Script to search layer names

[jmug45]

Hi -

Does anyone know if there is a script that can search through layer names within a file for a specific text string and then select it as the active layer?

For instance, if a file has 4 layers, named My LayerX, LayerY, LayerZ, LayerA, I want to automatically search for a layer that has the text "rA" and make it the active layer.

Thanks.

[JJMack]

http://morris-photographics.com/photoshop/scripts/find-layer.html

[vigneshr15256207]

hi There is any same kind of scripts available for Adobe illustrator

[JJMack]

I do not use AI one complex Adobe prouduct Photoshop is all I can handle.

[Michael_L_Hale]

This requires CS4 or better. It searchs using a RegExp and Action Manager so it should be very fast. It is set up now to deal with more than one matching layer.

var re = /rA/;// a reg exp
var matches = collectNamesAM(re);// get array of matching layer indexes
for( var l = 0; l < matches.length; l++ ){
    makeActiveByIndex( l, false );
    // do something with layer
    alert(app.activeDocument.activeLayer.name);
}// next match if any

function collectNamesAM(re){
     var allLayers = new Array();
   var startLoop = Number( !hasBackground() );
   var endLoop = getNumberOfLayer(); 
   for( var l = startLoop;l < endLoop; l++){
        while( !isValidActiveLayer( l ) ) {
            l++;
        }
        if( getLayerNameByIndex( l ).match(re) != null){
            allLayers.push( l );
        }
    }
     return allLayers;
};
/*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: getActiveLayerIndex
// Description: Gets gets the Action Manager API index
//                        of activeLayer corrected for Background Layer
// Usage: var idx = getActiveLayerIndex();
// Input: None
// Return: Number - correct AM itemIndex
// Dependices: hasBackground
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/
function getActiveLayerIndex() {
     var ref = new ActionReference();
     ref.putProperty( 1349677170 , 1232366921 );
     ref.putEnumerated( 1283027488, 1332896878, 1416783732 );
     var res = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger( 1232366921 )
                                                       - Number( hasBackground() );
     res == 4 ? res++:res// why the skip in this doc?
     return res;   
}
/*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: isValidActiveLayer( )
// Description: Checks LayerSection for 'real' layers
// Usage: if( isValidActiveLayer() )
// Input: None
// Return: Boolean - True if not the end of a Set
// Notes:  Needed only if the layer was made active
//               using Action Manager API
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/
function isValidActiveLayer( idx ) {
     var propName = stringIDToTypeID( 'layerSection' );// can't replace
     var ref = new ActionReference(); 
     ref.putProperty( 1349677170 , propName);// TypeID for "Prpr"
     // 'Lyr ", idx
     ref.putIndex( 1283027488, idx );
     var desc =  executeActionGet( ref );
     var type = desc.getEnumerationValue( propName );
     var res = typeIDToStringID( type ); 
     return res == 'layerSectionEnd' ? false:true;
};
/*//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Function: hasBackground
// Description: Test for background layer using AM API
// Usage: if( hasBackground() );
// Input: None
// Return: Boolean - true if doc has background layer
// Notes:  Requires the document to be active
//  DOM:  App.Document.backgroundLayer
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/
function hasBackground(){
    var res = undefined;
    try{
        var ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putProperty( 1349677170 , 1315774496); 
        ref.putIndex( 1283027488, 0 );
        executeActionGet(ref).getString(1315774496 );; 
        res = true;
    }catch(e){ res = false}
    return res;
};
function makeActiveByIndex( idx, forceVisible ){
     try{
          var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
          var ref = new ActionReference();
          ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx)
          desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref );
          desc.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( "MkVs" ), forceVisible );
          executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "slct" ), desc, DialogModes.NO );
     }catch(e){ return -1;}
};
function getNumberOfLayer(){ 
var ref = new ActionReference(); 
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") ); 
var desc = executeActionGet(ref); 
var numberOfLayer = desc.getInteger(charIDToTypeID("NmbL")); 
return numberOfLayer; 
};
function getLayerNameByIndex( idx ) { 
    var ref = new ActionReference(); 
    ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " )); 
    ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx );
    return executeActionGet(ref).getString(charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " ));; 
};

[Guest]

@Michael: Thank you for the awesome code!

