need script to export all layer names into an excel sheet or text file.

[maninthebox390]

are there any scripts to export layer names into an excel sheet or a text file?

[Stephen Marsh]

Great, thanks for the thanks! Depending on end-use, further text/string manipulation may be required.

[Stephen Marsh]

Since this post, I have managed to write a script to both copy to the clipboard and also to save a csv of top-level layers names.

// Layer Names to CSV and Clipboard CR List.jsx
// Stephen Marsh, 2021
// Useful for creating a layer visibility data set for Data Driven Graphics / Variables

// Loop over top level layers and layer sets
var lyrCount = app.activeDocument.layers.length;
var lyrArray = [];
for (var i = 0; i < lyrCount; i++) {
    lyrArray[i] = app.activeDocument.layers[i].name;
}

// Layers to list and CSV
var list = lyrArray.toString().replace(/,/g, '\r');
var csv = lyrArray;

// Copy layer list to clipboard
var d = new ActionDescriptor();
d.putString(stringIDToTypeID('textData'), list);
executeAction(stringIDToTypeID('textToClipboard'), d, DialogModes.NO);

// Create a text file of the layer list
var textFile = new File('~/Desktop' + '/' + 'layerList.csv');
// r for read mode - w for write mode - a for append - e for edit
textFile.open('w');
textFile.encoding = 'UTF-8';
textFile.write(csv);
textFile.close();

// End of script notifications
app.beep();
alert('Top level layer list copied to clipboard and saved to .csv on desktop');

[Lumigraphics]

Here is an alternate way to get data to the Clipboard in Photoshop (this demo copies the filename)

#target photoshop

copyFilename();

function copyFilename(){
    try{
        if(documents.length > 0){
            var originalDialogMode = app.displayDialogs;
            app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.ERROR;
            var docRef = activeDocument;
            app.displayDialogs = originalDialogMode;
            }
        var cmd;
        var isWindows;
        isWindows = $.os.indexOf('Windows') != -1;
        if(isWindows){
            cmd = 'cmd.exe /c cmd.exe /c "echo ' + docRef.name + '| clip"';
            }
        else{
            cmd = 'echo ' + docRef.name + ' | pbcopy';
            }
        app.system(cmd);
        }
    catch(e){
        alert(e + e.line);
        }
    }

[Jakub25857702e4sw]

This one is perfect, but how to get all layers in a row like in first script? Now everything is in one column? 😄
I see you are a magician in scripting!
So maybe you know if it is possible in technical way to create script which create variables from visible layers names? Right now I must select each and type with finger variable for each layer.
I try to create easy system > export layer names to csv > translate via sheets > import via variables > done
But PS is very limited this matter 

[darrellpones]

Hi, having your original problem. How do I include both Folders and layer Names with this? Script newbie.

[Stephen Marsh]

It's above my pay grade I'm afraid, for many others here it isn't though!

[Jakub25857702e4sw]

Can you make your script works with multiple artboards in one PSD document? I'm making banners on different artboards and on the end I need text data with all layers names. Your script works, but it's copying only artboard name and nothing deeper. Plz help

[Stephen Marsh]

Sorry, this will take somebody with more scripting knowledge and experience than I possess.

[jazz-y]

@Jakub25857702e4sw 

#target photoshop
var s2t = stringIDToTypeID,
    treeView = true;
(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('json'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
eval('var layersCollection = ' + executeActionGet(r).getString(p).replace(/\\/g, ''));
var needToProcess = collectAdjustmentLayers(layersCollection.layers)
var f = new File('~/Desktop' + '/' + 'layerList.txt');
f.open('w');
f.encoding = 'UTF-8';
f.write(needToProcess.join('\n'));
f.close();
function collectAdjustmentLayers(layersObject, collectedLayers, tab) {
    collectedLayers = collectedLayers ? collectedLayers : [];
    tab = tab ? tab : '';
    for (var i = 0; i < layersObject.length; i++) {
        cur = layersObject[i];
        if (cur.layers) {
            collectedLayers.push(tab + cur.name)
            collectAdjustmentLayers(cur.layers, collectedLayers, treeView ? tab + '  ' : '')
        }
        else collectedLayers.push(tab + cur.name)
    }
    return collectedLayers;
}

* if you just want a one-column list, replace treeView = true; by treeView = false;

[Stephen Marsh]

A beautiful thing indeed jazz-y, thank you for sharing!

