Photoshop scripting: changing text of a text layer

user2019559 picture user2019559 · Jan 28, 2013 · Viewed 16.5k times · Source

Because I don't have enough time to learn all about PS-Scripting, I was wondering, if you may help me.

It's very simple. I want to have a JS-Script, which changes the Text of the Top Layer. For example: The Text is "#005", the script should add 1, so it says "#006". After that, it should export (Save for Web & Devices w. transparency @ 1280x720) the file with the current number (006).

Here's a screen of the layers (omg its in german!!11): imageshack.us/photo/my-images/706/helpal.png

Answer

inhan picture inhan · Jan 29, 2013

EDIT for downvoters:

Please, for the sake of helping the community and avoiding misleading/wrong information (if I made any in this case) thus making StackOverflow a better place, add a comment below indicating what makes you think the code or the directions is worth downvoting for. If there's anything wrong or misleading, I will learn one more thing, for which I will be grateful.

First you will need to create an action.

  1. Save the following code with .jsx extension.
  2. Open one of those images you have
  3. Create a new action and push the record button below the panel if it's not already active
  4. Go to File > Scripts > Browse and select that script
  5. Stop action recording
  6. Go to the folder where the file was created and delete that new file

Then you will need to automate all that. With no open document,

  1. Go to File > Automate > Batch
  2. Select the necessary "Set" and "Action" names from the options
  3. For the "Source" keep the "Folder" selected, then select the folder with your layered files by clicking on the "Choose…" button
  4. That might not be necessary (depending on your color settings) but you can select the 3rd and 4th options: Suppress File Open Options Dialogs and Suppress Color Profile Warnings. Since at the time of recording you did not include the action of opening the file keep the 1st option Override Action Open Commands unselected. Otherwise it will not open any file, yet still, it will try to execute the script * number of your files. Select the 2nd option Include All Subfolders if necessary.
  5. Click the "OK" button.

An additional point for those using CS6: Adobe Developer Connection indicates that…

Adobe Photoshop CS6 does not install the Scripting folder. Please use the links below to install the Samples, Documentation and Scripting Listener plug-in manually.

function getTextLayer(target) {
// this basically loops all the layers to find the
// upmost text layer with the content #nn... and returns it
    if (target == null) return false;
    var layers      = target.layers,
        layerLen    = layers.length;
    for (var i = 0; i < layerLen; i++) {
        var layer       = layers[i],
            isLayerSet  = layer.typename == 'LayerSet',
            isValid     = layer.kind == LayerKind.TEXT &&
                          /^\s*#\d+\s*$/.test(layer.textItem.contents);
            // we're allowing spaces around the text just in case
        if (!isLayerSet && !isValid) continue;
        if (isLayerSet) {
            var found = getTextLayer(layer);
            if (found) return found;
        } else return layer;
    }
    return false;
}

var doc;
try {
    doc = app.activeDocument;
    // the front document
} catch(e) {}
var txtLayer = getTextLayer(doc);
// obviously, the text layer if found

if (txtLayer) {
    var num = txtLayer.textItem.contents.match(/\d+/)[0],
    // find the numeric part
        len = num.length,
    // find the length of the numeric part
        num = (parseInt(num,10)+1).toString();
    // add 1 to that number
    while (num.length < len) num = '0' + num;
    // and adjust length if necessary so that e.g.
    // 032 will not become 33 but it will become 033
    txtLayer.textItem.contents = '#' + num;
    // update layer content
    var ext = '.png',
        dir = decodeURI(doc.path) + '/png24',
        // to use the same directory where the layered file exists
        // just keep it as decodeURI(doc.path)
        // I added a folder here, which actually does not exist
        // but it doesn't matter because I'm making it create it
        // below in case there's no such directory.
        fileName = dir + '/' + num + ext,
        i = 0;
    if (!Folder(dir).exists) Folder(dir).create();
    // create the directory if it doesn't exist
    while (File(fileName).exists)
        fileName = dir + '/' + num + '-' + (++i) + ext;
    // if file with that name exists, add -n to the end of the name
    var file = new File(fileName),
        opts = new ExportOptionsSaveForWeb();
    with (opts) {
        format = SaveDocumentType.PNG;
        PNG8 = false;
    }
    doc.exportDocument(file, ExportType.SAVEFORWEB, opts);
    // save for web
}
if (doc) {
    doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
    // close the original layered document without saving
}
doc = null;
// remove reference