How can I refresh a "dropdownlist" control through another control?

[Simonetos The Greek]

Greetings everybody!!!

This code below is not my full code so don't try it in Photoshop. I just show to you the most important parts.

Well, I have a dropdownlist control, which lists some layer types and their numeric indexes. Then I make a layerType variable (with layer types numeric indexes) which is useful for getLayersData function, so to find all layers with specific type.

I also have a second dropdownlist, which lists all found layer names and a layerName variable which is also useful for getLayersData function, so to find all layers with specific name.

My problem is, that when I run the script, getLayersData function gets the layerType variable only (no problem) and makes an array with the layers of that type. But if I change the layerType from dropdownlist1, the list of dropdownlist2 remains as it is, with the layers of previous type!!!

So, how can I make my dropdownlist2 (layers names) reload, refresh (whatever it is called), when I change the layer type at dropdownlist1?

Thank you in advance!!!

function main()
{
    var dropdownlist1_array = ["Any Layer","Pixel Layer","Adjustment","Text Layer","Vector Layer","Smart Object","Video Layer","Group or Artboard","3D Layer","Gradient","Pattern","Solid Color","Background Layer","Hidden Section Bounder"]; 
    var dropdownlist1 = group2.add("dropdownlist", undefined, dropdownlist1_array);
    dropdownlist1.selection = 4;
    dropdownlist1.alignment = ["left","center"];
    var layerType = dropdownlist1.selection.index;
    dropdownlist1.onChange = function(){layerType = this.selection.index; statictext2.text = layerType; app.refresh();};
    var statictext2 = group2.add("statictext");
    statictext2.justify = "left";
    statictext2.text = layerType;
    statictext2.orientation = "column"; 
    statictext2.spacing = 0;
    var layerNames = [];    
    var layersData = getLayersData(); 
    for (var i = 0; i < layersData.length; i++){layerNames.push(layersData.name);}
    layerNames = UniqueSortedList(layerNames);
    var dropdownlist2 = group3.add("dropdownlist", undefined, layerNames); 
    dropdownlist2.selection = 0;
    var layerName = dropdownlist2.selection.index;
    dropdownlist2.onChange = function(){layerName = this.selection; edittext1.text = layerName; app.refresh();};
    dialog.show();
    function getLayersData()
    {
        var lyrs = [];
        var layers = 1;
        while (true)
        {
            ref = new ActionReference();
            ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), layers);
            try{var desc = executeActionGet(ref);}catch (err){break;};
            var lyr = {};
            lyr.type = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerKind"));
            lyr.name = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID("Nm  "));
            lyr.id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerID"));
            if (lyr.type == layerType && lyr.name.match(layerName))
            {   
                lyrs.push(lyr);
            };
            layers++;            
        };
        return lyrs;
    };
    function UniqueSortedList(ArrayName)
    {  
        var unduped = new Object;  
        for (var i = 0; i < ArrayName.length; i++)
        {     
            unduped[ArrayName] = ArrayName;  
        }
        var uniques = new Array;
        for (var k in unduped)
        {  
            uniques.push(unduped);
        }  
        return uniques.sort();  
    };
}; 

[SuperMerlin]

Here is an example...

    var array1 = ["Joe","Fred","Brian"];
    var array2 = ["Yellow","Green","Blue"];
    var array3 = ["Earth","Mars","Venus"];
    var w = new Window("dialog","test",undefined,{closeButton: true}); 
    w.group1 = w.add("group");
    var dropdownlist1_array = ["Any Layer","Pixel Layer","Adjustment"];
    w.group1.dl1 = w.group1.add("dropdownlist",undefined,dropdownlist1_array);
    w.group1.dl1.selection=0;
    w.group2 = w.add("group");
    w.group2.dl1 = w.group2.add("dropdownlist",undefined,array1);
    w.group2.dl1.selection=0;
    w.group1.dl1.onChange=function(){
        w.group2.dl1.removeAll();
        switch(w.group1.dl1.selection.index){
       case 0: for(var a = 0; a< array1.length;a++) {w.group2.dl1.add("item", array1);}
                    break;
        case 1: for(var a = 0; a< array2.length;a++) {w.group2.dl1.add("item", array2);}
                    break;
        case 2: for(var a  =0; a< array3.length;a++) {w.group2.dl1.add("item", array3);}
                    break;
        }
    w.group2.dl1.selection=0;
    }
    w.show();

