Add selection as add and intersect commands combined

Question

Hello, I want to add selection to a selection so it acts as the two commands combined: add command and intersect command. Where parts of a selection intersect i want to act it as the add command - it simply adds selection to a selection. Where it does not intersect, i want it to act as the intersect command - it deletes the part of the selection that doesnt intersect. Can this be scripted?

Answer 1

By the way: The Script would only provide the expected result if the second Selection is one contiguous area.
Edit: This should also handle discontinuous segments for the second Selection.
// store selection on first run, on second run add overlapping parts of the sstored selection to the new selection;
// 2014, use at your own risk;
#target photoshop
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
activeDocument.suspendHistory("something with selections", "main()");
////// the stuff //////
function main () {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
var theChannelName = "removeThisChannelLaterOn";
if (hasSelection() == true) {
// if channel exists;
try {
var theChannel = myDocument.channels.getByName(theChannelName);
// store the selection;
var theOtherChannel = myDocument.channels.add();
myDocument.selection.store(theOtherChannel);
theOtherChannel.name = theChannelName+"Too";
// fill;
myDocument.activeChannels = [theChannel];
var theColor = new SolidColor();
theColor.rgb.red = 255;
theColor.rgb.green = 255;
theColor.rgb.blue = 255;
myDocument.selection.fill(theColor);
// get path information;
var path1 = workPathFromChannel (myDocument, theChannel);
var path2 = workPathFromChannel (myDocument, theOtherChannel);
// check for identical point;
var theCheck = checkForIdenticalPoints (path1, path2);
if (theCheck != false) {
var thePath = createPath2012(theCheck, "removeThisPathLaterOn");
// load;
thePath.makeSelection(0, false, SelectionType.REPLACE);
myDocument.selection.expand(1);
myDocument.selection.load(theChannel, SelectionType.INTERSECT, false)
// clean up;
thePath.remove();
// clean up;
theChannel.remove();
theOtherChannel.remove();
// if channel does not exist;
catch (e) {
// store the selection;
var theMask = myDocument.channels.add();
myDocument.selection.store(theMask);
theMask.name = theChannelName;
compositeChannels ();
showChannel (theChannelName);
myDocument.selection.deselect();
////// get work path  info from channel //////
function workPathFromChannel (myDocument, theChannel) {
// load;
myDocument.selection.load(theChannel, SelectionType.REPLACE);
// use threshold to heighten non black pixels;
myDocument.quickMaskMode = true;
myDocument.activeLayer.threshold(1);
myDocument.quickMaskMode = false;
// create work path;
// =======================================================
var idMk = charIDToTypeID( "Mk  " );
    var desc16 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
        var ref12 = new ActionReference();
        var idPath = charIDToTypeID( "Path" );
        ref12.putClass( idPath );
    desc16.putReference( idnull, ref12 );
    var idFrom = charIDToTypeID( "From" );
        var ref13 = new ActionReference();
        var idcsel = charIDToTypeID( "csel" );
        var idfsel = charIDToTypeID( "fsel" );
        ref13.putProperty( idcsel, idfsel );
    desc16.putReference( idFrom, ref13 );
    var idTlrn = charIDToTypeID( "Tlrn" );
    var idPxl = charIDToTypeID( "#Pxl" );
    desc16.putUnitDouble( idTlrn, idPxl, 1.000000 );
executeAction( idMk, desc16, DialogModes.NO );
// get information;
var theArray = collectPathInfoFromDesc2012 (myDocument, myDocument.pathItems[myDocument.pathItems.length - 1]);
return theArray
////// check for selection //////
function hasSelection(){
var ref10 = new ActionReference();
ref10.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
var docDesc = executeActionGet(ref10);
return docDesc.hasKey(stringIDToTypeID("selection"));
////// go to composite channels //////
function compositeChannels () {
// =======================================================
var idslct = charIDToTypeID( "slct" );
    var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
        var ref2 = new ActionReference();
        var idChnl = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );
        var idChnl = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" ); 
switch (activeDocument.mode) {
    case DocumentMode.RGB:
        var idComposite = charIDToTypeID( "RGB " );
        break;
    case DocumentMode.CMYK:
