Import folder structure to Photoshop

Report · Sep 29, 2019

I have a folder in Windows structured like this:
Folder1:
- Image1
- Image2
Folder2:
- Image2.1
- Image2.2

[...]

I want to import this folder to Photoshop and keep the exact same folder structure, but in groups. Is this possible without doing it manually?

Report · Sep 30, 2019

I’m not sure in what sense you want to import a folder to Photoshop. As I see it, you can edit images wherever they are and save them where you want. But that’s not importing a folder.

Report · Sep 30, 2019

I’m guessing that the Photoshop layer panel’s Groups should match the Folder and that they layers in each group should be the actual image.

Report · Sep 30, 2019

Yes sorry I was a bit unclear. I want the images to be imported as smart objects, same as when you drag and drop an image to an open photoshop document.

Report · Sep 30, 2019

A colleague helped me out by making a script. Case closed.

Report · Sep 30, 2019

Share your solution 😉

Report · Oct 02, 2019

Please share the code!

Report · Oct 03, 2019

Here's the script! Disclaimer from my colleague who wrote it: "It might not be the best way to handle it :)"
But it did the trick for me at least.

// ============================================================================
// Installation:
// 1. Place script in 'C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS#\Presets\Scripts\'
// 2. Restart Photoshop
// 3. Choose File > Scripts > scriptname
// ============================================================================

// enable double-clicking from Mac Finder or Windows Explorer
#target photoshop

// bring application forward for double-click events
app.bringToFront();

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// main - main function
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function main() {
	// user settings
	var prefs = new Object();
	prefs.sourceFolder         = '~';  // default browse location (default: '~')
	prefs.removeFileExtensions = true; // remove filename extensions for imported layers (default: true)
	prefs.savePrompt           = false; // display save prompt after import is complete (default: false)
	prefs.closeAfterSave       = false; // close import document after saving (default: false)

	if (!documents.length){
		alert("No open document to import into!");
		return;
	}
	// prompt for source folder
	var sourceFolder = Folder.selectDialog('Please select the folder to be imported:', Folder(prefs.sourceFolder));

	// ensure the source folder is valid
	if (!sourceFolder) {
		return;
	}
	else if (!sourceFolder.exists) {
		alert('Source folder not found.', 'Script Stopped', true);
		return;
	}

	// add source folder to user settings
	prefs.sourceFolder = sourceFolder;

	var got_files = false;
	// get a list of folders
	var folderArray = getFolders(prefs.sourceFolder);
	
	var len = folderArray.length;
	// loop through folders
	app.togglePalettes();
	for (var i = 0; i < len; i++) {
		// get a list of files
		var fileArray = getFiles(folderArray[i]);
		// if files were found, proceed with import
		if (fileArray.length) {
			var layer = importFolder(folderArray[i]);
			importFilesInLayer(fileArray, layer, prefs);
			got_files = true;
		}
	}
	app.togglePalettes();
	
	// if no files found , diplay message
	if (!got_files) {
		alert("The selected folder doesn't contain any recognized images.", 'No Files Found', false);
	}
}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// getFiles - get all files within the specified source
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function getFiles(sourceFolder) {
	// declare local variables
	var fileArray = new Array();
	var extRE = /\.(?:png|gif|jpg|bmp|tif|psd)$/i;

	// get all files in source folder
	var docs = sourceFolder.getFiles();
	var len = docs.length;
	for (var i = 0; i < len; i++) {
		var doc = docs[i];

		// only match files (not folders)
		if (doc instanceof File) {
			// store all recognized files into an array
			var docName = doc.name;
			if (docName.match(extRE)) {
				fileArray.push(doc);
			}
		}
	}

	// return file array
	return fileArray;
}

function getFolders(sourceFolder) {
	// declare local variables
	var folderArray = new Array();

	// get all items in source folder
	var items = sourceFolder.getFiles();
	var len = items.length;
	for (var i = 0; i < len; i++) {
		var item = items[i];

		// only match files (not folders)
		if (item instanceof Folder) {
			// store all recognized files into an array
			folderArray.push(item);
		}
	}

	// return folder array
	return folderArray;
}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// importFolderAsLayers - imports a folder of images as named layers
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

function importFolder(folderName){
	// get folder name
	var path = folderName.toString();
	var lastIndex = path.lastIndexOf("/");
	var folder = path.slice(lastIndex + 1);
	var newLayer = app.activeDocument.layerSets.add();
	newLayer.name = folder
	return newLayer
}

function importFilesInLayer(fileArray, layer, prefs) {
	// loop through all files in the source folder
	for (var i = fileArray.length -1; i >= 0; i--) {
		// open document
        var curr_file = app.open(fileArray[i]);
		// get file name
		var name = curr_file.name;
		name = name.replace(/(?:\.[^.]*$|$)/, '');
		// copy file and paste into current file
        curr_file.selection.selectAll();
        curr_file.selection.copy();
        curr_file.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        curr_layer = app.activeDocument.paste();
		// rename
		curr_layer.name = name
	}
	// reveal and trim to fit all layers
	app.activeDocument.revealAll();
}


///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// isCorrectVersion - check for Adobe Photoshop CS2 (v9) or higher
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function isCorrectVersion() {
	if (parseInt(version, 10) >= 9) {
		return true;
	}
	else {
		alert('This script requires Adobe Photoshop CS2 or higher.', 'Wrong Version', false);
		return false;
	}
}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// showError - display error message if something goes wrong
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
function showError(err) {
	if (confirm('An unknown error has occurred.\n' +
		'Would you like to see more information?', true, 'Unknown Error')) {
			alert(err + ': on line ' + err.line, 'Script Error', true);
	}
}


// test initial conditions prior to running main function
if (isCorrectVersion()) {
	// remember ruler units; switch to pixels
	var originalRulerUnits = preferences.rulerUnits;
	preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;

	try {
		main();
	}
	catch(e) {
		// don't report error on user cancel
		if (e.number != 8007) {
			showError(e);
		}
	}

	// restore original ruler unit
	preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
}

Report · Jan 09, 2023

Since all the google results points to pages containing this code,
I'm posting here an updated version that:

- Check both folders and subfolders.

