Running an Command a Specified Number of Times

[Brett Ossman]

Say I want to run Despeckle x number of times, by simply specifying how many times, be it 10, 50, 100, whatever.

I would assume that may be an action with an option to repeat # times, but don't see any such option.

Ideas?

[Stephen_A_Marsh · Accepted solution]

No, you ideally need a script for that... (it is possible, but clunky with an action).

The following script is not perfect, there is no check/warning for an open doc. You need to either replace the placeholder action and action set in the code by replacing the default placeholder info, or use script code to run a filter such as despeckle. It does offer a GUI and a single history undo step:

// Repeat action N times GUI
// https://forums.adobe.com/thread/2649334
// https://forums.adobe.com/message/11234144#11234144

#target photoshop

// Loop the input prompt until a number is entered
var origInput;
while (isNaN(origInput = prompt("Enter a whole number:", "3")));
// Convert decimal input to integer
var inputToInteger = parseInt(origInput);

function main() {
    for (i = 0; i < inputToInteger; i++) // Variable prompt N times
    {
        app.doAction("Molten Lead", "Default Actions.atn"); // Change the action and action set as required
    }
}
app.activeDocument.suspendHistory("Repeat action N times (history suspended)", "main()");

Or this one

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/trying-to-run-an-action-on-loop/td-p/10972713

I can't recall where this one came from, it has a custom GUI to select the action, but does not offer a single undo, so be careful and perhaps create a snapshot or work on a dupe:

#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();
function main(){
var dlg =
"dialog{text:'Script Interface',bounds:[100,100,500,230],"+
"panel0:Panel{bounds:[10,10,390,120] , text:'' ,properties:{borderStyle:'etched',su1PanelCoordinates:true},"+
"statictext0:StaticText{bounds:[30,10,160,30] , text:'Run Action X Times..' ,properties:{scrolling:undefined,multiline:undefined}},"+
"Xtimes:EditText{bounds:[200,10,261,30] , text:'1' ,properties:{multiline:false,noecho:false,readonly:false}},"+
"ActionSet:DropDownList{bounds:[10,50,180,70]},"+
"ActionName:DropDownList{bounds:[200,50,370,70]},"+
"button0:Button{bounds:[40,80,140,100] , text:'Ok' },"+
"button1:Button{bounds:[240,80,340,100] , text:'Cancel' }}}";

var win = new Window(dlg,"Action Runner");
win.center();

var actionSets = new Array();
actionSets = getActionSets();
for (var i=0,len=actionSets.length;i<len;i++) {
	item = win.panel0.ActionSet.add ('item', "" + actionSets[i]);      
}; 
win.panel0.ActionSet.selection=0;

var actions = new Array();	
actions = getActions(actionSets[0]);
for (var i=0,len=actions.length;i<len;i++) {
	item = win.panel0.ActionName.add ('item', "" + actions[i]);      
};
win.panel0.ActionName.selection=0;

win.panel0.ActionSet.onChange = function() {
win.panel0.ActionName.removeAll();
actions = getActions(actionSets[parseInt(this.selection)]);
for (var i=0,len=actions.length;i<len;i++) {
	item = win.panel0.ActionName.add ('item', "" + actions[i]);  
	}
	win.panel0.ActionName.selection=0;
};
var done = false; 
    while (!done) { 
      var x = win.show(); 
      if (x == 0 || x == 2) {
        win.canceled = true;
        //Cancelled
        done = true; 
      } else if (x == 1) { 
        done = true; 
       var result = valiDate();
        if(result != true) {
        	alert(result);
        	return;
        }else
        {
			var XTimes = parseInt (win.panel0.Xtimes.text);
			for (var a =0;a<XTimes;a++){
        doAction(win.panel0.ActionName.selection.text, win.panel0.ActionSet.selection.text);
			}
        }
      } 
   } 
}

main();

function valiDate(){

return true;
};

function getActionSets() { 
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); }; 
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); }; 
  var i = 1; 
  var sets = [];  
  while (true) { 
    var ref = new ActionReference(); 
    ref.putIndex(cTID("ASet"), i); 
    var desc; 
    var lvl = $.level; 
    $.level = 0; 
    try { 
      desc = executeActionGet(ref); 
    } catch (e) { 
      break;    // all done 
    } finally { 
      $.level = lvl; 
    } 
    if (desc.hasKey(cTID("Nm  "))) { 
      var set = {}; 
      set.index = i; 
      set.name = desc.getString(cTID("Nm  ")); 
      set.toString = function() { return this.name; }; 
      set.count = desc.getInteger(cTID("NmbC")); 
      set.actions = []; 
      for (var j = 1; j <= set.count; j++) { 
        var ref = new ActionReference(); 
        ref.putIndex(cTID('Actn'), j); 
        ref.putIndex(cTID('ASet'), set.index); 
        var adesc = executeActionGet(ref); 
        var actName = adesc.getString(cTID('Nm  ')); 
        set.actions.push(actName); 
      } 
      sets.push(set); 
    } 
    i++; 
  } 
  return sets; 
}; 

function getActions(aset) {
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); }; 
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
  var i = 1;
  var names = [];
  if (!aset) {
    throw "Action set must be specified";
  }  
  while (true) {
    var ref = new ActionReference();
    ref.putIndex(cTID("ASet"), i);
    var desc;
    try {
      desc = executeActionGet(ref);
    } catch (e) {
      break;    // all done
    }
    if (desc.hasKey(cTID("Nm  "))) {
      var name = desc.getString(cTID("Nm  "));
      if (name == aset) {
        var count = desc.getInteger(cTID("NmbC"));
        var names = [];
        for (var j = 1; j <= count; j++) {
          var ref = new ActionReference();
          ref.putIndex(cTID('Actn'), j);
          ref.putIndex(cTID('ASet'), i);
          var adesc = executeActionGet(ref);
          var actName = adesc.getString(cTID('Nm  '));
          names.push(actName);
        }
        break;
      }
    }
    i++;
  }
  return names;
};

[Brett Ossman]

Wow, thanks 🙂