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mikenott
mikenott
Participant
February 2, 2015
Question

Putting fileinfo data on bottom of image for use in building a photobook for printing/binding

  • February 2, 2015
  • 4 replies
  • 1698 views

I wonder if someone on here could help me with a problem I have? I am not a script expert by any means. The term "amateur" is probably pretty accurate!

I have a few hundred pictures I want to include into a (to be printed) photobook. I want to put some key EXIF/Fileinfo data on the images so that they remind me of what file, when it was taken, with what and with what settings. I found an excellent script (by JJmack?) which does what i want with one exception. The script (below) puts the info on the image starting on the top left (0,0) and I really want it to start on the bottom left (so that it looks like a caption). I have tweaked the original 5 lines of data down to one line, and have reduced the font size but I simply do not have the skills to amend it to add the selected text to the bottom left.

I was hoping that someone on this forum might be kind enough to help - not least because I am sure there are others who would want to the same thing? Or am I being a complete idiot and there is a simpler way to achieve what I am trying to do?

Grateful for any help

Michael.

Apologies - can't find way to insert file so had to copy and paste:

// This script was hacked from one I downloaded from the web JJMack 2008

/*  Script to stamp copyright and camera data of shot   */

// This script is supplied as is. It is provided as freeware.

// The author accepts no liability for any problems arising from its use.

/*

<javascriptresource>

<about>$$$/JavaScripts/StampExif/About=JJMack's Stamp Exif.^r^rCopyright 2009 Mouseprints.^r^rScript utility for action.^rNOTE:Add Text Layer with Fomatted EXIF Data!</about>

<category>JJMack's Action Utility</category>

</javascriptresource>

*/

// enable double-clicking from Mac Finder or Windows Explorer

#target photoshop // this command only works in Photoshop CS2 and higher

// bring application forward for double-click events

app.bringToFront();

// ensure at least one document open

if (!documents.length) {

    alert('There are no documents open.', 'No Document');

}

// if at least one document exists, then proceed

else {

    main();

}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// main - main function

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

function main() {

    /* Null business owner */

    var Biz = "";

    var Owner = "";

    /* Variables You can hard code your business owner here */

    // var Biz = "Mouseprints";

    // var Owner = "John J McAssey";

        /*  sizeFactor influences text size 1 will use largest font 2 will half that font size    */

    var sizeFactor = 1.5;

        /* textX and TextY positions text placement 0 and 0 Top Left corner of image in pixels    */

    var textX = 0;                                   

    var textY = 0;   

    /* Internal Photoshop Text name                                */                               

        var fontName = "ArialMT";

    var fontName = "TimesNewRomanPSMT";

    var fontName = "Tahoma";

    /* Text Color                                        */

    textColor = new SolidColor;                       

    textColor.rgb.red = 255;

    textColor.rgb.green = 255;

    textColor.rgb.blue = 255;

    /* END Variables You can hard code your business owner here */

        // remember users Ruler avd Type Units and set ours

    var strtRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;

    var strtTypeUnits = app.preferences.typeUnits;

    app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;

     app.preferences.typeUnits = TypeUnits.PIXELS;

    /* Trying to figure out font size for the number of lines to cover the document height        */

    /* and getting setting text area to cover the document was a trip. Adobe Postscript trip    */

    /* I believe that 72 or 72.27 Point/Pica Size Photoshop Preference maybe I should see if    */

    /* I could retrieve it. Anyway mine is set to 72 Setting the document resolution taking        */

    /* the document width and dividing by 72 would probably yield number of characters that        */

    /* would fit in the document width. Setting the documents resolution comes into play        */

    /* with Photoshop text support. Using the documents height and dividing the by the number    */

    /* of lines of text I needed I hoped would yield the font size I needed. However that        */

    /* did not work the text area was correct the number of text lines did not fit. I needed    */

    /* to use a smaller font.  When the document resolution is set to 72 DPI and I set a text    */

