How to merge multiple groups and keep them on their separate layers?

[jamesc16840069]

Hi Guys

I'm sure there is a really simple way to do this but I can't find the answer anywhere!

When I create multiple groups on separate layers, there must be a quicker way then right clicking and individually merging each layer so they stay on their respective layers?

A shortcut would save so much time!!

Thanks

[macpawel]

First select all groups and

Just use CTRL+E or Cmd+E on mac shortcut - and thats all

pawel

[jamesc16840069]

Almost there, but these commands only do one layer at a time, or if select all and then Cmd+E it merges all layers into one layer.

Doesn't take long to Cmd+E individual layers, but would be quicker if I could do all layers at the same - prob not!

Thanks anyway

[Kukurykus · Accepted solution]

I can't help right now but move your topic to Photoshop Scripting  and ask of help r-bin​ that should be easy for him

function sTT(v) {return stringIDToTypeID(v)} $.level = 0

function R() {return ref = new ActionReference()} arr = []

function DoL(v) {R().putEnumerated(sTT(v), sTT('ordinal'), sTT('targetEnum'))}

function bGrnd(v) {R().putIndex(sTT('layer'), v)}

function SC(v) {

     return typeIDToStringID((dsc = executeActionGet(ref))

     .getEnumerationValue(sTT(lS = 'layerSection'))) == lS + v

}

function sNL() {

     DoL('layer'); (dsc = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(sTT('null'), ref)

     executeAction(sTT('selectNoLayers'), dsc, DialogModes.NO)

}

function mLN(v) {

     R().putIdentifier(sTT('layer'), v);

     (dsc = new ActionDescriptor()).putReference(sTT('null'), ref)

     dsc.putBoolean(sTT('makeVisible'), true)

     executeAction(sTT('select'), dsc, DialogModes.NO)

     executeAction(sTT('mergeLayersNew'), undefined, DialogModes.NO)

}

function prcs(v1, v2) {

     bGrnd(idx = v1), lID = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(sTT('layerID'))

     if (SC('Start')) {

          bGrnd(idx - 1); if (SC('Content')) v2 ? arr.push(lID) : (sNL(), mLN(lID))

     }

}

try{

     R().putIdentifier(sTT('layer'), 1)

     bG = !(executeActionGet(ref))

     .getBoolean(sTT('background'))

}

catch (err) {bG = 1}

DoL('document'), tL = sTT('targetLayers')

if ((dsc = executeActionGet(ref)).hasKey(tL)) {

     for(lst = dsc.getList(tL), i = 0; i < lst.count;) {

          prcs(lst.getReference(i++).getIndex() + bG, true)

     }

     sNL(); for(i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) mLN(arr[i])

}

else {

     DoL('layer'), prcs(executeActionGet(ref)

     .getInteger(sTT('itemIndex')) - !bG, false)

}

[valentinav66424031]

Kukurykus your script is very helpful I managed to solve my problem with your script. Thanks a lot

[Kukurykus]

What was your problem?

[user4762560]

Hi - Thanks for this, I tried this code, but when I select more than one layer, I get the following error message:

Error 1243: Illegal argument - argument 2

- Numeric value expected

Line: 14

->       R().putIdentifier(sTT('layer'), v);

Any ideas? The code would be REALLY useful for me as I often need to flatten multiple layers into individual groups.

[Kukurykus]

Leave a link to uploaded .psd so I try script on and see what is wrong.

btw moderator, other user confimred script works for him so I marked my solution as correct. Please add 'Actions and scripting' label to post of original poster, thx!

[Paari_GD]

Hi Kukurykus
Sorry for my bad english
For simple groups, your script is working fantastic,
but when i try to merge some complex nested groups, it cant merge all of them
i have attached a video which can explain the issue more clearly
i need groups to be merged completely into a single layer.
can you please help me?
agian sorry for my bad english.
Thanks a lot

[Kukurykus]

Can you check in those groups by removing single layers which one causes they can't be merged?

[Paari_GD]

I removed the layers one by one and checked whether is working... But layers were not the issue.

and I also tried removing the layer mask, and the mask was also not the issue.

but when I ungrouped the inner group, it was working

I think its the issue.

I have attached the video and PSD.

Thanks a lot for helping.

Agian sorry for my bad english.

[Kukurykus]

Change:

SC('Content')

to:

executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(sTT('parentLayerID'))

[Paari_GD]

Hi Kukurykus,

I have changed the code as you said

and I am getting this error

 

I am using Photoshop CC 2019

 

please help me with this issue or let me know if I did anything wrong...

and Thanks for helping me, I really appreciate it.

[Kukurykus]

Update to release 22.

[Paari_GD]

Hi Kukurykus,

I have updated to 22, and your script works very well

but it still has a small error.

it reveals and merges the inner groups, it's not merging the group as it is.

can you please help me with this?

I have attached the error video and error PSD

sorry to asking again and again,

but I really need this, it can save my time a lot

Thanks a lot...

[Kukurykus]

Change:

bGrnd(idx - 1); if (executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(sTT('parentLayerID')))

to:

if (!(executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(sTT('parentLayerID')) + 1))

[Paari_GD]

Hi Kukurykus,

Thanks a lot for helping me,

I got one more error.

the script is working good when the groups are simple

if I try to merge the groups that are inside another group, the script is not working

can you please help me with this?

I have attached the error video and error PSD

[Stephen Marsh]

I'm just curious, what if you select the layer group and convert to smart object, then select the smart object and select rasterize smart object?

[Paari_GD]

Hi, 

Thanks for the reply

I have a large number of groups,
if I select the layer group and convert it to a smart object, then select the smart object and select rasterize smart object, it would be a big process and it would take too much time than usual

[Kukurykus]

Change:

SC('Content')

in known line of original code to:

executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(sTT('parentLayerID')) == lID

To avoid merging inner groups, select layerSets without holding Shift, but only using Ctrl.

[Paari_GD]

Thank You So Much...

[r-bin]

Will this decision suit you?

Script to Merge each main group (not subgroup) in to a layer

The script merges all zero-level groups, even empty ones.

You do not need to preselect them.

[Paari_GD]

Hi r-bin

Thanks for the reply

your script works great when its come to merging all group in the entire document

but I need to select and merge the groups.

Thanks for the help, really

[Paari_GD]

This is HUGE help, it worked flawlessly

[michelley23946321]

This works perfectly, thank you so much!