[Simonetos The Greek]

Well based on you example too, I managed to make it work, I just had to call the getLayersData function and do all the stuff inside dropdownlist1.onChange, but I have an issue. The second dropdownlist control filled up with unique layer names as it should, but again, I have the same problem as in this question!!! Instead of a list with names I get one line with all names!!! Here is my code as it looks now...

var dropdownlist1_array = ["Any Layer [0]","Pixel Layer [1]","Adjustment [2]","Text Layer [3]","Vector Layer [4]","Smart Object [5]","Video Layer [6]","Group or Artboard [7]","3D Layer [8]","Gradient [9]","Pattern [10]","Solid Color [11]","Background Layer [12]"]; // "Hidden Section Bounder [13]"
var dropdownlist1 = group4.add("dropdownlist", undefined, dropdownlist1_array); 
    dropdownlist1.selection = -1; 
    dropdownlist1.preferredSize.height = 20;
    dropdownlist1.onChange = function(){onChangeDropdownlist1();};

var dropdownlist2 = group4.add("dropdownlist", undefined, undefined); 
    dropdownlist2.selection = -1; 
    dropdownlist2.preferredSize.height = 20;

function onChangeDropdownlist1()
{
    dropdownlist2.removeAll();
    layerType = dropdownlist1.selection.index;
    var layerNames = [];
    var layersData = getLayersData();
    for (var i = 0; i < layersData.length; i++){layerNames.push(layersData.name);}
    layerNames = UniqueSortedList(layerNames);        
    dropdownlist2.add("item", layerNames);
    dropdownlist2.selection = 0;
};    
function getLayersData()
{
    var lyrs = [];
    var layers = 1;
    while (true)
    {
        ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), layers);
        try{var desc = executeActionGet(ref);}catch (err){break;};
        var lyr = {};
        lyr.type = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerKind"));
        lyr.name = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID("Nm  "));
        lyr.id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerID"));
        if (lyr.type == layerType && lyr.name.match(layerName))
        {   
            lyrs.push(lyr);
        };
        layers++;            
    };
    return lyrs;
};
function UniqueSortedList(ArrayName)
{  
    var unduped = new Object;  
    for (var i = 0; i < ArrayName.length; i++)
    {     
        unduped[ArrayName] = ArrayName;  
    }  
    var uniques = new Array;for (var k in unduped)
    {  
        uniques.push(unduped);
    }  
    return uniques.sort();  
};

[SuperMerlin]

Please try this...

