Is there a way to return to a previously active layer in Photoshop ?

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@mrmurray wrote:

Thanks again for your help with this. Look forward to having a tinker with the helper script to see what I can do.

Much appricated.

 

Kind Regards

Ian

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@mrmurray 

Hi Ian, there should be no need to tinker... you can just use it as is and enjoy it! You can record each script as a separate step into your action, or you could set a custom keyboard shortcut against each script for manual use.

To save and install or run:

1. Copy the code text to the clipboard
2. Open a new blank file in a plain-text editor (not word-processor)
3. Paste the code in
4. Save the text file extension as .txt
5. Rename the file extension from .txt to .jsx (ensure that there is no double extension)
6. Install or browse to the .jsx file to run

Step 1: Bookmark the active layer

/*
Layer Bookmarker - Set.jsx
Info: Script 1 of 2, sets the layer bookmark (step 1)
Stephen Marsh: Version 1.1, 6th March 2022
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/is-there-a-way-to-return-to-a-previously-active-layer-in-photoshop/td-p/12791534
*/

/*
<javascriptresource>
<name>$$$/JavaScripts/LayerBookmarker-Set/Menu=Layer Bookmarker - Set</name>
<category>LayerBookmarker</category>
<enableinfo>true</enableinfo>
<eventid>9ba2209c-793c-4bdf-9202-bdcdcb7bebf4</eventid>
<terminology><![CDATA[<< /Version 1 
/Events << 
/9ba2209c-793c-4bdf-9202-bdcdcb7bebf4 [($$$/JavaScripts/LayerBookmarker-Set/Menu=Layer Bookmarker - Set) /noDirectParam <<
>>] 
>> 
>> ]]></terminology>
</javascriptresource>
*/

#target photoshop

try {
    var os = $.os.toLowerCase().indexOf("mac") >= 0 ? "mac" : "windows";
    if (os === "mac") {
        prefFileOutLF = "Unix"; // Legacy = "Macintosh"
    } else {
        prefFileOutLF = "Windows";
    }

    var prefFileOut = new File('~/_Ps-Layer-Bookmark.pref');
    var dateTime = new Date().toLocaleString();
    if (prefFileOut.exists)
        prefFileOut.remove();

    //var layerBookmark = app.activeDocument.activeLayer;
    var layerBookmark = app.activeDocument.activeLayer.id;
    // r = read mode | w = write mode | a = append | e = edit
    prefFileOut.open("w");
    prefFileOut.encoding = "UTF-8";
    prefFileOut.lineFeed = prefFileOutLF;
    prefFileOut.writeln(dateTime + ", " + "Source Doc: " + app.activeDocument.name + ", " + "Source Layer Name: " + app.activeDocument.activeLayer.name + ", " + "Source Layer ID: ");
    prefFileOut.writeln(layerBookmark);
    prefFileOut.close();
} catch (e) {
    alert("There was an error writing the _Ps-Layer-Bookmark.pref file!");
}

Step 2: Return to the bookmarked layer

/*
Layer Bookmarker - Get.jsx
Info: Script 2 of 2, gets the layer bookmark (step 2)
Stephen Marsh: Version 1.1, 6th March 2022
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/is-there-a-way-to-return-to-a-previously-active-layer-in-photoshop/td-p/12791534
*/

/*
<javascriptresource>
<name>$$$/JavaScripts/LayerBookmarker-Get/Menu=Layer Bookmarker - Get</name>
<category>LayerBookmarker</category>
<enableinfo>true</enableinfo>
<eventid>8522d05d-f674-413b-8df4-5c3995e773e7</eventid>
<terminology><![CDATA[<< /Version 1 
/Events << 
/8522d05d-f674-413b-8df4-5c3995e773e7 [($$$/JavaScripts/LayerBookmarker-Get/Menu=Layer Bookmarker - Get) /noDirectParam <<
>>] 
>> 
>> ]]></terminology>
</javascriptresource>
*/

#target photoshop

if (File('~/_Ps-Layer-Bookmark.pref').exists && File('~/_Ps-Layer-Bookmark.pref').length > 0) {
    var prefFileIn = File('~/_Ps-Layer-Bookmark.pref');
    prefFileIn.open('r');
    // Read the 1st line from the log file, a means to an end...
    prefFileIn.readln(1);
    // Read the 2nd line from the log file for the actual layer ID
    var bookmarkedLayer = prefFileIn.readln(2);
    prefFileIn.close();
    if (prefFileIn.exists)
        prefFileIn.remove();

    //app.activeDocument.activeLayer = bookmarkedLayer;
    selectLayerById(bookmarkedLayer);
} else {
    alert("There was an unexpected issue reading the _Ps-Layer-Bookmark.pref file!");
}


function selectLayerById(id) {
    var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var ref1 = new ActionReference();
    ref1.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), id);
    desc1.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref1);
    executeAction(charIDToTypeID('slct'), desc1, DialogModes.NO);
}