[Jakub25857702e4sw]

SUPERB! I have one question, its possible to exclude not visible layer and skip duplicates? Im working on "translations" system with multiple artboards. Best solution its will be export to CVS only visibile layers and without duplicates so If is already 1 layer named XXX1 so its not shows up in file

[jazz-y]

#target photoshop
var s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('json'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
eval('var layersCollection = ' + executeActionGet(r).getString(p).replace(/\\/g, ''));
var needToProcess = collectLayers(layersCollection.layers)
var f = new File('~/Desktop' + '/' + 'layerList.txt');
f.open('w');
f.encoding = 'UTF-8';
for (var a in needToProcess) f.writeln(a)
f.close();
function collectLayers(layersObject, collectedLayers) {
    collectedLayers = collectedLayers ? collectedLayers : [];
    for (var i = 0; i < layersObject.length; i++) {
        var cur = layersObject[i];
        if (cur.visible) {
            if (cur.layers) {
                collectedLayers[cur.name] = true;
                collectLayers(cur.layers, collectedLayers)
            }
            else collectedLayers[cur.name] = true;
        }
    }
    return collectedLayers;
}

[Jakub25857702e4sw]

This one is perfect, but how to get all layers in a row like in the first script you have made? Now everything is in one column? 

I see you are a magician in scripting!

So maybe you know if it is possible in technical way to create script which create variables from visible layers names? Right now I must select each and type with finger variable for each layer.
I try to create easy system > export layer names to csv > translate via sheets > import via variables > done
But PS is very limited this matter 

[jazz-y]

@Jakub25857702e4sw first version also formed one column. If you need values in one row - just replace the separator character with any convenient one in the following code, for example separator = ';'

#target photoshop
var s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
separator = ';';
(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('json'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
eval('var layersCollection = ' + executeActionGet(r).getString(p).replace(/\\/g, ''));
var needToProcess = collectAdjustmentLayers(layersCollection.layers)
var f = new File('~/Desktop' + '/' + 'layerList.txt');
f.open('w');
f.encoding = 'UTF-8';
f.write(needToProcess.join(separator));
f.close();
function collectAdjustmentLayers(layersObject, collectedLayers, uniqueNames) {
    collectedLayers = collectedLayers ? collectedLayers : [];
    uniqueNames = uniqueNames ? uniqueNames : {};
    for (var i = 0; i < layersObject.length; i++) {
        var cur = layersObject[i];
        if (!uniqueNames[cur.name] && cur.visible) {
            uniqueNames[cur.name] = true;
            collectedLayers.push(cur.name)
        }
        if (cur.layers) collectAdjustmentLayers(cur.layers, collectedLayers, uniqueNames)
    }
    return collectedLayers;
}

I don't know of a way to set variables names using a script. Inside the binary image file, you can find a block with variables:

<variableSets xmlns="http://ns.adobe.com/Variables/1.0/">
<variableSet locked="none" varSetName="binding1">
<variables>
<variable varName="VisibilityVariable1" trait="visibility" docRef="id('273')">
</variable>
</variables>
</variableSet>
</variableSets>

However, it is quite difficult to create or modify it yourself (and not damage the file in the process).

@AnnaSto 

#target photoshop
var s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
separator = ';';
(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('json'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
eval('var layersCollection = ' + executeActionGet(r).getString(p).replace(/\\/g, ''));
var needToProcess = collectAdjustmentLayers(layersCollection.layers)
var f = new File('~/Desktop' + '/' + 'layerList.txt');
f.open('w');
f.encoding = 'UTF-8';
f.write(needToProcess.join(separator));
f.close();
function collectAdjustmentLayers(layersObject, collectedLayers, uniqueNames) {
    collectedLayers = collectedLayers ? collectedLayers : [];
    uniqueNames = uniqueNames ? uniqueNames : {};
    for (var i = 0; i < layersObject.length; i++) {
        var cur = layersObject[i];
        if (!uniqueNames[cur.name] && cur.visible && cur.type != 'layerSection' && cur.type != 'artboardSection') {
            uniqueNames[cur.name] = true;
            collectedLayers.push(cur.name)
        }
        if (cur.layers) collectAdjustmentLayers(cur.layers, collectedLayers, uniqueNames)
    }
    return collectedLayers;
}

