Writing an applescript to import text to text layer

The "~" in the path points to your personal folders. If you're using an external drive, you don't use that. You need set the exact path. I'm unfamilar with Mac's path naming. There are two ways to describe a path. One uses forward slashes '/' and the other uses back slashes '\'. If you use back slashes, you have to use double one. It's best to use the forward slash.

The error in line 28 might be due to how you named the text layer. The name is case sensitive, so they have to match your layer name and the name used in the code.

I forgot to check if the text layer name changes when the new text is added. If it does, you need to add a line of code to rest the layer name:

TxtLayer.name = 'text';

Here's the script if you already have a text layer. Just make sure the text layer name matches what the name is in the code in the getByName line. I'm assuming you want "text" as the name, so that's what it's set up for.

And, yes, you save it as a .jsx file.

#target photoshop

app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;

var txtFile = new File('~/desktop/textFile.txt');//enter path and file name for text file
var saveFolder = new Folder('~/desktop/Saved Files/')
if(!saveFolder.exists){saveFolder.create()};//creates the save folder if it doesn't exists

var psdOptions = new PhotoshopSaveOptions()
psdOptions.layers = true

var doc = activeDocument;//original file

var run = true;

if (txtFile.exists){
    var txtInfo = readTextFile (txtFile).split('\n');
    }
else{
    run = false;
    alert('There is no text file.')
    }

if(run){
    for(var i=0;i<txtInfo.length;i++){
        dupeFile (txtInfo[i])
        var newFile = app.activeDocument;
        var txtLayer = newFile.layers.getByName('text');
        txtLayer.textItem.contents = txtInfo[i];
        newFile.saveAs (new File(saveFolder +'/' + txtInfo[i] + '.psd'), psdOptions);
        newFile.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        }//end for loop
    }//end if to run

function readTextFile(file){		
		file.encoding = "UTF8";
		file.lineFeed = "unix";
		file.open("r", "TEXT", "????");
		var str = file.read();
		file.close();
         return str
        }
    
function dupeFile(name){
       var idDplc = charIDToTypeID( "Dplc" );
        var desc5 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref1 = new ActionReference();
            var idDcmn = charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idFrst = charIDToTypeID( "Frst" );
            ref1.putEnumerated( idDcmn, idOrdn, idFrst );
        desc5.putReference( idnull, ref1 );
        var idNm = charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " );
        desc5.putString( idNm, name );//new name of file .
    executeAction( idDplc, desc5, DialogModes.NO ); 
    }

Yes, it would be better to use an existing text layer, where you can set the formatting and position. Then you can get rid if all that code to create and format the layer. You just need to get the layer.

Yes, just change the paths to there the text file is and where you want to save it. You can create a loop for multiple text files. 

Here is a script that will do what you want, I think. You need to insert the path and name of your text file, adjust whare you want the text layer, it's size, and font.

#target photoshop

app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;

var txtFile = new File('~/desktop/textFile.txt');//enter path and file name for text file
var saveFolder = new Folder('~/desktop/Saved Files/')
if(!saveFolder.exists){saveFolder.create()};//creates the save folder if it doesn't exists

var psdOptions = new PhotoshopSaveOptions()
psdOptions.layers = true

var doc = activeDocument;//original file

var run = true;

if (txtFile.exists){
    var txtInfo = readTextFile (txtFile).split('\n');
    }
else{
    run = false;
    alert('There is no text file.')
    }

if(run){
    for(var i=0;i<txtInfo.length;i++){
        dupeFile (txtInfo[i])
        var newFile = app.activeDocument;
        createTextLayer (txtInfo[i]);
        newFile.saveAs (new File(saveFolder +'/' + txtInfo[i] + '.psd'), psdOptions);
        newFile.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
        }//end for loop
    }//end if to run

function createTextLayer(textContent){
    var artLayerRef = newFile.artLayers.add()
    artLayerRef.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;
    artLayerRef.name = 'text';
    var textItemRef = artLayerRef.textItem;
    textItemRef.justification = Justification.LEFT;
    textItemRef.size = 200;
    textItemRef.position =[20, 200];
    textItemRef.contents = textContent;
    }

function readTextFile(file){		
		file.encoding = "UTF8";
		file.lineFeed = "unix";
		file.open("r", "TEXT", "????");
		var str = file.read();
		file.close();
         return str
        }
    
function dupeFile(name){
       var idDplc = charIDToTypeID( "Dplc" );
        var desc5 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref1 = new ActionReference();
            var idDcmn = charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idFrst = charIDToTypeID( "Frst" );
            ref1.putEnumerated( idDcmn, idOrdn, idFrst );
        desc5.putReference( idnull, ref1 );
        var idNm = charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " );
        desc5.putString( idNm, name );//new name of file .
    executeAction( idDplc, desc5, DialogModes.NO ); 
    }

Carriage returns are fine.

So I take it that the file needs to be saved as a psd?

Does your original file already have the text layer, and you just need to change the contents, or does a new text layer need to be created?

What does the text document consist of? How are the lines separeted: periods, commas, line breaks, etc. What is the naming convention for the layers?

Is there a reason you want to use apple script? More people know extendscript and can offer more help. Your requirements look fairly straightforward though and should be able to be done.