PSE 8 and Layer sets

I am working with Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements 8. Does Photoshop Elements 8 support "Layer Sets" or does it force you to "flatten" the set like earlier version of PSE.

It does not support Group layers. It will ask you to merger layers as it did in previous versions.

Similar Messages

PSE 11 Layer Set Question

I receive requests for help in creating Menu Sets for Premiere Elements. Many of the users have Photoshop Elements, which I do not. All of my work is in Photoshop, so I cannot check this out.
To create a Menu Set (special PSD's), one must be able to create a Layer Set, not just edit one that already exists in the PSD. For several past versions of PSE, one could edit an existing Layer Set, but could not create a Layer Set. Has the ability to create a Layer Set been added, as of PSE 11?
Thanks,
Hunt

Thank you.
So this capability has not been added to PSE 11 then?
If so, then what I have been telling the PrE users still holds - a limitation in PSE, even through 11.
Appreciated,
Hunt

Photosho CS Problem - Can't drag a layer set from one document to another one

I have two documents open
On the source document, i want to drag a layer set from this document to a new one, but its not letting me
What would cause this.
My structure for the source document is
>Set 1 Layer Set
     >layer
     > Adjustment Layer
     >background
Background
Structure of the target document
>Named Layer Set
     > Where I want to insert the Layer Set from source document
     >layer
     > Adjustment Layer
     >background
Background

No error message is given. I just can't drag it into the spot I want to drag the layer set to (its not an individual layer, its a layer set)
Basically, this is all I can do (have to do a correction on how the layers and layer sets work, missing one level from the original post):
I've attached images as well to illustrate
On my target document, I want to have the layer set go where the red text is:
>Content Layer Set
     >Named Layer Set
          > Where I want to insert the Layer Set from source document (Set 1)
          >layer
          > Adjustment Layer
          >background
Background
right now, I can only drag the layer set to this position:
>Content Layer Set
      > This is where the Set 1 from the source document can go, I can't drag it into the layer set below
     >Named Layer Set
          >layer
          > Adjustment Layer
          >background
Background
First Image I attached shows the Set 1 Layer Set, above the layer set I want to drag it into
Second Image I attached shows what happens when I try to drag the layer set into the named layer set; it comes up with the "no symbol"
No Error message is given

Export Layers as Files: Top Level Layers and Layers Sets

Is there a script that can do the following that ImageReady was capable of?
File/Export Layers as Files/
I know there is a script that can just export the layer as files, but what I want to do is export the "Top Level Layers and Layer Sets" so that I can send several layers grouped under a folder as one image.
Thanks! - j

Something like this should work:
// enable double clicking from the
// Macintosh Finder or the Windows Explorer
#target photoshop
// Make Photoshop the frontmost application
app.bringToFront();
// Start at the top of the layers stack and select each
// layer in turn
for (var i = 0; i < activeDocument.layers.length; i++) {
activeDocument.activeLayer = activeDocument.layers[i];
// Put all your processing functions... //
duplicateSelectedLayers(activeDocument.activeLayer.name);
var psdSaveOptions = new PhotoshopSaveOptions();
app.activeDocument.saveAs( File( "~/Desktop/" + activeDocument.name + ".psd" ), psdSaveOptions);
app.activeDocument.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
// ...in the area between these two comments. //
function duplicateSelectedLayers(soParent){
var id2277 = charIDToTypeID( "Mk " );
var desc304 = new ActionDescriptor();
var id2278 = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
var ref144 = new ActionReference();
var id2279 = charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" );
ref144.putClass( id2279 );
desc304.putReference( id2278, ref144 );
var id2280 = charIDToTypeID( "Nm " );
desc304.putString( id2280, soParent );
var id2281 = charIDToTypeID( "Usng" );
var ref145 = new ActionReference();
var id2282 = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
var id2283 = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
var id2284 = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
ref145.putEnumerated( id2282, id2283, id2284 );
desc304.putReference( id2281, ref145 );
executeAction( id2277, desc304, DialogModes.NO );

Painting Process Documentation: Stamp Visible, Move to layer Set and hide

I like to capture my screen while painting and when I am done I make an animated GIF from these "process shots". I am trying to automatize the process and I have managed to come up with this which meets my needs:
#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();
// Stamp visible Layers
var idMrgV = charIDToTypeID( "MrgV" );
    var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idDplc = charIDToTypeID( "Dplc" );
    desc2.putBoolean( idDplc, true );
executeAction( idMrgV, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
// Move Active Layer to the Bottom of LayerSet "process"
var activeLayer = activeDocument.activeLayer;
    var processFolder = activeDocument.layerSets.getByName("process")
    activeDocument.activeLayer.moveToEnd (processFolder);
Now I would like to add a conditional to check, whether or not the "process" layer-set exists and if it does not, create it. This should look something like this:
// Process Image Capture
// V 0.3
// PIC Stamps Visible (creates a new layer that combines all visible information in flattened form) and moves that to a "process" Layer Set.
// Layer is then hidden.
// If Layer Set is not there, it will be created.
#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();
// Check for "Process" Layer-Set on root. Create, in case it is not present.
if (!activeDocument.layerSets.getByName("process")) {
     activeDocument.LayerSets.add();
     activeDocument.LayerSets.name = "process";
/* else {
// Stamp visible Layers
var idMrgV = charIDToTypeID( "MrgV" );
    var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idDplc = charIDToTypeID( "Dplc" );
    desc2.putBoolean( idDplc, true );
executeAction( idMrgV, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
// Move Active Layer to the Bottom of LayerSet "process"
    var activeLayer = activeDocument.activeLayer;
    var processFolder = activeDocument.layerSets.getByName("process")
    activeDocument.activeLayer.moveToEnd (processFolder);
    activeDocument.activeLayer.visibility = false;
The condition seems to be what causes the problem, but I have no idea how to fix it. Can somebody help?