    /* layer font size to 72 and the text area the number of pixels I want and observing        */

    /* Photoshop's text options bar there I see a one 1 to one relationship. 72 px = 72 px.        */

    /* If I set the documents resolution lower and set a Photoshop text layer font size to        */

    /* 72 px I see Photoshop scale the number to a lower number of pixels in the option bar.    */

    /* Just what I needed. Setting the Documents resolution to 60 DPI let the number of line    */

    /* I needed fit on the document. However Photoshop also scaled the text area I set down        */

    /* in size and that number of lines did not fit within that area. I needed to scale the        */

    /* text area up. Scaling the Text area up using 72/resolution did the trick...             */

        var testres = 60;

    res = app.activeDocument.resolution;

    if(res!=testres){ app.activeDocument.resizeImage(app.activeDocument.width.value,app.activeDocument.height.value,testres); }

    /* Define var to be used to avoid undefined */

    var expTime = "";

    var expPgm = "";

    var expCmp = "";

    var mtrMode = "";

    var ev = "";

    var flshCode = "";

    var flshMode = "";

    var focLength = "";

    var Fstop = "";

    var ISO = "";

    var Model = "";

    var CameraModel = "";

    var Artist = "";

    var maxF = "";

    var wbMode = "";

    var phoTime = "";

    var picYr = "";

    var lens = "";

    var cpyrt = "";

    var remShutter = "";

    var remAperture = "";

    var remISO = "";

    var lat = "";

    var latRef = "";

    var lon = "";

    var lonRef = "";

    var docName = app.activeDocument.name;

    /* END var to be used to avoid undefined */

    try {   // get active document

        var doc = app.activeDocument;

    }

    catch (e){

        alert("No Document Open..." );

    }

    var exifInfo = "";

   

try {

        // alert( "doc.info.exif=" + doc.info.exif );

        var numExifItems = doc.info.exif.length;

        // alert( "numExifItems=" + numExifItems );

                for (var i = 0; i < doc.info.exif.length; i++){

             exifInfo = exifInfo + doc.info.exif[0] + " = " + doc.info.exif[1] + "\r";

/* ---------------------------------- Extracting Data I want to Stamp  formated ----------------------------------------------------------------------- */

                        checkThisItem(doc.info.exif[0], doc.info.exif[1])

            key=doc.info.exif[0];

            keyData=doc.info.exif[1];

            if (key == "Artist") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                Artist =("By " + keyData + "  ");

            }

             if (key == "Date Time Original") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                var phoTime = keyData;

                var dateArray1 = phoTime.split(" ", 2);

                phoTime = dateArray1[0];

                phoHour = dateArray1[1];

                var dateArray2 = phoTime.split(":");

                var monthsArray = ["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"];

                phoTime = monthsArray[dateArray2[1]-1]+" " + dateArray2[2]+ ", " + dateArray2[0] +" @ " + phoHour;

                var picYr = dateArray2[0];

            }

            if (key == "Model") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                Model = (keyData + "  ");

            }

            if (key == "Max Aperture Value") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                maxF = ("maxF " + keyData + " ");

                maxF = ( keyData + " ");

            }

            if (key == "Focal Length") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                focLength = ("@ " +keyData + "  ");

            }

            if (key == "Exposure Program") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                expPgm = (keyData + "  ");

                if (expPgm == "Not defined") { expPgm = "Exposure Program Not Recorded  "; }

            }

            if (key == "Exposure Bias Value") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                expCmp = ("Bias " + keyData + "  ");

            }

            if (key == "Metering Mode") {

                //alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                mtrMode = (keyData + " Metering  ");

            }

            if (key == "White Balance") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                wbMode = ("White Balance " + keyData + "  ");

            }

            if (key == "ISO Speed Ratings") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                ISO = ("ISO " + keyData + "  ");

                remISO = keyData;

            }

            if (key == "Exposure Time") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                expTime = (" " + keyData + "  ");

                remShutter = keyData;