        var idComposite = charIDToTypeID( "CMYK" );
        break;
    case DocumentMode.LAB:
        var idComposite = charIDToTypeID( "Lab " );
        break;
    case DocumentMode.GRAYSCALE:
        var idComposite = charIDToTypeID( "Blck" );
        break;
        ref2.putEnumerated( idChnl, idChnl, idComposite );
    desc2.putReference( idnull, ref2 );
executeAction( idslct, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
////// chow channel of name //////
function showChannel (theName) {
// =======================================================
var idShw = charIDToTypeID( "Shw " );
    var desc3 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
        var list1 = new ActionList();
            var ref3 = new ActionReference();
            var idChnl = charIDToTypeID( "Chnl" );
            ref3.putName( idChnl, theName );
        list1.putReference( ref3 );
    desc3.putList( idnull, list1 );
executeAction( idShw, desc3, DialogModes.NO );
////// collect path info from actiondescriptor, smooth added //////
function collectPathInfoFromDesc2012 (myDocument, thePath) {
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;
// based of functions from xbytor’s stdlib;
var ref = new ActionReference();
for (var l = 0; l < myDocument.pathItems.length; l++) {
  var thisPath = myDocument.pathItems[l];
  if (thisPath == thePath && thisPath.name == "Work Path") {
  ref.putProperty(cTID("Path"), cTID("WrPt"));
  if (thisPath == thePath && thisPath.name != "Work Path" && thisPath.kind != PathKind.VECTORMASK) {
  ref.putIndex(cTID("Path"), l + 1);
  if (thisPath == thePath && thisPath.kind == PathKind.VECTORMASK) {
        var idPath = charIDToTypeID( "Path" );
        var idPath = charIDToTypeID( "Path" );
        var idvectorMask = stringIDToTypeID( "vectorMask" );
        ref.putEnumerated( idPath, idPath, idvectorMask );
var desc = app.executeActionGet(ref);
var pname = desc.getString(cTID('PthN'));
// create new array;
var theArray = new Array;
var pathComponents = desc.getObjectValue(cTID("PthC")).getList(sTID('pathComponents'));
// for subpathitems;
for (var m = 0; m < pathComponents.count; m++) {
  var listKey = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getList(sTID("subpathListKey"));
  var operation1 = pathComponents.getObjectValue(m).getEnumerationValue(sTID("shapeOperation"));
  switch (operation1) {
  case 1097098272:
  var operation = 1097098272 //cTID('Add ');
  break;
  case 1398961266:
  var operation = 1398961266 //cTID('Sbtr');
  break;
  case 1231975538:
  var operation = 1231975538 //cTID('Intr');
  break;
  default:
// case 1102:
  var operation = sTID('xor') //ShapeOperation.SHAPEXOR;
  break;
// for subpathitem’s count;
  for (var n = 0; n < listKey.count; n++) {
  theArray.push(new Array);
  var points = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getList(sTID('points'));
  try {var closed = listKey.getObjectValue(n).getBoolean(sTID("closedSubpath"))}
  catch (e) {var closed = false};
// for subpathitem’s segment’s number of points;
  for (var o = 0; o < points.count; o++) {
  var anchorObj = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(sTID("anchor"));
  var anchor = [anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), anchorObj.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
  var thisPoint = [anchor];
  try {
  var left = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Fwd "));
  var leftDirection = [left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), left.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
  thisPoint.push(leftDirection)
  catch (e) {
  thisPoint.push(anchor)
  try {
  var right = points.getObjectValue(o).getObjectValue(cTID("Bwd "));
  var rightDirection = [right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('horizontal')), right.getUnitDoubleValue(sTID('vertical'))];
  thisPoint.push(rightDirection)
  catch (e) {
  thisPoint.push(anchor)
  try {
  var smoothOr = points.getObjectValue(o).getBoolean(cTID("Smoo"));
  thisPoint.push(smoothOr)
  catch (e) {thisPoint.push(false)};
  theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(thisPoint);
  theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(closed);
  theArray[theArray.length - 1].push(operation);
// by xbytor, thanks to him;
function cTID (s) { return cTID[s] || cTID[s] = app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
function sTID (s) { return sTID[s] || sTID[s] = app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
// reset;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
