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Hey simene49649793​, these 2 functions should get you half way there.
getDocumentInfo() - Retrieves the document information. Super cool function that I found in one of these forums. This is similar to Generator's getDocumentInfo. It has some optional params to retrieve more specific data.
This AM function will return the document object as a string, because ExtendScript is very limited unfortunately. You will have to parse it using a JSON polyfill. I use this one: https://github.com/JavierAroche/descriptor-info/blob/master/example/helpers/JSON.jsx
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Hi simene49649793,
there is a script study years ago written by Michael L. Hale (RIP)
This should help you out:
// written by Michael L.Hale
// selektiert alle Ebenen in der aktiven Gruppe
// assumes the group you want to select the layer in is the activeLayer
var groupStartIdx = getActiveLayerIndex();
app.activeDocument.activeLayer = app.activeDocument.activeLayer.layers[app.activeDocument.activeLayer.layers.length-1];
var groupEndIdx = getActiveLayerIndex();
for(l=groupEndIdx;l<groupStartIdx;l++){
addToLayerSelectionByIndex( l );
}
function addToLayerSelectionByIndex( idx ) {
var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), idx );
desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID('null'), ref );
desc.putEnumerated( stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifier'), stringIDToTypeID('selectionModifierType'), stringIDToTypeID('addToSelection') );
desc.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID('MkVs'), false );
executeAction( charIDToTypeID('slct'), desc, DialogModes.NO );
};
function getActiveLayerIndex() {
var ref = new ActionReference();
ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID( "ItmI" ));
ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var res = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID( "ItmI" )) - Number( hasBackground() );
return res;
};
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;
};
Have fun
Hey simene49649793​, these 2 functions should get you half way there.
getDocumentInfo() - Retrieves the document information. Super cool function that I found in one of these forums. This is similar to Generator's getDocumentInfo. It has some optional params to retrieve more specific data.
This AM function will return the document object as a string, because ExtendScript is very limited unfortunately. You will have to parse it using a JSON polyfill. I use this one: https://github.com/JavierAroche/descriptor-info/blob/master/example/helpers/JSON.jsx
You can then grab the document.layers key which includes all the layers in the document.
function getDocumentInfo() {
// Build Action Descriptor
var ref = new ActionReference();
var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
var psJSON = stringIDToTypeID("json");
ref.putProperty(charIDToTypeID('Prpr'), psJSON);
ref.putEnumerated(stringIDToTypeID("document"), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt'));
desc.putReference(charIDToTypeID('null'), ref);
// desc.putBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("expandSmartObjects"), true);
// desc.putBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("selectedLayers"), true);
// desc.putBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("getTextStyles"), true);
// desc.putBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("getFullTextStyles"), true);
// desc.putBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("getDefaultLayerFX"), true);
// desc.putBoolean(stringIDToTypeID("getPathData"), true);
return executeAction(charIDToTypeID( "getd" ), desc, DialogModes.NO).getString(psJSON);
}
getSelectedLayerIDs() - Retrieves the selected layer IDs as an array.
function getSelectedLayerIDs() {
var selectedLayerIDs = [];
// Filter selected layers
var docRef = new ActionReference();
docRef.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
var docDesc = executeActionGet(docRef);
// Get target layer ids
if( docDesc.hasKey(stringIDToTypeID('targetLayersIDs'))) {
targetLayersIDsDesc = docDesc.getList( stringIDToTypeID('targetLayersIDs'));
for(var ii = 0; ii < targetLayersIDsDesc.count; ii++) {
selectedLayerIDs.push(Number(targetLayersIDsDesc.getReference( ii ).getIdentifier()));
}
}
return selectedLayerIDs;
}
Once you have the document layers as an object and the selected layer IDs, you can simply iterate through all the layers (recursive function) until you find the one you're looking for. If you're only targeting one group layer, it will be a lot easier.
- Is it possible to retrieve the parent of a specific layer?
This one is tricky, but if you're comfortable with recursive functions, you should be able to get the parent layer of the any layer in a document.
collapseAllGroups() - Collapses all document groups.
function collapseAllGroups() {
try {
var idcollapseAllGroupsEvent = stringIDToTypeID( "collapseAllGroupsEvent" );
var desc13 = new ActionDescriptor();
return executeAction( idcollapseAllGroupsEvent, desc13, DialogModes.NO );
} catch(err) {}
}
How do you guys attack these kinds of challenges? I have googled and searched github for these questions, but I haven't found anything of help. I feel like there's just a few of you that knows AM code, how did you plow your way into learning AM coding? I mean, the basic operations that can be recorded by the listener is doable even for me, but approaching challenges like the one's I have now, I don't even know where to start?
It takes a lot of practice, patience, googling and spending lots of hours in forums 
DBarranca​ is authoring a Photoshop Scripting book. That will be great for people trying to learn all of this.
http://www.davidebarranca.com/2016/10/new-course-photoshop-scripting/
Some resources that have helped me a lot:
- PS-Scripts started by Michael Hale - http://www.ps-scripts.com/​
- This forum - Photoshop Scripting
- xtools - http://ps-scripts.sourceforge.net/xtools.html
- Davide Barranca's blog - http://www.davidebarranca.com/
- AM objects - http://objjob.phrogz.net/pshop/object/323
I made this little module to better understand Action Descriptors.
https://github.com/JavierAroche/descriptor-info
Hope it helps!
Hi Jarda Bereza,
did you try the performance of the code in the last three posts? Do you have problems with the performance of it?
Perhaps you can show a working code snippet for making a time comparison? I like to learn.
Great.
The TO simene49649793​ ask: "It is possible? How can I do this?"
And we start a very usefully discussion about: What is the first class way to do this?
I will also take a look next year on the several links. Thx for this.
I wish you all the best and a Happy New Year 2017
pixxxel schubser: That was a clever way to do it! I've been able to retrieve all children of selected groups using this method, works great 
I would wish it was possible to retrieve them without making selections, but if I can figure out how to collapse groups afterwards it won't matter Also, using this method I think it should be easy to find the parent layer also by just decreasing the layer index until a hit a LayerSet, I'll try that later. Thank you
JavierAroche: That getDocumentInfo was awesome I couldn't get collapseAllGroups to work though, it doesn't seem to do anything Thank you for all of the resources
Thank you everyone, this is extremely interesting and helpful! I'm still looking for a way to collapse/expand LayerSets, so if anyone have any ideas on how to do this I'd be really interested to hear how it can be done Happy new year guys, and thanks again
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