Ok, here is the script that does the deed, it requires an additional function to catch what getByName() returns.
// Process Image Capture
// V 1.0
// PIC Stamps Visible (creates a new layer that combines all visible information in flattened form) and moves that to a "process" Layer Set.
// Layer is then hidden.
// If Layer Set is not there, it will be created.
#target photoshop
app.bringToFront();
// Check for "Process" Layer-Set on root. Create, in case it is not present.
if (!hasRootLayer("process")) {
    var addedLayer = activeDocument.layerSets.add();
    addedLayer.name = "process";
// Stamp visible Layers
var idMrgV = charIDToTypeID( "MrgV" );
    var desc2 = new ActionDescriptor();
    var idDplc = charIDToTypeID( "Dplc" );
    desc2.putBoolean( idDplc, true );
executeAction( idMrgV, desc2, DialogModes.NO );
// Move Active Layer to the Bottom of LayerSet "process"
    var activeLayer = activeDocument.activeLayer;
    var processFolder = activeDocument.layerSets.getByName("process")
    activeDocument.activeLayer.moveToEnd (processFolder);
    activeDocument.activeLayer.visibility = false;
// Function to check whether "process" layer exists, passes result back as a boolean
    function hasRootLayer(layerName){
    var hasProcessLayer = false;
    try{
        hasProcessLayer = (typeof activeDocument.layerSets.getByName(layerName) != "undefined");
    }catch(e){}
    return hasProcessLayer;

When I open a raw file (NEF Nikon 7100) and apply setting then click save, I get an error ( could not complete your request because of a program error ). Ideas?

when I open a raw file (NEF Nikon 7100) and apply setting then click save, I get an error ( could not complete your request because of a program error ). Ideas?

Oh, dear.
If you use PSE as your external editor for iphoto, you need to save the images back to iphoto by using Save, not Save As and not changing anything like the name or format that would bring up the Save As window. (You may need to adjust the editor prefs>saving files>on first save to save over existing.)
OR you can export the photos from iphoto to the desktop, use file>open in the editor and then change whatever you want and either import the saved image to the organizer or import it back to iphoto as a new file. What you are doing is extremely risky, particularly to the iphoto library which you may easily damage by your workflow.
I would start the organizer holding down the shift key, then create a new catalog and switch to the new one. Then try opening the editor without opening an image and see if you get any farther.
PSE and iphoto are not designed to be used as you've been doing. You are trying to write to the iphoto library from outside iphoto, which is the fastest known way to corrupt the library and lose all your photos.

Problem with layer sets opening

Hi,
I have a problem open layer sets. In my script I get layers index and then iterate throught this layers.
Here is the script:
function getAllLayersByIndex(){
       function getNumberLayers(){
       var ref = new ActionReference();
       ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID("NmbL") )
       ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Dcmn"), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
       return executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID("NmbL"));
       function hasBackground() {
           var ref = new ActionReference();
           ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr"), charIDToTypeID( "Bckg" ));
           ref.putEnumerated(charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ),charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ),charIDToTypeID( "Back" ))//bottom Layer/background
           var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
           var res = desc.getBoolean(charIDToTypeID( "Bckg" ));
           return res
       function getLayerType(idx,prop) {
           var ref = new ActionReference();
           ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx);
           var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
           var type = desc.getEnumerationValue(prop);
           var res = typeIDToStringID(type);
           return res
       function getLayerVisibilityByIndex( idx ) {
           var ref = new ActionReference();
           ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID( "Vsbl" ));
           ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx );
           return executeActionGet(ref).getBoolean(charIDToTypeID( "Vsbl" ));;
       var cnt = getNumberLayers()+1;
       var res = new Array();
       if(hasBackground()){
    var i = 0;
          }else{
    var i = 1;
       var prop = stringIDToTypeID("layerSection");
       for(i;i<cnt;i++){
          var temp = getLayerType(i,prop);
          if(temp != "layerSectionEnds") res.push(i);
       return res;
       function getLayerVisibilityByIndex( idx ) {
           var ref = new ActionReference();
           ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID( "Vsbl" ));
           ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx );
           return executeActionGet(ref).getBoolean(charIDToTypeID( "Vsbl" ));
function makeActiveByIndex( idx, visible ){
    var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
      var ref = new ActionReference();
      ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ), idx)
      desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( "null" ), ref );
      desc.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( "MkVs" ), visible );
   executeAction( charIDToTypeID( "slct" ), desc, DialogModes.NO );
var groups = getAllLayersByIndex();
    for(var i = groups.length-1; i >= 0 ; i--) {
      makeActiveByIndex( groups[i], true );
      ....working with layers....
I think, my problem is in function makeActiveByIndex, because it doesn't make active a folder and doesn't open it.
You can see it on this picture. Active layer set is "Skupina 1" and it is in layer set "hlavicka". But "hlavicka" is not open. WHY??
Can you help me fix this problem??
Thank you Domaneni

