Add layers from other psd file and retain text layers (Batch processing)

Question

I want to batch process a large number of portraits adding text info from the filename (year_name_number.jpg) to existing text layers. I want to make a template psd file containg the correct labeled text layers formatted and adjusted (With bleding effects and more) How can i add layers from an other psd file to the active document and retaining the text layers editable. The place command in PS5 adds the file as a smart object, no use.
Any ideas?
I tried the combined action/script way, but no joy so far. Right now i am making the text layers with a action, then calling the script from the action. It works but its difficult to make different templates from adjusting a action.
The code i am using now (in combination with a action creating the 3 text layers and other grapchical elements)
var docRef = activeDocument;
// strip the extension off
var fileNameNoExtension = docRef.name;
fileNameNoExtension = fileNameNoExtension.split( "_" );
if ( fileNameNoExtension.length > 1 ) {
                fileNameNoExtension.length--;
fileNameNoExtension = fileNameNoExtension.join("_");
var myString = fileNameNoExtension;
var mySplitResult = myString.split("_");
var textLayer = docReflayers['Year']; // define the existing text layer to a var
docRef.activeLayer = textLayer;
textLayer.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;
var T1 = textLayer.textItem;
T1.contents = mySplitResult[0]
var textLayer = docRef.layers['Name']; // define the existing text layer to a var
docRef.activeLayer = textLayer;
textLayer.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;
var T2 = textLayer.textItem;
T2.contents = mySplitResult[1]
var textLayer = docRef.layers['Number']; // define the existing text layer to a var
docRef.activeLayer = textLayer;
textLayer.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;
var T3 = textLayer.textItem;
T3.contents = mySplitResult[2]
Thanks
Eivind

Answer 1

norway_photo wrote:
Here is my intended workflow:
- A set of same size portraits labeled "year_name_number.jpg"
- A template.psd os same size with graphical elements and text layers (named "year", "name" and "number")
- A script or action copy/pasting og adding all layers from the template.psd file to the open portrait file, retaining text layers editable.
- A script (The one i have working) changing the text layers added from the template to text from the filename.
- A action saving this as a PDF ready for print.
This way i can process a large number of portraits, add names and other information and save it as a file ready for print.
I can image it is much easier to edit a template than writing a script or an action creating all the graphical elements.
And even better, to change this template for different customers/departments/logos.
Basically i need a way to add layers to an open file using a batch file or script.
Eivind
OK I understand what your trying to do and now I do not agree with your conclusion you made in you first append about place being no good for you.  Its is I think a perfect solution for you. I feel you need to address the process from a new angle.
I am very familiar with templates I use them all the time for collages which I populate with an actions.  However I do not batch this process and my process is interactive.  If you look at what your trying to do from the angle of creating a collage.  You will see what you are trying to do is automate the population of a single image collage using a single template in a batch process.  An example of one of my single image collage populated by one of my actions that has been saved as a jpeg image file.  My actions are played in Photoshop with no document opened.  After my action is play there is a single collage document in Photoshop that contains layers that can be tweaked all text is in text layers the can be edited.
If I wanted to automate the batch population of a single collage template I think all I would need to know is three thing.
1.) The location of the input images
2.) The full Path of the PSD template file.
3.) The location to store the output  file
Looking at some of the recent threads in this forum I could almost cut and past the script you want to put  together.  There was a recent thread that had javascript code to process files in a folder and process only a list of file types.   There also was a thread that had a place function in it to place images into the current document or create a new document to place the image into.  The image was read from the web using a URL.  This thread has code to change a text layer.  At first I though you may need to open these image file to get at its meta-data to get the Portrait image Exif creation data.  But see all you need is the Filename for it has the data you want the year and name.  So the function that get the image files from the folder will give you that. The   Script needs to Open the Template PSD file and retrieve the prototype text layers text content  then the scrip needs a loop that get the next image file to be processed from the folder get filename function. In the loop the image files are place into the open template above a place holder layer like the Background layer. Then using the prototype text contents and the filename are used  create the new content for the text layer and then change the text layers content to it.  Follow that up with a save as for the output file.  Once the output file is saved delete the placed smart object layer.  When this loop ends the script will close the document with no save and end. As for the three inputs you need  the script could either have a dialog like the images processor or simply prompt you for the folders and template file.