            }

            if (key == "F-Stop") {

                //alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                Fstop = (" " + keyData + "  ");

                remAperture = keyData;

            }

            if (key == "Flash") {

                // alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                var flshCode = keyData;

                var flshMode = "Flash Code=" + flshCode + "  ";

                if(flshCode==1){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==9){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==13){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==15){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==25){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==29){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==31){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==65){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==69){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==71){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==73){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==77){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==79){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==89){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==93){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==95){var flshMode = "Firing Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==0){var flshMode = "without Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==16){var flshMode = "without Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==24){var flshMode = "without Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==88){var flshMode = "without Flash   ";}

                if(flshCode==32){var flshMode = "No Flash   ";}

            }

            if (key == "GPS Latitude") {

                //alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                lat= ("Lat: " + keyData.replace(/\.00/g,'') + " ");

            }

            if (key == "GPS Latitude Ref") {

                //alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                latRef= (keyData + "  ");

            }

            if (key == "GPS Longitude") {

                //alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                lon= ("Lon: " + keyData.replace(/\.00/g,'') + " ");

            }

            if (key == "GPS Longitude Ref") {

                //alert ("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

                lonRef= (lon + keyData + "  ");

            }

        }

        /* Copyright Year(s) */

        var thisYr, toDay       

        var toDay = new Date();

        var thisYr = toDay.getYear() + 1900;

        if(picYr!="" && thisYr!=""){ var cpyrt =  picYr + "-" + thisYr + "  ";}

        if(picYr=="" && thisYr!=""){ var cpyrt =  thisYr + "  ";}

        if(picYr==thisYr){ var cpyrt =  thisYr + "  ";}

        /* For cameras that don't set Artist or set unknown in the Exif substitute Owner if set */

        if(Artist=="" && Owner!=""){var Artist = "By  " + Owner + "   ";}

        if(Artist=="By unknown  " && Owner!=""){var Artist = "By  " + Owner + "   ";}

        /*  Lens info  */

        xml = app.activeDocument.xmpMetadata.rawData;

        lensOffset = xml.indexOf("<aux:Lens>") + "<aux:Lens>".length;

        if(lensOffset > 0) {

            lens = xml.substr(lensOffset, xml.length - lensOffset);

            lens = lens.substr(0,lens.indexOf("</aux:Lens>"));

        }

        /* Hack for my cameras with fixed lens */

        if(lens=="" && Model=="E990  "){var lens = "9-28mm";}

        if(lens=="" && Model=="E-20,E-20N,E-20P  "){var lens = "9-36mm";}

        if(lens=="" && Model=="E-10  "){var lens = "9-36mm";}

        if(lens=="" && Model=="E-10          "){

            var Model = "E-10  ";

            var lens = "9-36mm";

        }

        if(lens=="" && Model=="Canon PowerShot SD700 IS  "){var lens = "5.8-23.2mm";}

        if(lens!=""){var lens = lens + "  ";}

        else {var lens = "Unknown Lens  ";}

        /* Hack for my ultra compact cameras program mode not recorded */

        if(Model=="Canon PowerShot SD700 IS  "){var expPgm = "Ultra Compact Camera  ";}

        //alert (remShutter + " " + remAperture + " " + remISO);

                ev = calcEV(remShutter, remAperture, remISO);

/* ---------------------------------- END Extracting Data I want to Stamp  formated -------------------------------------------------- */

           

        //}

    }

    catch (e){

        alert("No EXIF data exists..." );

    }

    if ( exifInfo == "" ) {

        alert( "No EXIF data exists..." );

    }

    else {

        // alert( "exifInfo=" + exifInfo );

        text_layer = doc.artLayers.add();                        // Add a Layer

        text_layer.name = "EXIF Stamp";                            // Name Layer

        text_layer.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;                        // Make Layer a Text Layer

        text_layer.textItem.color = textColor;                        // set text layer color