Hi, for the past days I've worked on a script to toogle opening and closing layeSets, I've taken the code that TeddyBear posted here: http://ps-scripts.com/bb/viewtopic.php?p=14773 and adjusted it a little bit, and that's what I came up with, I hope it will help you:
<javascriptresource>
<name>BCM> ToogleOpen_CloseGroup...</name>
<category>BCM</category>
</javascriptresource>
//For code readability
// http://ps-scripts.com/bb/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3235
function getActiveLayerIndex() {
    var ref = new ActionReference();
    ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID("Prpr") , charIDToTypeID( "ItmI" ));
    ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID("Lyr "), charIDToTypeID("Ordn"), charIDToTypeID("Trgt") );
    return executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID( "ItmI" ));
function cTID(s){return charIDToTypeID(s)}
function sTID(s){return stringIDToTypeID(s)}
// =============================
// The main function
function closeGroup(layerSet) {
   var m_Name = layerSet.name;
   var m_Opacity = layerSet.opacity;
   var m_BlendMode = layerSet.blendMode;
   var m_LinkedLayers = layerSet.linkedLayers;
var currINDEX = getActiveLayerIndex();
   var m_bHasMask = hasLayerMask();
   if(m_bHasMask) loadSelectionOfMask();
   if(layerSet.layers.length <= 1) {
      addTempLayerSetIn(currSetIDX-1);
      makeActiveByIndex(currSetIDX+2, false);
      ungroup();
      groupSelected(m_Name);
      deleteTempLayerSetbyIdx(currSetIDX+1);
   } else {
       makeActiveByIndex(currSetIDX, false);
      ungroup();
      groupSelected(m_Name);
   var m_Closed = activeDocument.activeLayer;
   m_Closed.opacity = m_Opacity;
   m_Closed.blendMode = m_BlendMode;
   for(x in m_LinkedLayers) {
      if(m_LinkedLayers[x].typename == "LayerSet")
         activeDocument.activeLayer.link(m_LinkedLayers[x]);
   if(m_bHasMask) maskFromSelection();
   return m_Closed;
// =============================
// Below are all necessary subroutines for the main function to work
function ungroup() {
   var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putEnumerated( cTID( "Lyr " ), cTID( "Ordn" ), cTID( "Trgt" ) );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "null" ), m_Ref01 );
   try {
      executeAction( sTID( "ungroupLayersEvent" ), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
   } catch(e) {}
function addLayer() {
   var m_ActiveLayer          =    activeDocument.activeLayer;
   var m_NewLayer             =    activeDocument.layerSets.add();
   m_NewLayer.move(m_ActiveLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE);
   return m_NewLayer;
function hasLayerMask() {
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putEnumerated( sTID( "layer" ), cTID( "Ordn" ), cTID( "Trgt" ));
   var m_Dsc01= executeActionGet( m_Ref01 );
   return m_Dsc01.hasKey(cTID('Usrs'));
function activateLayerMask() {
   var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putEnumerated( cTID( "Chnl" ), cTID( "Chnl" ), cTID( "Msk " ) );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "null" ), m_Ref01 );
   try {
      executeAction( cTID( "slct" ), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
   } catch(e) {
      var m_TmpAlpha = new TemporaryAlpha();
      maskFromSelection();
      activateLayerMask();
      m_TmpAlpha.consume();
function deleteMask(makeSelection) {
   if(makeSelection) {
      loadSelectionOfMask();
   var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putEnumerated( cTID( "Chnl" ), cTID( "Ordn" ), cTID( "Trgt" ) );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "null" ), m_Ref01 );
   try {
      executeAction( cTID( "Dlt " ), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
   } catch(e) {}
function selectLayerMask() {
   var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putEnumerated(cTID("Chnl"), cTID("Chnl"), cTID("Msk "));
   m_Dsc01.putReference(cTID("null"), m_Ref01);
   m_Dsc01.putBoolean(cTID("MkVs"), false );
   try {
      executeAction(cTID("slct"), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
   } catch(e) {}
function loadSelectionOfMask() {
   selectLayerMask();
   var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putProperty( cTID( "Chnl" ), cTID( "fsel" ) );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "null" ), m_Ref01 );
   var m_Ref02 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref02.putEnumerated( cTID( "Chnl" ), cTID( "Ordn" ), cTID( "Trgt" ) );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "T   " ), m_Ref02 );
   try {
      executeAction( cTID( "setd" ), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
   } catch(e) {}
function maskFromSelection() {
   if(!hasLayerMask()) {
      var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
      m_Dsc01.putClass( cTID( "Nw " ), cTID( "Chnl" ) );
      var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
      m_Ref01.putEnumerated( cTID( "Chnl" ), cTID( "Chnl" ), cTID( "Msk " ) );
      m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "At " ), m_Ref01 );
      m_Dsc01.putEnumerated( cTID( "Usng" ), cTID( "UsrM" ), cTID( "RvlS" ) );
      try {
         executeAction( cTID( "Mk " ), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
      } catch(e) {
         activeDocument.selection.selectAll();
         maskFromSelection();
   } else {
      if(confirm("Delete existing mask?", true, "Warning")) {
         activateLayerMask();
         deleteMask();
function groupSelected(name) {
   var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putClass( sTID( "layerSection" ) );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "null" ), m_Ref01 );
   var m_Ref02 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref02.putEnumerated( cTID( "Lyr " ), cTID( "Ordn" ), cTID( "Trgt" ) );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "From" ), m_Ref02 );
   var m_Dsc02 = new ActionDescriptor();
   m_Dsc02.putString( cTID( "Nm " ), name);
   m_Dsc01.putObject( cTID( "Usng" ), sTID( "layerSection" ), m_Dsc02 );
   executeAction( cTID( "Mk " ), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
   return activeDocument.activeLayer;
function addToSelection(layerName) {