    var w = new Window("dialog","test",undefined,{closeButton: true}); 
    var group4 = w.add("group");  
  var dropdownlist1_array = ["Any Layer [0]","Pixel Layer [1]","Adjustment [2]","Text Layer [3]","Vector Layer [4]","Smart Object [5]","Video Layer [6]","Group or Artboard [7]","3D Layer [8]","Gradient [9]","Pattern [10]","Solid Color [11]","Background Layer [12]"]; // "Hidden Section Bounder [13]"  
    var dropdownlist1 = group4.add("dropdownlist", undefined, dropdownlist1_array);   
        dropdownlist1.selection = 0;   
        dropdownlist1.preferredSize.height = 20;  
        dropdownlist1.onChange = function(){onChangeDropdownlist1();};  
    var dropdownlist2 = group4.add("dropdownlist", undefined, undefined);   
        dropdownlist2.selection = -1;   
        dropdownlist2.preferredSize.height = 20;  
 w.show();
    function onChangeDropdownlist1()  
    {  
        dropdownlist2.removeAll();   
        var layerNames = getLayersData(dropdownlist1.selection.index);  
        layerNames = UniqueSortedList(layerNames);     
        for(var z in layerNames) {dropdownlist2.add("item", layerNames); }
        dropdownlist2.selection = 0;  
    };      
    function getLayersData(layerType)  
    {  
        var lyrs = [];  
        var layers = 1;  
        while (true)  
        {  
            ref = new ActionReference();  
            ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), layers);  
            try{var desc = executeActionGet(ref);}catch (err){break;};  
            var lyr = {};  
            lyr.type = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerKind"));  
            lyr.name = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID("Nm  "));  
            lyr.id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerID"));  
            if (Number(lyr.type) == layerType)  
            {     
                lyrs.push(lyr.name);  
            };  
            layers++;              
        };  
        return lyrs;  
    };  
    function UniqueSortedList(ArrayName)  
    {    
        var unduped = new Object;    
        for (var i = 0; i < ArrayName.length; i++)  
        {       
            unduped[ArrayName] = ArrayName;    
        }    
        var uniques = new Array;for (var k in unduped)  
        {    
            uniques.push(unduped);  
        }    
        return uniques.sort();    
    };

[Simonetos The Greek]

It works that too, but I am trying to find a way to make all changes in onChangeDropdownlist1 function, because I need getLayersData() function as it is!!!

[SuperMerlin · Accepted solution]

Just altered that function so it returns all data, then it can be sorted later. I.E.

    var w = new Window("dialog","test",undefined,{closeButton: true}); 
    var group4 = w.add("group");  
  var dropdownlist1_array = ["Any Layer [0]","Pixel Layer [1]","Adjustment [2]","Text Layer [3]","Vector Layer [4]","Smart Object [5]","Video Layer [6]","Group or Artboard [7]","3D Layer [8]","Gradient [9]","Pattern [10]","Solid Color [11]","Background Layer [12]"]; // "Hidden Section Bounder [13]"  
    var dropdownlist1 = group4.add("dropdownlist", undefined, dropdownlist1_array);   
        dropdownlist1.selection = 0;   
        dropdownlist1.preferredSize.height = 20;  
        dropdownlist1.onChange = function(){onChangeDropdownlist1();};  
    var dropdownlist2 = group4.add("dropdownlist", undefined, undefined);   
        dropdownlist2.selection = -1;   
        dropdownlist2.preferredSize.height = 20;  
 w.show();
    function onChangeDropdownlist1()  
    {  
        dropdownlist2.removeAll();   
        var layerData = getLayersData(dropdownlist1.selection.index); 
        var layerNames=[];
        for(var a in layerData){if(layerData.type == dropdownlist1.selection.index) layerNames.push(layerData.name);}
        layerNames = UniqueSortedList(layerNames);     
        for(var z in layerNames) {dropdownlist2.add("item", layerNames); }
        dropdownlist2.selection = 0;  
    };      
function getLayersData()  
{  
    var lyrs = [];  
    var layers = 1;  
    while (true)  
    {  
        ref = new ActionReference();  
        ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), layers);  
        try{var desc = executeActionGet(ref);}catch (err){break;};  
        var lyr = {};  
        lyr.type = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerKind"));  
        lyr.name = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID("Nm  "));  
        lyr.id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("layerID"));     
        lyrs.push(lyr);  
        layers++;              
    };  
    return lyrs;  
};
    function UniqueSortedList(ArrayName)  
    {    
        var unduped = new Object;    
        for (var i = 0; i < ArrayName.length; i++)  
        {       
            unduped[ArrayName] = ArrayName;    
        }    
        var uniques = new Array;for (var k in unduped)  
        {    
            uniques.push(unduped);  
        }    
        return uniques.sort();    
    };

[Simonetos The Greek]

You are super, thank you very much!!!

[Kukurykus]

I had to miss somehow removeAll() method, so I always thought only way to refresh elements in a list is reopen the dialog.