- Uses Place from Action Commands, instead of doing repeated ctr+c / ctrl+v commands
- Condenses all of the actions in a single History task.

var obj = {};
var extRE = /\.(?:png|gif|jpg|bmp|tif|psd)$/i;
cTID = function(s) {
  return app.charIDToTypeID(s);
};
sTID = function(s) {
  return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
};

function listFolders(folder, obj) {
  var files = folder.getFiles();
  for (var i = 0; i < files.length; i++) {
    var file = files[i];
    if (file instanceof Folder) {
      obj[file.name] = {};
      listFolders(file, obj[file.name]);
    } else {
      obj[file.name] = file;
    }
  }

  obj = sortObject(obj);
}

function sortObject(obj) {
  var sorted = {};
  var keys = [];
  for (var key in obj) {
    keys.push(key);
  }
  keys.sort(function(a, b) {
    var intA = parseInt(a.replace(/\D/g, ""));
    var intB = parseInt(b.replace(/\D/g, ""));
    if (isNaN(intA) || isNaN(intB)) {
      return a.localeCompare(b);
    } else {
      return intA - intB;
    }
  });
  for (var i = 0; i < keys.length; i++) {
    if (obj[keys[i]] instanceof Object) {
      sorted[keys[i]] = sortObject(obj[keys[i]]);
    } else {
      sorted[keys[i]] = obj[keys[i]];
    }
  }
  return sorted;
}

function createLayerSets(obj, parent) {
  for (var key in obj) {
    if (obj[key] instanceof Object) {
      if (key.match(extRE)) {
        placeFile(obj[key], parent.itemIndex -1);
      } else {
      var group = parent.layerSets.add();
      group.name = key;
      createLayerSets(obj[key], group);  
    }
    } else {
      var layer = parent.artLayers.add();
      layer.name = key;
    }
  }
}

function main(){
var folder = Folder.selectDialog("Select a folder to list");
if (folder != null) {
  listFolders(folder, obj);
  createLayerSets(obj, app.activeDocument);
}
}

app.activeDocument.suspendHistory ("Import Folders and Sub Folders", "main()");


function placeFile(filePath, index) {
  (function(enabled, withDialog) {
    if (void 0 == enabled || enabled) {
      enabled = withDialog ? DialogModes.ALL : DialogModes.NO;
      withDialog = new ActionDescriptor();
      withDialog.putInteger(cTID("Idnt"), 19);
      withDialog.putPath(cTID("null"), new File(filePath));
      withDialog.putEnumerated(cTID("FTcs"), cTID("QCSt"), sTID("QCSAverage"));
      var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
      desc2.putUnitDouble(cTID("Hrzn"), cTID("#Pxl"), 0);
      desc2.putUnitDouble(cTID("Vrtc"), cTID("#Pxl"), 0);
      withDialog.putObject(cTID("Ofst"), cTID("Ofst"), desc2);
      executeAction(cTID("Plc "), withDialog, enabled);
    }
  })();
  (function(enabled, withDialog) {
    if (void 0 == enabled || enabled) {
      enabled = withDialog ? DialogModes.ALL : DialogModes.NO;
      withDialog = new ActionDescriptor();
      var ref1 = new ActionReference();
      ref1.putEnumerated(cTID("Lyr "), cTID("Ordn"), cTID("Trgt"));
      withDialog.putReference(cTID("null"), ref1);
      ref1 = new ActionReference();
      ref1.putIndex(cTID("Lyr "), index);
      withDialog.putReference(cTID("T   "), ref1);
      withDialog.putBoolean(cTID("Adjs"), !1);
      withDialog.putInteger(cTID("Vrsn"), 5);
      ref1 = new ActionList();
      ref1.putInteger(428);
      withDialog.putList(cTID("LyrI"), ref1);
      executeAction(cTID("move"), withDialog, enabled);
    }
  })();
}

It was a lot of work, but it turned out better than anything else I have tried.

Report · Jan 09, 2023

@mauroj62447795 – thank you for sharing and joining in the community spirit!

Report · May 20, 2024

I'll just add this little update to the previous code: if you are getting the dreaded "%20" instead of a space on all of your layers then this is the code from above with a little gem that takes care of that 🙂

var obj = {};
var extRE = /\.(?:png|gif|jpg|bmp|tif|psd)$/i;
cTID = function(s) {
return app.charIDToTypeID(s);
};
sTID = function(s) {
return app.stringIDToTypeID(s);
};

obj = sortObject(obj);
}

function main(){
var folder = Folder.selectDialog("Select a folder to list");
if (folder != null) {
listFolders(folder, obj);
createLayerSets(obj, app.activeDocument);
}
}

app.activeDocument.suspendHistory ("Import Folders and Sub Folders", "main()");

Import folder structure to Photoshop

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