   var m_Dsc01 = new ActionDescriptor();
   var m_Ref01 = new ActionReference();
   m_Ref01.putName( cTID( "Lyr " ), layerName );
   m_Dsc01.putReference( cTID( "null" ), m_Ref01 );
   m_Dsc01.putEnumerated( sTID( "selectionModifier" ), sTID( "selectionModifierType" ), sTID( "addToSelection" ) );
   m_Dsc01.putBoolean( cTID( "MkVs" ), false );
   try {
      executeAction( cTID( "slct" ), m_Dsc01, DialogModes.NO );
   } catch(e) {}
function TemporaryAlpha() {
   activeDocument.selection.store((this.alpha = activeDocument.channels.add()));
   activeDocument.selection.deselect();
   this.consume = function() {
      activeDocument.selection.load(this.alpha);
      this.alpha.remove();
function makeActiveByIndex( idx, visible ){
     if( idx.constructor != Array ) idx = [ idx ];
     for( var i = 0; i < idx.length; i++ ){
          var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
          var ref = new ActionReference();
          ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), idx[i])
          desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( 'null' ), ref );
          if( i > 0 ) {
               var idselectionModifier = stringIDToTypeID( 'selectionModifier' );
               var idselectionModifierType = stringIDToTypeID( 'selectionModifierType' );
               var idaddToSelection = stringIDToTypeID( 'addToSelection' );
               desc.putEnumerated( idselectionModifier, idselectionModifierType, idaddToSelection );
          desc.putBoolean( charIDToTypeID( 'MkVs' ), visible );
          executeAction( charIDToTypeID( 'slct' ), desc, DialogModes.NO );
function deleteActiveLayer(){
   // =======================================================
   var idDlt = charIDToTypeID( "Dlt " );
       var desc752 = new ActionDescriptor();
       var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
           var ref529 = new ActionReference();
           var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
           var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
           var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
           ref529.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
       desc752.putReference( idnull, ref529 );
   executeAction( idDlt, desc752, DialogModes.NO );
function isLayerSet( idx ) {
     var propName = stringIDToTypeID( 'layerSection' );
     var ref = new ActionReference();
     ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID( "Prpr" ) , propName);
     ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID ( "Lyr " ), idx );
     var desc = executeActionGet( ref );
     var type = desc.getEnumerationValue( propName );
     var res = typeIDToStringID( type );
     // alert(res);
     return res == 'layerSectionStart' ? true:false;
function openGroup1(theGroup) {
   currSetIDX= getActiveLayerIndex();
   if(isLayerSet( currSetIDX ))
    getNamesPlusIDsOfLayerSet();
makeActiveByIndex(currSetIDX, false);
function getNamesPlusIDsOfLayerSet(){
   var ref = new ActionReference();
   ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
   var count = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID('Cnt '));
var parId = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
   var Names=[];
   var x = 0;
   var y = 0;
   var r = 0;
   currINDEX = getActiveLayerIndex();
    var i = currINDEX;
   for(i; i > 0 ; i--){
        ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), i );
        var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
        var layerName = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID( 'Nm ' ));
        var Id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
        var ls = desc.getEnumerationValue(stringIDToTypeID("layerSection"));
        ls = typeIDToStringID(ls);
        // alert(layerName+": _ :"+ls);
        if(ls == "layerSectionStart"){x++};
        if(layerName.match(/^<\/Layer group/) )
          y ++;
          r = x - y;
          if(r == 0 && ls == "layerSectionEnd"){break};
          continue
        if(ls == "layerSectionContent"){makeActiveByIndex(i,false);break};
        var layerType = typeIDToStringID(desc.getEnumerationValue( stringIDToTypeID( 'layerSection' )));
        var isLayerSet =( layerType == 'layerSectionContent') ? false:true;
Names.push([[Id],[layerName],[isLayerSet]]);
return Names;
function getLayersNb()//function to find out if the number of layers in the document
    var ref = new ActionReference();
    ref.putProperty( charIDToTypeID( 'Prpr' ), stringIDToTypeID('numberOfLayers') );
    ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID( "Dcmn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" ), charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" ) );
    var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
    var numberOfLayers = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID('numberOfLayers'));
    return numberOfLayers;
function toogleOpenCloseSet(){
myALayerIDX = getActiveLayerIndex();
myGroupP = app.activeDocument.activeLayer;
if(!isLayerSet(myALayerIDX)){
      myGroupP = app.activeDocument.activeLayer.parent;
      if(myGroupP.typename != "Document"){
        if(isSetOpened1(myGroupP)){closeGroup(myGroupP)}else{openGroup1(myGroupP)};
}else{
    if(isSetOpened1(myGroupP)){closeGroup(myGroupP)}else{openGroup1(myGroupP)};
function getFristLayerSetChildVisible(){
xx = false;
   var ref = new ActionReference();
   ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
   var count = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID('Cnt '));
var parId = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
   var Names=[];
    var x = 0;
    var y = 0;
    var r = 0;
   currINDEX = getActiveLayerIndex();
    var i = currINDEX;
   for(i; i > 0 ; i--){
        ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), i );
        var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
        var layerName = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID( 'Nm ' ));
        var Id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
        var ls = desc.getEnumerationValue(stringIDToTypeID("layerSection"));
        ls = typeIDToStringID(ls);