Annotation: line 4 must be the following:

var re = /rA/;// a reg exp  
var matches = collectNamesAM(re);// get array of matching layer indexes  
for( var l = 0; l < matches.length; l++ ){  
    makeActiveByIndex( matches, false );  
    // do something with layer  
    alert(app.activeDocument.activeLayer.name);  
}// next match if any  

[StrongBeaver]

Micheal what do you mean it requires Action Manager, I tried to execute after doing the change barra put forward and nothing happened ?

[Chuck Uebele]

Michael has passed away. Action Manger code is code generated by Scriptlistener - for the most part as opposed to DOM code.

[JJMack]

The functions in Michael script were made from Action Manager Coder recorded by the Scriptlistener Plug-in in some of the functions variable were added to replace hard coded values recorded by the Scriptlistener plug-in the variable are the functions parameters. I have highlighted the variable and the statment's that  uses Photoshop Action manager

1. function getActiveLayerIndex() { 
2.      var ref = new ActionReference(); 
3.      ref.putProperty( 1349677170 , 1232366921 ); 
4.      ref.putEnumerated( 1283027488, 1332896878, 1416783732 ); 
5.      var res = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger( 1232366921 ) 
6.                                                        - Number( hasBackground() ); 
7.      res == 4 ? res++:res// why the skip in this doc? 
8.      return res;    
9. } 
10. /*////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 
11. // Function: isValidActiveLayer( ) 
12. // Description: Checks LayerSection for 'real' layers 
13. // Usage: if( isValidActiveLayer() ) 
14. // Input: None 
15. // Return: Boolean - True if not the end of a Set 
16. // Notes:  Needed only if the layer was made active 
17. //               using Action Manager API 
18. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/ 
19. function isValidActiveLayer( idx ) { 
20.      var propName = stringIDToTypeID( 'layerSection' );// can't replace 
21.      var ref = new ActionReference();  
22.      ref.putProperty( 1349677170 , propName);// TypeID for "Prpr" 
23.      // 'Lyr ", idx 
24.      ref.putIndex( 1283027488, idx ); 
25.      var desc =  executeActionGet( ref ); 
26.      var type = desc.getEnumerationValue( propName ); 
27.      var res = typeIDToStringID( type );  
28.      return res == 'layerSectionEnd' ? false:true; 
29. }; 
30. /*////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 
31. // Function: hasBackground 
32. // Description: Test for background layer using AM API 
33. // Usage: if( hasBackground() ); 
34. // Input: None 
35. // Return: Boolean - true if doc has background layer 
36. // Notes:  Requires the document to be active 
37. //  DOM:  App.Document.backgroundLayer 
38. //////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////*/ 
39. function hasBackground(){ 
40.     var res = undefined; 
41.     try{ 
42.         var ref = new ActionReference(); 
43.         ref.putProperty( 1349677170 , 1315774496);  
44.         ref.putIndex( 1283027488, 0 ); 
45.         executeActionGet(ref).getString(1315774496 );;  
46.         res = true; 
47.     }catch(e){ res = false} 
48.     return res; 
49. }; 
50. function makeActiveByIndex( idx, forceVisible ){ 
51.      try{ 
52.           var desc = new ActionDescriptor(); 
53.           var ref = new ActionReference(); 
54.           ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx) 
55.           desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref ); 
56.           desc.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( "MkVs" ), forceVisible ); 
57.           executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "slct" ), desc, DialogModes.NO ); 
58.      }catch(e){ return -1;} 
59. }; 
60. function getNumberOfLayer(){  
61. var ref = new ActionReference();  
62. ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );  
63. var desc = executeActionGet(ref);  
64. var numberOfLayer = desc.getInteger(charIDToTypeID("NmbL"));  
65. return numberOfLayer;  
66. }; 
67. function getLayerNameByIndex( idx ) {  
68.     var ref = new ActionReference();  
69.     ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " ));  
70.     ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx ); 
71.     return executeActionGet(ref).getString(charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " ));;  
72. };