return theArray;
////// create a path from collectPathInfoFromDesc2012-array //////
function createPath2012(theArray, thePathsName) {
var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.POINTS;
// thanks to xbytor;
cTID = function(s) { return app.charIDToTypeID(s); };
sTID = function(s) { return app.stringIDToTypeID(s); };
    var desc1 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var ref1 = new ActionReference();
    ref1.putProperty(cTID('Path'), cTID('WrPt'));
    desc1.putReference(sTID('null'), ref1);
    var list1 = new ActionList();
for (var m = 0; m < theArray.length; m++) {
  var thisSubPath = theArray[m];
    var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
    desc2.putEnumerated(sTID('shapeOperation'), sTID('shapeOperation'), thisSubPath[thisSubPath.length - 1]);
    var list2 = new ActionList();
    var desc3 = new ActionDescriptor();
    desc3.putBoolean(cTID('Clsp'), thisSubPath[thisSubPath.length - 2]);
    var list3 = new ActionList();
for (var n = 0; n < thisSubPath.length - 2; n++) {
  var thisPoint = thisSubPath[n];
    var desc4 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var desc5 = new ActionDescriptor();
    desc5.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[0][0]);
    desc5.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[0][1]);
    desc4.putObject(cTID('Anch'), cTID('Pnt '), desc5);
    var desc6 = new ActionDescriptor();
    desc6.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[1][0]);
    desc6.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[1][1]);
    desc4.putObject(cTID('Fwd '), cTID('Pnt '), desc6);
    var desc7 = new ActionDescriptor();
    desc7.putUnitDouble(cTID('Hrzn'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[2][0]);
    desc7.putUnitDouble(cTID('Vrtc'), cTID('#Rlt'), thisPoint[2][1]);
    desc4.putObject(cTID('Bwd '), cTID('Pnt '), desc7);
    desc4.putBoolean(cTID('Smoo'), thisPoint[3]);
    list3.putObject(cTID('Pthp'), desc4);
    desc3.putList(cTID('Pts '), list3);
    list2.putObject(cTID('Sbpl'), desc3);
    desc2.putList(cTID('SbpL'), list2);
    list1.putObject(cTID('PaCm'), desc2);
    desc1.putList(cTID('T   '), list1);
    executeAction(cTID('setd'), desc1, DialogModes.NO);
if (hasVectorMask() == false) {
if (thePathsName != undefined) {app.activeDocument.pathItems[app.activeDocument.pathItems.length - 1].name = thePathsName};
var myPathItem = app.activeDocument.pathItems[app.activeDocument.pathItems.length - 1];
else {
if (thePathsName != undefined) {app.activeDocument.pathItems[app.activeDocument.pathItems.length - 2].name = thePathsName};
var myPathItem = app.activeDocument.pathItems[app.activeDocument.pathItems.length - 2];
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;
return myPathItem
// from »Flatten All Masks.jsx« by jeffrey tranberry;
// Function: hasVectorMask
// Usage: see if there is a vector layer mask
// Input: <none> Must have an open document
// Return: true if there is a vector mask
function hasVectorMask() {
  var hasVectorMask = false;
  try {
  var ref = new ActionReference();
  var keyVectorMaskEnabled = app.stringIDToTypeID( 'vectorMask' );
  var keyKind = app.charIDToTypeID( 'Knd ' );
  ref.putEnumerated( app.charIDToTypeID( 'Path' ), app.charIDToTypeID( 'Ordn' ), keyVectorMaskEnabled );
  var desc = executeActionGet( ref );
  if ( desc.hasKey( keyKind ) ) {
  var kindValue = desc.getEnumerationValue( keyKind );
  if (kindValue == keyVectorMaskEnabled) {
  hasVectorMask = true;
  }catch(e) {
  hasVectorMask = false;
  return hasVectorMask;
////// check for identical pathpoints //////
function checkForIdenticalPoints (array1, array2) {
var theReturn = new Array;
// the subpathitems;
for (var m = 0; m < array1.length; m++) {
var firstCheck = false;
var thisSub = array1[m];
var someReturn = compareSubPathWithPath (thisSub, array2);
if (someReturn != undefined) {theReturn.push(someReturn)};
////// return subpathitem if ine point is idetical //////
function compareSubPathWithPath (thisSub, array2) {
// the other subpathitems;
for (var n = 0; n < array2.length; n++) {
var thisOtherSub = array2[n];
// the points;
for (var o = 0; o < thisSub.length - 2; o++) {
var thisPoint = thisSub[o][0];
// other point:
for (var p = 0; p < thisOtherSub.length - 2; p++) {
var otherPoint = thisOtherSub[p][0];
// terminate if one identical pont is found;
if (thisPoint[0] == otherPoint[0] && thisPoint[1] == otherPoint[1]) {return thisSub}
if (theReturn.length > 0) {return theReturn}
else {return false}