        var vis = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'visible' ));
        // alert(layerName+": _ :"+vis);
/*        if(desc.hasKey(stringIDToTypeID("visible")))
          alert(desc.getType(stringIDToTypeID("visible")));
        if(ls == "layerSectionStart"){x++};
        if(vis == 1 && Id!=parId && r!=0){
          var theOBj = {id:Id, lname:layerName, idx:i};
          xx =true;
          Names.push(theOBj);
          break;
        if(layerName.match(/^<\/Layer group/) )
          y ++;
          r = x - y;
          if(r == 0 && ls == "layerSectionEnd"){break};
          continue
    return Names;
function getLastChildIdx(){
xx = false;
   var ref = new ActionReference();
   ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
   var count = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID('Cnt '));
var parId = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
   currINDEX = getActiveLayerIndex();
    var i = currINDEX;
    var x = 0;
    var y = 0;
    var r = 0;
    var lastChIdx = 0;
   for(i; i > 0 ; i--){
        ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), i );
        var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
        var layerName = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID( 'Nm ' ));
        var Id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
        var ls = desc.getEnumerationValue(stringIDToTypeID("layerSection"));
        ls = typeIDToStringID(ls);
        var vis = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'visible' ));
        if(ls == "layerSectionStart"){x++};
        if(layerName.match(/^<\/Layer group/) )
          y ++;
          r = x - y;
          if(r == 0 && ls == "layerSectionEnd")
            lastChIdx = i;
            break;
        // alert(x+" _ "+y+" _ "+r+" _ "+layerName);
    return lastChIdx;
function getNbOfChilds(){
xx = false;
   var ref = new ActionReference();
   ref.putEnumerated( charIDToTypeID('Lyr '), charIDToTypeID('Ordn'), charIDToTypeID('Trgt') );
   var count = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(charIDToTypeID('Cnt '));
var parId = executeActionGet(ref).getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
   currINDEX = getActiveLayerIndex();
    var i = currINDEX;
    var nb = 0;
    var x = 0;
    var y = 0;
    var r = 0;
   for(i; i > 0 ; i--){
        ref = new ActionReference();
        ref.putIndex( charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), i );
        var desc = executeActionGet(ref);
        var layerName = desc.getString(charIDToTypeID( 'Nm ' ));
        var Id = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'layerID' ));
        var ls = desc.getEnumerationValue(stringIDToTypeID("layerSection"));
        ls = typeIDToStringID(ls);
        var vis = desc.getInteger(stringIDToTypeID( 'visible' ));
        if(ls == "layerSectionStart"){x++};
        if(layerName.match(/^<\/Layer group/) )
          y ++;
          r = x - y;
          if(r == 0 && ls == "layerSectionEnd")
            break
          continue
        nb++;
    return nb;
function isSetOpened1( group ){
app.activeDocument.activeLayer = group;
xx = true;
currSetIDX = getActiveLayerIndex();
addTempLayerSetIn(currSetIDX-1);
var fIdx = getActiveLayerIndex();
makeActiveByIndex(currSetIDX+2, false);
if(fIdx == getActiveLayerIndex())
    xx = false;
deleteTempLayerSetbyIdx(currSetIDX+1);
return xx;
function addTempLayerSetIn(idxx){
    // =======================================================
    var idMk = charIDToTypeID( "Mk " );
        var desc58 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref63 = new ActionReference();
            var idlayerSection = stringIDToTypeID( "layerSection" );
            ref63.putClass( idlayerSection );
        desc58.putReference( idnull, ref63 );
    executeAction( idMk, desc58, DialogModes.NO );
    // =======================================================rename
    var idsetd = charIDToTypeID( "setd" );
        var desc202 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref209 = new ActionReference();
            var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
            ref209.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
        desc202.putReference( idnull, ref209 );
        var idT = charIDToTypeID( "T   " );
            var desc203 = new ActionDescriptor();
            var idNm = charIDToTypeID( "Nm " );
            desc203.putString( idNm, "mb-dummy tempTestLayerSetOpen_Closed" );
        var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
        desc202.putObject( idT, idLyr, desc203 );
    executeAction( idsetd, desc202, DialogModes.NO );
    // =======================================================move
    var idmove = charIDToTypeID( "move" );
        var desc59 = new ActionDescriptor();
        var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );
            var ref64 = new ActionReference();
            var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
            var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
            var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
            ref64.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
        desc59.putReference( idnull, ref64 );
        var idT = charIDToTypeID( "T   " );
            var ref65 = new ActionReference();
            var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
            ref65.putIndex( idLyr, idxx );
        desc59.putReference( idT, ref65 );
        var idAdjs = charIDToTypeID( "Adjs" );
        desc59.putBoolean( idAdjs, false );
        var idVrsn = charIDToTypeID( "Vrsn" );
        desc59.putInteger( idVrsn, 5 );
    executeAction( idmove, desc59, DialogModes.NO );
function deleteTempLayerSetbyIdx(idxx){
// =======================================================
var idDlt = charIDToTypeID( "Dlt " );
      var desc = new ActionDescriptor();
          var ref = new ActionReference();
          ref.putIndex(charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), idxx);
          // ref.putIdentifier(charIDToTypeID( 'Lyr ' ), idxx);
          desc.putReference( charIDToTypeID( 'null' ), ref );
executeAction( idDlt, desc, DialogModes.NO );
toogleOpenCloseSet();

