "ADSLefts");
alignToCanvas(true, "ADSTops");

function alignToCanvas(alignToCanvas, alignValue) {
	
	app.activeDocument.selection.selectAll();
	
	var s2t = function (s) {
		return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
	};
	var descriptor = new ActionDescriptor();
	var reference = new ActionReference();
	reference.putEnumerated( s2t( "layer" ), s2t( "ordinal" ), s2t( "targetEnum" ));
	descriptor.putReference( s2t( "null" ), reference );
	descriptor.putEnumerated( s2t( "using" ), s2t( "alignDistributeSelector" ), s2t( alignValue ));
	descriptor.putBoolean( s2t( "alignToCanvas" ), alignToCanvas );
	executeAction( s2t( "align" ), descriptor, DialogModes.NO );
	
	app.activeDocument.selection.deselect();
}

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

And align to select all:

https://gist.github.com/MarshySwamp/df372e342ac87854ffe08e79cbdbcbb5

// Align Active Layer to Select All.jsx

/* 
//macscripter.net/viewtopic.php?id=38890
AdLf = Align Left
AdRg = Align Right
AdCH = Align Centre Horizontal
AdTp = Align Top
AdBt = Align Bottom
AdCV = Align Centre Vertical
*/

//www.ps-scripts.com/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=7036&p=35273&hilit=align+layer#p35273

align2SelectAll('AdCH'); align2SelectAll('AdCV'); //Change as required

function align2SelectAll(method) {

   app.activeDocument.selection.selectAll();

   var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
   var ref = new ActionReference();
   ref.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt"));
   desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID("null"), ref);
   desc.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID("Usng"), charIDToTypeID("ADSt"), charIDToTypeID(method));
   try {
      executeAction(charIDToTypeID("Algn"), desc, DialogModes.NO);
   } catch (e) { }

   app.activeDocument.selection.deselect();

}

[KlausKi]

Very nice! 👍

Thanks for sharing!

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

I was curious, so I recorded two actions, one aligning to canvas and one aligning to selection. I converted each to a script using xtools.

The only notable difference in the code is:

desc1.putBoolean(sTID("alignToCanvas"), true);

vs.

desc1.putBoolean(sTID("alignToCanvas"), false);

However, when the action is played, both versions will error and fail if there is no selection before running the action. Align to canvas shouldn't require a selection, as the scripts posted above demonstrate. Therefore I can only conclude that this is a long-standing bug in the action playback, as the boolean for canvas appears to be recorded into the action, even if not visible in the action panel interface.

[Kukurykus]

Will you report a bug?

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Done:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/align-to-canvas-ignored-in-action-playback/i...

Please add your (up)vote if you can reproduce this issue.