[AnnaSto]

Dear Jazz, I have the same problem. I need a list in one row of visible layers only but without duplicates and folder names and artboards names, only a list of visible layers. I tried to find the differences between the earlier scripts, but unfortunately nothing works for me. Greetings Anna

[Lumigraphics]

You would need to add code to test for layer type and hidden attributes, and check for duplicates. This gets into intermediate to advanced scripting.

Understand that this forum is not intended to be a "write a script for me" resource, you may get that in some cases (I have written scripts specifically to answer a post) but it can be time-consuming and difficult. If this is a real need, check someplace like ps-scripts.com and see if you can hire a developer.

[chandubhau]

Hi @jazz-y , is there a way to skip the Hue/Saturation or any other filter layers from the list, because they are getting added too?

Thanks,

Mukul

[jazz-y]

or any other filter layers from the list

By chandubhau

Please use Photoshop terminology. I can't understand what exactly you are talking about.

This version ignores all adjustment layers:

#target photoshop
var s2t = stringIDToTypeID;
separator = ';';
(r = new ActionReference()).putProperty(s2t('property'), p = s2t('json'));
r.putEnumerated(s2t('document'), s2t('ordinal'), s2t('targetEnum'));
eval('var layersCollection = ' + executeActionGet(r).getString(p).replace(/\\/g, ''));
var needToProcess = collectAdjustmentLayers(layersCollection.layers)
var f = new File('~/Desktop' + '/' + 'layerList.txt');
f.open('w');
f.encoding = 'UTF-8';
f.write(needToProcess.join(separator));
f.close();
function collectAdjustmentLayers(layersObject, collectedLayers, uniqueNames) {
    collectedLayers = collectedLayers ? collectedLayers : [];
    uniqueNames = uniqueNames ? uniqueNames : {};
    for (var i = 0; i < layersObject.length; i++) {
        var cur = layersObject[i];
        if (!uniqueNames[cur.name] && cur.visible && cur.type != 'adjustmentLayer') {
            uniqueNames[cur.name] = true;
            collectedLayers.push(cur.name)
        }
        if (cur.layers) collectAdjustmentLayers(cur.layers, collectedLayers, uniqueNames)
    }
    return collectedLayers;
}

[chandubhau]

Ok thanks. I was referring to old code by mistake.

[3pp57015374]

Hi guys, everytime I try any of these scripts Photoshop 2023 throws at me Error 8: Syntax Error.

Is there something I am doing wrong or does Photoshop 2023 not like these scripts anymore?

Thanks!

[3pp57015374]

Hi there, when I try to run this script in Photoshop 2023 I keep getting Error 8: Syntax Error.

Am I doing something wrong or is this script not compatible with Photoshop 2023?

Thanks!

[Stephen Marsh]

---

3pp57015374 wrote:

Hi there, when I try to run this script in Photoshop 2023 I keep getting Error 8: Syntax Error.

Am I doing something wrong or is this script not compatible with Photoshop 2023?

Thanks!

---

Screenshot please.

Does it mention RTF in the error? Did you save it as RTF when it should be saved as plain TXT?

[Stephen Marsh]

This is also possible with ExifTool using the following command:

exiftool -Photoshop:LayerNames PATH-TO-FILE-or-FOLDER

Which would output the following (which may be a little cryptic, see the screenshot below for a visual):

Color Fill 1, </Layer group>, Layer 0, Layer 1, Layer 2, Layer 3, Group 1, Layer 4, Invert 1

For an Adobe Illustrator .AI file, the command would be:

exiftool -a -XMP-egLayL:LayersName PATH-TO-FILE-or-FOLDER

[chandubhau]

Hi. is there a way to skip the Hue/Saturation layers from the list, because they are getting added too?

Thanks,

Mukul

[Stephen Marsh]

Hi. is there a way to skip the Hue/Saturation layers from the list, because they are getting added too?

Thanks,

Mukul

By chandubhau

What method are you using, the one from @jazz-y or another one?