it isn't working for me... I even tried emptying the clipboard first and then running just that one line of code, but for some reason it won't copy it to the clipboard.. good to know you got it working though, so it is possible.. now I just have to figure out why it's not working on this end.. ... View more

thanks, I ran the following line of script and it did infact do something; it quickly opened and closed a dos-based window (I assume it was trying to copy the layer name at that point) but when pasting into notepad as a test, it didn't paste the layer name - it pasted whatever was previously in the clipboard. If there's no workaround, no worries - your guys' help is greatly appreciated app.system( "echo "   + activeDocument.activeLayer.name + " | CLIP"); ... View more

thanks, I'll take a look at it.. I pasted yor quick code into the larger code and tried removing several '}' keys but unfortunately this looks like a more complicated scenario than I had thought.. I'm sure I'll find a workaround for it though, thanks.. ... View more

it's returning an error: Error 61: Unclosed Token. Line: 7 -> } ... View more

here's actually a script that will display the active layer name in a message box. The catch is, it takes up to 3 seconds to run it -I wonder if there's a way to compress  the script so it runs faster? Nonetheless here it is, so I'm wondering if there's a way to insert a "CTRL+C" somewhere in the script so it will just copy the layer name and skip the message box part at the end..... var sLayers = getSelectedLayersIdx(); var Names = new Array(); for (var a in sLayers){     Names.push(getLayerNameByIndex( Number(sLayers) ) );     } alert(Names.join('\n')); function getLayerNameByIndex( idx ) {     var ref = new ActionReference();     ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx );     return executeActionGet(ref).getString(charIDToTypeID( "Nm  " )); }; function getSelectedLayersIdx(){       var selectedLayers = new Array;       var ref = new ActionReference();       ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );       var desc = executeActionGet(ref);       if( desc.hasKey( stringIDToTypeID( 'targetLayers' ) ) ){          desc = desc.getList( stringIDToTypeID( 'targetLayers' ));           var c = desc.count           var selectedLayers = new Array();           for(var i=0;i<c;i++){             try{                activeDocument.backgroundLayer;                selectedLayers.push(  desc.getReference( i ).getIndex() );             }catch(e){                selectedLayers.push(  desc.getReference( i ).getIndex()+1 );             }           }        }else{          var ref = new ActionReference();          ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID( "ItmI" ));          ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );          try{             activeDocument.backgroundLayer;             selectedLayers.push( executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID( "ItmI" ))-1);          }catch(e){             selectedLayers.push( executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID( "ItmI" )));          }      var vis = app.activeDocument.activeLayer.visible;         if(vis == true) app.activeDocument.activeLayer.visible = false;         var desc9 = new ActionDescriptor();     var list9 = new ActionList();     var ref9 = new ActionReference();     ref9.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );     list9.putReference( ref9 );     desc9.putList( charIDToTypeID('null'), list9 );     executeAction( charIDToTypeID('Shw '), desc9, DialogModes.NO );     if(app.activeDocument.activeLayer.visible == false) selectedLayers.shift();         app.activeDocument.activeLayer.visible = vis;       }       return selectedLayers; }; ... View more

thanks, one of those scripts seems to be doing something similar, but I couldn't see anything that copied the active layer name to the clipboard. I've copied the script and placed it here with a roughed0-out version of what I was trying to do (the script below is going nowhere, but I hope it gives an idea of what to do:) var ref = getSelectedLayerName ;// trying to copy the active layer name to clipboard var str="getSelectedLayerName"; var tempFile = File("~/desktop/TempVBS.vbs"); tempFile.open('w'); tempFile.writeln('set loop'); tempFile.writeln('ie.document.parentwindow.clipboardData.setDa ta "Text"," '+str+'"'); tempFile.close(); tempFile.execute(); getSelectedLayerName ;//after copying the layer name, then when hitting CTRL+V (paste) in notepad, the copied layer name will paste ... View more

