I want to add Find Layer into my action

[GiangHg999]

"Hello there, I'm having some problems with Photoshop. I'm trying to add the "Find Layer" function into my Action, but it doesn't seem to be recording when I use it. I aim to select all layers with the same first part of the name, such as noise1, noise2, noise3, etc. For example, my action would be: Find Layer -> noise (the name I'm choosing) -> select all layers.
I really need a solution for this. Is there another way to achieve my purpose, like a script or something? Please enlighten me. Thank you."

[John T Smith]

You need to ask program questions in the forum for the program you are using
To ask in the forum for your program please start at https://community.adobe.com/
Moving from download and install to the Photoshop forum

[Stephen Marsh]

What you are seeing is correct, the layer filters can't be recorded into an action. This will indeed require a script.

1. Do you wish to manually type the search term into an interface?

or

2. Or do you wish to have the search term as a static/embedded entry in the script?

or

3. Or do you wish to select the layer rather than typing, then have similar named layers selected?

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

Full credit to @r-bin for the following scripts, I just made some minor adjustments:

Select Similar Layers from Prompt.jsx

/* 
Select Similar Layers from Prompt.jsx
Original script by r-bin
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/help-with-script-that-select-layers-based-on-string-then-move-selected-layers-to-specific-folder/m-p/12154839 
*/

var r_idx = new ActionReference();
var do_it = 0;

// by jazz-y
s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('targetLayers'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t("document"), s2t("ordinal"), s2t("targetEnum"));
if (executeActionGet(r).getList(p).count) {
    var curLayer = activeDocument.activeLayer.name.replace(/(^\D+)(.+$)/, '$1');
} else {
    var curLayer = '';
}

var text = prompt("Layer name:", curLayer);

if (text != null)
    {
        var d = new ActionDescriptor();
        var r = new ActionReference();
        r.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), stringIDToTypeID("ordinal"), stringIDToTypeID("targetEnum"));
        d.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), r);
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("selectNoLayers"), d, DialogModes.NO);

    for (var i = 0; i < activeDocument.artLayers.length; i++) 
        if (activeDocument.artLayers[i].name.indexOf(text) >= 0) { r_idx.putIdentifier(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), activeDocument.artLayers[i].id); ++do_it; }

    if (do_it)
        {
        var d = new ActionDescriptor();
        d.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), r_idx);
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("select"), d, DialogModes.NO);
        }

    //alert(do_it + " layers were selected");
    }

Select Similar Layers to Active Layer Name.jsx

/* 
Select Similar Layers to Active Layer Name.jsx
Original script by r-bin
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/help-with-script-that-select-layers-based-on-string-then-move-selected-layers-to-specific-folder/m-p/12154839 
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/select-layers-with-the-same-number-name/td-p/12964007
*/

var r_idx = new ActionReference();
var do_it = 0;

var selectedLayerTextPattern = activeDocument.activeLayer.name.match(/^\D+/);

if (selectedLayerTextPattern != null) {
    var d = new ActionDescriptor();
    var r = new ActionReference();
    r.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), stringIDToTypeID("ordinal"), stringIDToTypeID("targetEnum"));
    d.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), r);
    executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("selectNoLayers"), d, DialogModes.NO);
    
    // Top level layer groups
    for (var i = 0; i < activeDocument.layerSets.length; i++)
        if (activeDocument.layerSets[i].name.indexOf(selectedLayerTextPattern) >= 0) {
            r_idx.putIdentifier(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), activeDocument.layerSets[i].id);
            ++do_it;
        }
    

    // Top level layers
    for (var i = 0; i < activeDocument.artLayers.length; i++)
        if (activeDocument.artLayers[i].name.indexOf(selectedLayerTextPattern) >= 0) {
            r_idx.putIdentifier(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), activeDocument.artLayers[i].id);
            ++do_it;
        }
    
    if (do_it) {
        var d = new ActionDescriptor();
        d.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), r_idx);
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("select"), d, DialogModes.NO);
    }

    //alert(do_it + " layers were selected");
}

Select Layers Named Noise.jsx

/* 
Select Layers Named Noise.jsx
Original script by r-bin
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/help-with-script-that-select-layers-based-on-string-then-move-selected-layers-to-specific-folder/m-p/12154839 
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/select-layers-with-the-same-number-name/td-p/12964007
*/

var r_idx = new ActionReference();
var do_it = 0;

var selectedLayerTextPattern = "Noise";

if (selectedLayerTextPattern != null) {
    var d = new ActionDescriptor();
    var r = new ActionReference();
    r.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), stringIDToTypeID("ordinal"), stringIDToTypeID("targetEnum"));
    d.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), r);
    executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("selectNoLayers"), d, DialogModes.NO);
    
    // Top level layer groups
    for (var i = 0; i < activeDocument.layerSets.length; i++)
        if (activeDocument.layerSets[i].name.indexOf(selectedLayerTextPattern) >= 0) {
            r_idx.putIdentifier(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), activeDocument.layerSets[i].id);
            ++do_it;
        }
    

    // Top level layers
    for (var i = 0; i < activeDocument.artLayers.length; i++)
        if (activeDocument.artLayers[i].name.indexOf(selectedLayerTextPattern) >= 0) {
            r_idx.putIdentifier(stringIDToTypeID("layer"), activeDocument.artLayers[i].id);
            ++do_it;
        }
    
    if (do_it) {
        var d = new ActionDescriptor();
        d.putReference(stringIDToTypeID("null"), r_idx);
        executeAction(stringIDToTypeID("select"), d, DialogModes.NO);
    }

    //alert(do_it + " layers were selected");
}

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

[GiangHg999]

I tried the code and it worked flawlessly. Thank you for supporting me. I hope someone in the community who has the same problem will find a solution now.

[Stephen Marsh]

You're welcome! Which of the three scripts was most useful for you to record into your action?

[GiangHg999]

i use script number 3, with the prefix name(can be change to fit multiple situation) i can add it into my action flow easily. So yeah that the most useful script to me, thankiu