/* Do not set TextType to Pargarph Text for StampEXIF so action can position text layer

         text_layer.textItem.kind = TextType.PARAGRAPHTEXT;                // Set text layers text type

*/

        text_layer.textItem.font = fontName;                        // set text font

        text_layer.blendMode = BlendMode.NORMAL                        // blend mode

        text_layer.textItem.fauxBold = false;                        // Bold

        text_layer.textItem.fauxItalic = false;                        // Italic

        text_layer.textItem.underline = UnderlineType.UNDERLINEOFF;            // Underlibn

        text_layer.textItem.capitalization = TextCase.NORMAL;                // Case

        text_layer.textItem.antiAliasMethod = AntiAlias.SHARP;                // antiAlias

//        var fontSize = Math.round((doc.height- textY) / ((numExifItems +1) * sizeFactor)); // Calulate font size to use Item nomber + last \r

        /* Calulate font size to use for StampExit keep size same for landscape and portrait base on document size */

        if (doc.width >= doc.height) {var fontSize = Math.round(doc.height / (30 * sizeFactor));}

        else {var fontSize = Math.round(doc.width / (30 * sizeFactor));}

        if (fontSize<10){fontSize=10};                            // don't use Font size smaller then 10

        text_layer.textItem.size = fontSize;                        // set text font Size

//        text_layer.textItem.position = Array(textX, textY );                // set text layers position in and down

        text_layer.textItem.position = Array(textX, (textY + fontSize ));        // set text layers position in and down for Stamp add in fontsize

        textWidth = ((doc.width - textX) * 72/testres );                // Text width document width - offset

        textHeight = ((doc.height - textY) * 72/testres );                // Text height document height - offset

/* Do not set Text Area for StampEXIF so action can position text layer

        text_layer.textItem.width = textWidth;                        // set text area width

        text_layer.textItem.height = textHeight;                    // set text area height

*/

/*

         alert(

        "res=" + res + " sizeFactor=" + sizeFactor + " numExifItems=" + numExifItems

        + "\r" + "fontsize=" + fontSize + " font=" +fontName

        + "\r" + "Image area width=" + doc.width + " height=" + doc.height

        + "\r"    + "text area width=" + textWidth + " height=" + textHeight

        + "\r"    + "Text Position top left=" + textX + "," + textY

        + " bottom right=" + (textX + textWidth )+ "," + (textY +  textHeight )

        );

*/

/*

        try{

            text_layer.textItem.contents = exifInfo;

        }

        catch (er) {

            alert("Error Setting Contents...");

        }

*/

/* -----------------------------------------  Data Stamp  format ----------------------------------------------------------------------- */

        if (!app.activeDocument.info.copyrightNotice=="") {var Notice = app.activeDocument.info.copyrightNotice; }

        else { var Notice = "Copyright \u00A9 " + Biz  + " " + cpyrt; }   

        if (lat!="" && lon!="") { gps = "\r" + lat +latRef + lon + lonRef;}

        else {gps = ""; }

        text_layer.textItem.contents =  docName + " " + Model + lens + ISO + expTime + Fstop;

        if (app.activeDocument.info.instructions == "" ) {

            app.activeDocument.info.instructions = docName + " " + Model  + lens + ISO  + expTime + Fstop;

        }

    }

    if(res != testres){ app.activeDocument.resizeImage(app.activeDocument.width.value,app.activeDocument.height.value,res); }

    app.preferences.rulerUnits = strtRulerUnits;

    app.preferences.typeUnits = strtTypeUnits;

}

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// END - main function

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// -----------------------------------------

// calcEV()