I'm running another 3rd party application that enables you to display the clipboard contents in a tooltip whenever you press a certain hotkey. So whenever I'm in my photoshop document, I'll press 'z' (for example), and when 'z' is pressed, it will show a tooltip at my mouse cursor. So the plan is to somehow copy the layer name to the clipboard, then press z, and it will show my current layer at my mouse cursor as a tooltip. This could be useful when in fullscreen mode and the layers panel is not visible. If I can find a way to do this, I'd gladly share my 3rd party app with the script (along with its script - it also uses its own scripting language) for it to do this - I'm sure it would be very helpful to other users as well. The first step is finding a way to copy the active layer name. ... View more

cbuliarca - works great now!! definitely a script that will stay in my collection and I'll be using it every day - the nice thing is that it has a 'search layer' function just like CS6.. (it's actually a little better than CS6 because it auto-completes your layer name for you when you start typing - very nice) JJmack - these are perfect - the only thing with 'close target' and 'close all layer groups' is that when it closes the layer group(s), it also deletes the color coding of the layer (for example if the layer was set to blue, it resets it back to nothing when closing the group) - I always need to color code my layers or else I'd lose my mind (if I haven't already lol) ... View more

hello cbuliarca, I have tried the updated script and am receiving this error: ... View more

that's fine... your script is excellent .  It's much easier than using the normal Photoshop layers panel.  I use it every day now. ... View more

question - how do we make sure that the columns are aligned properly? Right now, some of the columns are off-center. I noticed that if a layer name is more than 10 letters, then it begins to indent. So I tried changing all the "x:10" values in the script to a higher number but so far it hasn't worked. ... View more

Excellent! It works perfect now (I didn't know about hitting tab and/or using 'up/down' to select the layers). Thanks to you and everyone else here who helps with these awesome scripts- it's always very appreciated ... View more

it works!! I have been searching for a way to do this for a while now... this is the best script to search for layers. the only difference is that my 'BCM FastSelection' looks different - it's missing the titles across the top ("Layer Name", "parents", Index", "isLayerSet?"). Also, I cannot left-click to select the layer. Here is the image I get: ... View more

cbuliarca - these scritps are FANTASTIC. Every one of them is useful and solves a lot of problems I was trying to overcome with the layers panel. Only one script does not work for me: 'SelectByName'. Here is the error message I get when running the script: ... View more

yes, I do the same thing that you are looking for. I use a program called PowerPro, and it allows you to place custom buttons all over your desktop, and when pressed, those buttons do whatever you want them to do (run a program, send a keystroke, run a script, etc.) It really is a fantastic program, and is free. And it works excellent with Photoshop. Here's the website: http://powerpro.cresadu.com/ (my apolgies if I'm not allowed to post links like this; if so, then just delete it) ... View more

Michael, I'm so grateful - this is it. I have to thank you again. I examined the code, and from what I can tell, it's stating that if the layer group has 1 layer or more (app.activeDocument.activeLayer.layers.length>0)), then it will activate the layer which is assigned as Index 0 (app.activeDocument.activeLayer.layers[0];).. and as a result, when the layer (Index 0) is activated, it automatically unfolds the group. I'm guessing then, that since it's an indirect approach unfold the layer group, that there actually is no way to fold it up again? This is kind of exciting, because I'm starting to figure out how this coding language works edit- nevermind, I re-read this topic and can see that as of now there seems to be no way to fold a layer group back up. I'll keep searching in the meantime though.. ... View more

I'm attempting to open just one layer group, not all. So I would select the parent layer of that group (by parent layer I mean the top layer of the group which contains the small triangle icon to open/close the group), then run your script, and it opens the layer group like we want to, but it also opens all other layer groups in the document as well. I was looking for a way to open just one layer group that is currently selected, and leave all the other layer groups (if any) untouched. Then, I'll examine the code to perform the reverse function which  would be to close the selected layer group (I hope I'm making sense!!) I've been modifying the script for a few hours, and trying to merge portions of other scripts in with it, but so far am not getting anywhere...I can show you all the modifications I've made but it might not be worthwhile since they aren't doing anything just yet..thanks ... View more