PSE 13 version set

I'm unable to view, manage or otherwise use version set options in PSE 13 (Windows 8.1) even though the set is created and the set exists and can be viewed in File Explorer.
It makes no difference if the set is created in the Organizer or manually saved as a copy in a version set in the Editor.
All version set menu options are greyed out.
I converted a catalog from PSE 10...repaired and optimized that...created a new catalog in PSE 13...no difference.
Any clues....?

View>Details and you should be able to work with version sets. The new adaptive grid view doesn't do versions.

PSE 6 layer styles - how can I load new styles?

PSE 6 layer styles - how can I load new styles?

Hi,
You need to download styles and then paste them to C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\8.0\Photo Creations\layer styles.
You need to have a
1) .asl file
2) metadata.xml file.
Relaunch the application after this. the styles would be visible.
In case you dont see them just go to C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\8.0\Locale\en_us and delete "MediaDatabase.db3" file.
For XP:
Copy the styles to C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\8.0\Photo Creations\layer styles
and delete the "MediaDatabase.db3" file. at C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\8.0\Locale\en_US.
For MAC :
/Volumes/OS<name of Disk>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Photoshop Elements/8.0/Photo Creations/Layer styles.
and delete the "MediaDatabase.db3" file. at /Volumes/OS<name of Disk>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Photoshop Elements/8.0/Locale/en_US
Hope this helps.

Control of layer sets in EDA objects

We are using AutoVue in a process to review design library objects, as they are being created. We have a large number (10,000+) of these items to review and would like to make the user experience as simple as possible. One of the more cumbersome pieces of the review process is changing the visibility of layers. All of these objects have a common set of layers (same names and order). We are trying to determine if there is a way to simplify the layer visibility process. Here are a couple of thoughts we have and are looking for suggestions/alternatives.
Option 1
We know that a number of layer sets could be created where each set controls the visibility of a select set of layers. The layers sets could then be stored in a markup file. We know that the markup.map file controls the relationship between the object being viewed and the mark file. We could alter/programmatically update this file to have each of the objects point to the same markup file. This seems to be kind of a kludge and has a number of holes that make it not very desirable.
Option 2
We know that the UI can be altered depending on the user. We are thinking that if we could create menu items or icons that set the visibility for the various views the users need, it would make the process much more elegant and less time consuming. Several questions come to mind in this option. Can the UI be modified to add additional menu selection or icons? Can a menu item or icon be used to set the layer visibility? Can the method by which AutoVue is launched be used to control the ultimate appearance and options available to the user? If we were to pursue this option, is there a recipe already in place that could guide us through the process?
Any and all responses are greatly appreciated.