// -----------------------------------------

function calcEV(shutter, aperture, iso) {

    evString = new String("");

    isoValue = new Number(0);

    shutterValue = new Number(0);

    apertureValue = new Number(0);

    evValue = new Number(0);

    apertureValue = aperture;

    apertureValue = apertureValue.substr(2,apertureValue.length -2); // Strip off "f/"

    shutterValue = shutter;

    shutterValue = shutterValue.substr(0,shutterValue.indexOf(" ")); // Strip off ending " sec"

    if ( shutterValue.indexOf("/") != -1) {

        topShutter = shutterValue.substr(0,shutterValue.indexOf("/"));

        bottomShutter = shutterValue.substr(shutterValue.indexOf("/") + 1,shutterValue.length -(shutterValue.indexOf("/") + 1));

        shutterValue = topShutter / bottomShutter;

    }

    isoValue = iso;

    //alert ("apertureValue = " + apertureValue +  " shutterValue = " + shutterValue + " isoValue = " + isoValue );

    if (isoValue>0 && shutterValue>0 && apertureValue>0) {

        evValue = Math.LOG2E * Math.log(Math.pow(apertureValue, 2) * (1 / shutterValue) * (100 / isoValue));

        evValue = Math.round(evValue * 10) / 10;

        evString = "EV " + evValue;

    }

    return evString;;

}

function checkThisItem(key, keyData) {

    // alert("Key=" + key + " Data=" + keyData );

}

This topic has been closed for replies.

4 replies

NSGL
NSGL
Participant
January 6, 2016

Hi JJMack,

I'm a TOTAL novice at scripts, although I've been using Photoshop since it first came out.  I have an ongoing job that requires me to imprint the date/time that the image was taken on the bottom of each image.  I know that the data exists, but I haven't been able to figure out a way to get it to stamp the photo, so I've been placing it on a layer manually.  This is a monthly project, and doing this manually on 100-200 images is getting really old.  Could you explain where to download the entire script and how to install it?  I'm running Photoshop CS5 currently, and see where there's an option for scripts under the file menu, but I have no idea what to do with it!

thanks for your patience and help!

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 7, 2016

My Script and other add a text layer.  You can easily include that script in an action step. After the script runs the action can align the added text layer to the image. Using a select all and then menu Layer>Align Layers to Selection>(Locaton)....  You can also add a layer style.  The script is in my crafting actions package.

If all you want is the date you need to change the text layer content. Changing the script from

text_layer.textItem.contents =  docName + " " + Model + lens + ISO + expTime + Fstop;

to

text_layer.textItem.contents = expTime;

may just give you a text line the the date the image was captured fron its exif meta-data.  The data must still ne available and not have beed striped by a save for web.


Crafting Actions Package UPDATED Aug 10, 2014 Added Conditional Action steps to Action Palette Tips.
Contains

Example
Download


JJMack
MR74270
MR74270
Inspiring
January 7, 2016

Hi all,

It is possible to type in a different text for each photo found in a folder using the interruption "prompt()".

My whole script is to complex to be interesting, but with this small example it should be easier to understand how it works.

As you have to work with Postscript names, you will have to adapt the font size to the choosen policy. And if you need to have the same font size for landscape and portrait photos, you will have to use a ratio.

Excuse my poor English.

// MAC Finder ou WINDOWS Explorer


#target photoshop


app.bringToFront();




// User's preferences found


var unitRuler = app.preferences.rulerUnits;


var unitType = app.preferences.typeUnits;




// We shall work in points to avoid resolution conversion


app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;


app.preferences.typeUnits = TypeUnits.POINTS; 




// No alert messages


app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.NO;




// Select a photo folder


var inputFolder = Folder.selectDialog("Select a photo folder : ");


var outputFolder = Folder(inputFolder + "/save");


if (!outputFolder.exists) outputFolder.create();




// Photos references are put in an array


var fileList = inputFolder.getFiles(/\.(jpg|jpeg|tif|psd|)$/i);




// Variables


var counter = 0;


var docRef="";


var docName = "";


var comment = "";


var yourComment="";


var posX = 0;


var posY = 0;


var docHeight = 0;


var locText = 0;


var message = "Type in the comment to attach to this photo"


var colorTxt = new SolidColor(); // Color of the font is black


with (colorTxt.rgb)


