Script to find and replace text layers and ignore missing fonts text layers.

[Nahidku]

I want to search and replace content inside text layers (e.g. X -> x). I found this code but it throws an error if there is a text layer in the file that uses the missing font. Is there any way to skip such layers?

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Have you tried wrapping the operation in a try-clause? 

[Nahidku]

oh... i'm not a programmer so i don't know what you're talking about. Currently the script only works on layers selected before running the script. Here is my script and psd file:

function replaceText (searchText, replaceWith)

{

    var actionDes1 = new ActionDescriptor();

    var actionRef = new ActionReference();

    actionRef.putProperty( charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" ), stringIDToTypeID("replace") );

    actionRef.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "TxLr" ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );

    actionDes1.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), actionRef );

    var actionDes2 = new ActionDescriptor();

    actionDes2.putString( stringIDToTypeID( "find" ), searchText );

    actionDes2.putString( stringIDToTypeID("replace"), replaceWith );

    actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "checkAll" ), false );

    actionDes2.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( "Fwd " ), true );

    actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "caseSensitive" ), false );

    actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "wholeWord" ), false );

    actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "ignoreAccents" ), true );

    actionDes1.putObject( charIDToTypeID( "Usng" ), stringIDToTypeID( "findReplace" ), actionDes2 );

    executeAction( stringIDToTypeID("replace"), actionDes1, DialogModes.NO );

};

replaceText ("I", "i")

[c.pfaffenbichler]

function replaceText (searchText, replaceWith) {
try {
var actionDes1 = new ActionDescriptor();
var actionRef = new ActionReference();
actionRef.putProperty( charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" ), stringIDToTypeID("replace") );
actionRef.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "TxLr" ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
actionDes1.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), actionRef );
var actionDes2 = new ActionDescriptor();
actionDes2.putString( stringIDToTypeID( "find" ), searchText );
actionDes2.putString( stringIDToTypeID("replace"), replaceWith );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "checkAll" ), false );
actionDes2.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( "Fwd " ), true );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "caseSensitive" ), false );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "wholeWord" ), false );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "ignoreAccents" ), true );
actionDes1.putObject( charIDToTypeID( "Usng" ), stringIDToTypeID( "findReplace" ), actionDes2 );
executeAction( stringIDToTypeID("replace"), actionDes1, DialogModes.NO );
} catch (e) {
alert ("failed")
}
};
replaceText ("I", "x")

[Nahidku]

Thank you very much for this script. But, it won't work if I don't select the text layers first.
Btw, I'm really interested in these, where can I find tutorials on photoshop scripts?

[c.pfaffenbichler · Accepted solution]

Did you try the Script @Davide_Barranca posted? 

Edit: An ESTK-code-version: 

// 2024, use it at your own risk;
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
replaceLetterInTypeLayers ("x", "8");
};
////////////////////////////////////
function replaceLetterInTypeLayers (searchText, replaceWith) {
// get number of layers;
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") ); 
var applicationDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var theNumber = applicationDesc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID("numberOfLayers"));
// process the layers;
var theLayers = new Array;
for (var m = 0; m <= theNumber; m++) {
try {
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), m);
var layerDesc = executeActionGet(ref);
var layerSet = typeIDToStringID(layerDesc.getEnumerationValue(stringIDToTypeID("layerSection")));
var isBackground = layerDesc.getBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("background"));
// if not layer group collect values;
if (layerSet != "layerSectionEnd" && layerSet != "layerSectionStart" && isBackground != true && layerDesc.hasKey(stringIDToTypeID("textKey")) == true) {
var theName = layerDesc.getString(stringIDToTypeID('name'));
var theID = layerDesc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID('layerID'));
try {
var actionDes1 = new ActionDescriptor();
var actionRef = new ActionReference();
selectLayerByID(theID, false);
actionRef.putProperty( charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" ), stringIDToTypeID("replace") );
actionRef.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "TxLr" ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
actionDes1.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), actionRef );
var actionDes2 = new ActionDescriptor();
actionDes2.putString( stringIDToTypeID( "find" ), searchText );
actionDes2.putString( stringIDToTypeID("replace"), replaceWith );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "checkAll" ), false );
actionDes2.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( "Fwd " ), true );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "caseSensitive" ), false );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "wholeWord" ), false );
actionDes2.putBoolean( stringIDToTypeID( "ignoreAccents" ), true );
actionDes1.putObject( charIDToTypeID( "Usng" ), stringIDToTypeID( "findReplace" ), actionDes2 );
executeAction( stringIDToTypeID("replace"), actionDes1, DialogModes.NO );
theLayers.push([theName, theID])
} catch (e) {};
};
}
catch (e) {};
};
return theLayers
};
////////////////////////////////////
// based on code by mike hale, via paul riggott;
function selectLayerByID(id,add){ 
add = undefined ? add = false:add 
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), id);
var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID("null"), ref );
if(add) desc.putEnumerated( stringIDToTypeID( "selectionModifier" ), stringIDToTypeID( "selectionModifierType" ), stringIDToTypeID( "addToSelection" ) ); 
desc.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( "MkVs" ), false ); 
try{
executeAction(charIDToTypeID("slct"), desc, DialogModes.NO );
}catch(e){
alert(e.message); 
}
};

[Nahidku]

Omg i didn't see it, it's working perfect! Thank you and Davide_Barranca so much!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

His code is more »future-safe« to boot as it is written as the »new« kind of Photoshop JavaScript (UXP). 

[c.pfaffenbichler]

If that does not work please provide the Script and the file for testing. 

[Lumigraphics]

layerUpdate();

function layerUpdate(){
    if(documents.length > 0){
        var originalDialogMode = app.displayDialogs;
        app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.ERROR;
        var originalRulerUnits = preferences.rulerUnits;
        try{
            var docRef = activeDocument;
            preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;
            for(var i = 0; i < docRef.artLayers.length; i++){
                var LayerRef = docRef.artLayers[i];
                if(LayerRef.kind == LayerKind.TEXT){
                    var TextRef = LayerRef.textItem;
                    var layerText = TextRef.contents;
                    var newText = layerText.replace('x', 'y');
                    TextRef.contents= newText;
                    }
                }
            preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
            app.displayDialogs = originalDialogMode;
            }
        catch(e){
            }
        }
    }

[Nahidku]

thank you, but it's not working 😞

[Davide_Barranca · Accepted solution]

Put the following in a file with a `.psjs` extension.

const { app, constants } = require("photoshop");
const doc = app.activeDocument;
for (const lay of doc.layers) {
  if (lay.kind === constants.LayerKind.TEXT) {
    lay.textItem.contents = lay.textItem.contents.replace(/x/g, "y");
  }
}

It won't work if you have nested text layers; otherwise, it should be OK. It runs a RegExp to replace instances of "x" with "y" .

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Dang, I suppose it is time to specify jsx or psjs when posting Scripts … 

[Davide_Barranca]

LOL it's about time 😁