Hi Charlie,
Thanks for clarifying that each of your EDA files have the same set of layers with the same names in the same order - this is a crucial factor if you want to try to approach this in a programmatic or batch manner.
As we discussed earlier today in a separate thread, Option #1 (creating a single markup file with the saved views and linking that markup to multiple base files) might lead to problems. As you know, when AutoVue is not integrated to a DMS/PLM, the markups are managed on the AutoVue server in the markups.map file... and while that file is ASCII and could be modified (not recommended), remember that the mapping depends on exactly where the base file was opened from and what protocol was used to open that file. As a result, if the same file might be opened in 2 different ways (e.g. one time locally from the user's machine, and one time from a web URL), the markup won't automatically be linked to both. Option #1 might be too unpredictable.
Therefore I'd recommend Option #2. I'll ask the experts to chime in if they disagree, but I think that what you'd like to achieve is possible through the AutoVue API and can be broken down into 3 parts:
1. Writing the core code to enable/disable specific layers
2. Packaging this code as a custom "VueAction" so that it can be called as a custom menu or toolbar item
3. Customizing the GUI to expose this menu or toolbar item
Part 1 (code to enable/disable specific layers) should be relatively easy. The AutoVue API includes a class called "com.cimmetry.core.PAN_LAYER" which represents a layer in a file (including EDA files). With the API you can:
- Get the list of layers from the current file (VueBean.getLayersState)
- Enable/disable the layers as required (PAN_LAYER.setState(PAN_LAYER.STATE_ON) or PAN_LAYER.setState(PAN_LAYER.STATE_OFF))
- Re-apply the updated layer set (VueBean.setLayersState)
Part 2 (building a custom VueAction) is a bit more complex, but is explained quite well in the new API Programmer's Guide (http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E22156_02/otn/pdf/E22092_01.pdf) that shipped with AutoVue 20.1.0. I'd recommend to read pages 20-22 and 30-35. You would want to take the code from Part 1 and package it into your custom VueAction's "perform" method.
Part 3 (customizing the GUI) should also be relatively easy, and is discussed on pages 62-68 of the Installation and Configuration Guide (http://download.oracle.com/docs/cd/E22156_02/otn/pdf/E22093_01.pdf).
But rather than just saying "read the docs", we also now provide a pre-written example of a custom VueAction with AutoVue 20.1.0 Client/Server Deployment (I think it's an optional component during install). If you've included it during the install, you'll have the folder \examples\VueActionSample in your server installation. You should be able to use that as a reference for adding your own custom VueAction to the applet.
There's one other part I hadn't included. In our separate thread earlier today, I think you mentioned you wanted to only provide this GUI customization for certain users. If you want to control the GUI based on user/group/role/etc, this is possible but will be up to you to determine the user/group/role/etc and script the JVue applet accordingly (i.e. either dynamically script the applet to set the GUIFILE parameter, or use the JVue.setGUI method).
Hope this helps as a start.
Thanks,
Graham
EDIT: If you prefer to automate the layer config as soon as the file is loaded - rather than have it as a custom menu or toolbar item - you can do that as well and in fact it's much easier. In that case you still go through Part 1 and write the code to set the desired layers, and you implement it as a 2nd applet as described in Oracle KM Note 754612.1 (https://support.oracle.com/CSP/main/article?cmd=show&type=NOT&doctype=HOWTO&id=754612.1).
Edited by: user638792 on Apr 5, 2011 8:23 PM

How are stacks and version sets handled in Mobile Albums

I am thinking of purchasing PSE 12. However, I have a question about the way stacks and version sets are handled in Mobile Albums within Revel.
When photos are in stacks or version sets in PSE 12 and I sync those photos to Mobile Albums in Revel, do the photos also appear as stacks and version sets in Revel? Or, do the photos which were in stacks and version sets in PSE 12 appear individually (i.e. un-stacked and not in version sets) in Revel?

I had the same issue. It took me a lot of time playing with the interface before I finally figured out the problem. Even though, when you double click a photo (single view) from within the default grid view, you "do" get the option to expand a stack or version set (not greyed out). However, it does not work. My frustration with that is that since it was not greyed out you would naturally expect it to be functional and it is not. In grid view the option is greyed out however that caused confusion as well since this option works in Elements 12 default view. So, one assumes it is a defect. Right? So the solution is to switch the grid view to detail view (view -> detail). Once you do that then the expand function works as expected. This should have been explained as I believe it is a change in functionality (user work flow) from earlier versions. I did try to find wording about this in the help file but no luck.

Independent layer sets for each artboard

Currently the layer structure is the same over all artboards in a document. I would like to start a new artboard with layers independent of the existing ones. A layer set will depend on the kind of artwork you create on a particular artboard, and is meaningless when you start a new artboard. So I would suggest to start each artboard with its single default layer, and add new layers only for the artboard I'm currently working on.
Extra credit for the option to copy a layer structure from one artboard to another, though I'm not sure I'd use that much.

Great idea/suggestion. It seems so logical and straightforward I am bewildered that this feature is not yet included in Illustrator.