I've played around with the script a little bit, trying to understand it... I've come up with this: function openGroup(layerSet){     for(var setIndex=0;setIndex<layerSet.length;setIndex++){         app.activeDocument.activeLayer =  layerSet[setIndex].layers[0];         openGroup( layerSet[setIndex]);     } }; openGroup( app.activeDocument ); ...but it does nothing - on the bright side, it doesn't cause an error message either. So I tried another one, closer to Michael's script, and changed 'OpenAllLayerSets' to 'OpenActiveLayerSets' and for some reason it doesn't change anything - all layer groups are unfolded instead of just the active group: function openActiveLayerSets( parent ){     for(var  setIndex=0;setIndex<parent.layerSets.length;setIndex++){         app.activeDocument.activeLayer =  parent.layerSets[setIndex].layers[0];         openActiveLayerSets( parent.layerSets[setIndex]);     } }; openActiveLayerSets( app.activeDocument ); ... View more

wow, you guys are incredible... I recalled finding a way to open all existing layer groups (as your script does), but I was never able to retrieve it... but this works! Does this script need to open all groups or could it open just the active layer group and then keep the top level layer of that group active (the layer that contains the small triangle to expand/contract)? ... View more

Thanks, had a look through the topic (I had actualy browsed through one of those links a few months back) and it seems that there's no way to do it via a script. Tried all the sample code there and none of it was able to pull it off... seems the only way to do it is to activate a layer within the layer group and then it will unfold it. Just gotta make sure one of the layer names within the group is always the same (create an empty layer and name it "unfold" for example) and then use a script which activates the layer "unfold" and then it will expand that group.. but what if several layer groups all contain "unfold".. it might not know which layer group to go to (or it will go to the first one) It's quite a workaround but it would likely do the trick... ... View more

Thanks Mike- I adjusted the script and it works - finally, a solution to a problem I've been scoping out for many months now ... View more

It works now Michael, thanks! Can I ask one more thing - how would you select the next layer above (or down for that matter), regardless of its visibility? It would be the same as ALT+[ or ALT+], but it would also select invisible layers, too...  ... View more

so close... it's keeping the active layer selected, then it also selects the layer 3 levels up (for example, the active layer is selected, then the 2 layers above it are left alone, but the next one above those two becomes selected as well) it all leads me back to a similar problem I was having a while ago, which was that the keyboard shortcut to select up or down one layer is ALT+[ (select next layer down) or ALT+] (select next layer up), but it ignored invisible layers, and I was never able to figure out a way to solve it- just want to select layer up or layer down, regardless of its visibility ... View more

update- I found the keyboard shortcut (had to research the forums a bit). The keyboard shortcut to keep the active layer selected and as well select the layer above it is ALT+SHIFT+] the problem is that this shortcut ignores invisible layers (layers with their visibility turned off).. it selects the next layer above that has its visibility set to on... so if the layer above is turned off, it ignores it and jumps up to the next 'visible' layer..is there a way to select a layer even if it has its visibility off? ... View more

whoops nevermind.. it still works as is.. I hadn't noticed that it was working for all sliders without having to adjust their type. Thanks, again c.paffenbichler, the digital painting community will go crazy for this ... View more

this script really is fantastic, especially for digital painting. I've come across a slight problem though: it works well when adjusting the HSB sliders. Now when trying to adjust RGB sliders, it won't work because the Color Panel is currently set to display HSB sliders, and it can't access the RGB ones without the user having to first select 'RGB Sliders' manually from the drop-down menu in the top right hand corner of the panel.. . Is there a way to insert a line of code at the beginning of the script which would set the Color panel to display the desired sliders? For example, if the script is programmed to change the RGB sliders, then the script would have a line at the beginning which would first set the color panel to display the RGB sliders thanks again so much, this is awesome ... View more

thank you my friend works like a charm. I've also studied the script and managed to get it working for all 3 sliders (H,S, and B) ... View more