{


    red = 0;


    green = 0;


    blue = 0;


}




// Images will be saved in PSD format


var psd_Options  = new PhotoshopSaveOptions(); // [PhotoshopSaveOptions]


psd_Options.layers  = true; // Preserves Layersd


psd_Options.embedColorProfile = true; // Preserves color profile


psd_Options.annotations = true; // Preserves annotation


psd_Options.alphaChannels = true; // Preserves Alpha channels


psd_Options.spotColors = true; // Preserves inks




// User Interface


var dlgBox = new Window('dialog', 'Comment tool', {x:20, y:70, width:200, height:60});




// Button


var buttonNext = dlgBox.add ("button",  {x:25, y:10, width:150, height:25}, "Go !");


buttonNext.onClick = main;




// Show the User Interface


dlgBox.show();




// Restauration of user's preferences


app.preferences.rulerUnits = unitRuler;


app.preferences.typeUnits = unitType;




function main()


{


    if (counter==fileList.length-1)


    {


        docRef = open(fileList[0]);


        docName  = docRef.name;


        docName  = docName.substring( 0, docName.indexOf('.') );


        docHeight = docRef.height;


        yourComment = prompt(message, "").toLowerCase();


        addTextLayer(yourComment);


        docRef.saveAs( File(outputFolder + '/' + docName + ".psd" ), psd_Options, true );   


        docRef.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);


        dlgBox.close();   


        alert("No more photo. You will find PSD files in the sub-folder ../save");   


    }


    counter+=1;


    buttonNext.text="Next photo"


    docRef = open(fileList[counter]);


    docName  = docRef.name;


    docName  = docName.substring( 0, docName.indexOf('.') );


    docHeight = docRef.height;


    yourComment = prompt(message, "").toLowerCase();


    addTextLayer(yourComment);


    docRef.saveAs( File(outputFolder + '/' + docName + ".psd" ), psd_Options, true );   


    docRef.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);


}




function addTextLayer(yourComment)


{


    var layerTxt = app.activeDocument.artLayers.add();


    layerTxt.name = "Comment";


    layerTxt.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;


    layerTxt.textItem.contents = yourComment;


    layerTxt.textItem.color = colorTxt;


    layerTxt.textItem.font = "ArialMT"; // a PostScript name is necessary


    layerTxt.textItem.size = 20;


    posX =  15; 


    posY =  app.activeDocument.height - 15;


    var locText = new Array(posX, posY);


    layerTxt.textItem.position = locText;   


}
mikenott
mikenottAuthor
Participant
February 3, 2015

Thanks to both pixxxel scubser and JJMack for replying so promptly. Taking on board your feedback, and using script modifications and some simple Actions recording, I have succeeded in doing what I wanted to - so MANY thanks!!

I now have a folder full of captioned images that i can build into a printed photobook - and I have the tool to do it again.  You guys ROCK!

Thanks again,

Michael.

pixxxelschubser
Community Expert
pixxxelschubserCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 3, 2015

Hi mikenott‌,

did you try to email the script writer?

It is not really good to change scripts from other people. But if you only change the position of the text layer - find and change this line:

text_layer.textItem.position = Array(textX, (textY + fontSize ));

and replace with this:

text_layer.textItem.position = Array(textX, (doc.height - fontSize/3 ));

Have fun

JJMack
Community Expert
JJMackCommunity Expert
Community Expert
February 3, 2015

I wrote that script to be used within an Action.  The Action uses the script to add the text layer. The text layer becomes the current active layer.  The action can then position the layer anywhere over the document by aligning the layer to a selection.  Also add a layer style like set fill to 0 and adding a drop shadow and emboss. That is the un-expanded step below the set current layer is setting a style and is lengthy.

Crafting Actions Package UPDATED Aug 10, 2014 Added Conditional Action steps to Action Palette Tips.
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