Layer Sets (groups)

Hi fellas. It's been a while!
I tend not to use groups (layer sets) myself, but other people do. I've got several scripts that loop over all layers in a psd and then peform various tasks.
Of course they fall over if layersets are involved; so I need to change that.
To test this out I wrote a script and made a simple psd; New document (any size), background, one layer (called "layer 1") and another layer ("layer 2") which is in a layer set ("a_group")
I've got a basic script here that loops through all layers (or so I thought)
<code>
var srcDoc = app.activeDocument;
var numOfLayers = srcDoc.layers.length;
for (var i = numOfLayers -1; i >= 0 ; i--)
{    var layerName = srcDoc.layers[i].name;
    // check for groups
    if (srcDoc.layers[i].typename == "LayerSet")
    alert (layerName + " is a group")
    else
    alert (layerName + " is not in a group")
</code>
The alert calls all layer names as it goes up the stack. It however misses out layer 2 (which is in a group) So what am I missing out?
Cheers

I think you need a function that calls itself, because Layers in LayerSets are children of the LayerSet and not the document.
var theLayers = collectLayers(app.activeDocument, []);
alert (theLayers.join("\n"));
////// function collect all layers //////
function collectLayers (theParent, allLayers) {
          if (!allLayers) {var allLayers = new Array}
          else {};
          for (var m = theParent.layers.length - 1; m >= 0;m--) {
                    var theLayer = theParent.layers[m];
// apply the function to layersets;
                    if (theLayer.typename == "ArtLayer") {
                              allLayers.push(theLayer)
                    else {
                              allLayers = (collectLayers(theLayer, allLayers))
// this line includes the layer groups;
                              allLayers.push(theLayer);
          return allLayers

Sequentially number layer sets

Great, apparently if I add Tags it wipes out my question and just posts the tags as the message body. Brilliant. Re-typing...
I have a large and growing PSD with many layer sets (folders of layers.) I need to sequentially number the layer sets, but preserve their existing names. For example, layer set named "foo" should be renamed "001 foo", the next layer set "bar" should be renamed "002 bar" and so on.
Doing this manually would take a long time, but more importantly, as I add new layer sets and reorder them I don't want to have to do it all over again.
I am not a programmer so I don't know where to begin writing this script. Google helped me find a few scripts that do something similar, but not exactly what I want. Most of the scripts I found will rename layers, but I need to rename the layer sets (folders.)
If it helps, I'll explain what I'm ultimately trying to do. I want to export each of my layer sets to an image, and have those images numbered sequentially based on the order of the layer sets. I already found a script that will export all of my layer sets to JPG images, so if I can find the script described above, I should be able to do this in two steps (1. rename layer sets, 2. export images.) If there is an easier or better approach, let me know.
I have Photoshop CS5 on Mac OSX Lion.
Any help is appreciated! Thanks!

Could you try this?
// add sequential three places number to beginning of layersets’ names or change existing three places number;
// 2012, use at your own risk;
#target photoshop
if (app.documents.length > 0) {
var myDocument = app.activeDocument;
var theSets = collectLayerSets(myDocument);
for (var m = 0; m < theSets.length; m++) {
          var thisSet = theSets[m];
          var myRegExp = /^\d{3}/;
          var theNumber = theSets.length - m;
          if (thisSet.name.match(myRegExp) == null) {thisSet.name = bufferNumberWithZeros(theNumber, 3) + " " + thisSet.name}
          else {thisSet.name = thisSet.name.replace(myRegExp, bufferNumberWithZeros(theNumber, 3))}
////// function collect all layersets //////
function collectLayerSets (theParent) {
          if (!allLayerSets) {var allLayerSets = new Array}
          else {};
          for (var m = theParent.layers.length - 1; m >= 0;m--) {
                    var theLayer = theParent.layers[m];
// apply the function to layersets;
                    if (theLayer.typename == "LayerSet") {
                              allLayerSets = allLayerSets.concat(collectLayerSets(theLayer))
                              allLayerSets = allLayerSets.concat(theLayer);
          return allLayerSets
////// buffer number with zeros //////
function bufferNumberWithZeros (number, places) {
          var theNumberString = String(number);
          for (var o = 0; o < (places - String(number).length); o++) {
                    theNumberString = String("0" + theNumberString)
          return theNumberString

Rename layers with layer 1, layer 2 till and layer N

My Name is Sathya Murthy
I have psd files with many layers each with different names
I want to rename the layer which i have selected using right click with name Layer 1
Next layer which I right click with layer 2 and so on till layer N
and layers with are left out without renaming should be put in a new layer set or group in layers separately in the same file.
which i have opened
and layers should be arranged like this
till Layer N
Layer 4
Layer 3
Layer 2
Layer 1
Group or Layer Set
Background
I hope you understand what i am saying
I want scripting for that action as I have more files to rename layers so by using scripts i can work little bit faster
anyone knowing please help
Thanks In Advance
Sathya Murthy

I don’t think one can select Layers in the Layers Panel or on the Canvas while a Script is running.
One could select the Layers via a dialog, but that would take focus and need to present a list of the Layers.
Alternatively it might be possible to set up a work-around by selecting a Layer, invoking a Script (either by Keyboard Shortcut or from a Configurator Panel) that stores data (the activeLayer in this case), repeating that as often as needed and at the end of the selection process trigger another Script (or possibly the same with the shift-key pressed) that then processes that stored information.
But maybe someone else has more insightr or a better idea.

PSE 8 and Layer sets

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