SpotColor to GrayColor converter (javaScript)

Question

This could be edited to change any spot color to grayscale, currently it is aimed at a color called "spot black". The reason this is better then just using "edit/edit colors/convert to grayscale" is that the tones stay the same value. I'm sure it could be improved, I'm just sharing it so if someone is having the issues I was having they might have an easier time fixing it. The script originated with CarlosCanto on this discussion http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1267562?tstart=0 and was discussed further in this discussion http://forums.adobe.com/message/5610447#5610447. Enjoy.
// script.name = grayscaleFromSpotBlack.jsx;
// script.description = changes art color from a Spot swatch named "spot black", to Grayscale tones;
// script.requirements = an opened document;
// script.parent = CarlosCanto // 08/08/13;
// script.elegant = false;
// reference http://forums.adobe.com/thread/1267562?tstart=0 && http://forums.adobe.com/message/5610447#5610447
// Note: color values get rounded to the nearest integer, to avoid values like black = 99.99999999999999
//              Hidden and/or Locked Objects will be ignored, as well as objects in Hidden and/or Locked Layers
#target Illustrator
var idoc = app.activeDocument;
var pi = idoc.pathItems;
var tf = idoc.textFrames;
var fcounter = 0;
var scounter = 0;
var gcounter = 0;
//apply grayscale to paths and gradient stops
for (j=0; j<pi.length; j++) {
    var ipath = pi[j];
    if (ipath.hidden==false && ipath.locked==false) {
        if (meetTheParents(ipath) == "isLayerFree"){
            if (isLayerFree(ipath.parent)){
                changePath(ipath);
            } else {
                if (isGroupFree(ipath)){
                    changePath(ipath);
// choose text and change
for (t=0; t<tf.length; t++) {
    var iTxtFrm = tf[t];
    if (iTxtFrm.locked==false && iTxtFrm.hidden==false) {
        if (meetTheParents(iTxtFrm) == "isLayerFree"){
            if (isLayerFree(iTxtFrm.parent)){
                changeText(iTxtFrm);
            } else {
                if (isGroupFree(iTxtFrm)){
                    changeText(iTxtFrm);
alert(fcounter + ' Fill(s), ' + scounter + ' stroke(s) & ' + gcounter + ' Gradient Stop(s) processed.');
function meetTheParents(PageItem){
    if (PageItem.parent.typename = "Layer"){
        return "isLayerFree";
    } else if (PageItem.parent.typename = "GroupItem"){
        return "isGroupFree";
function isGroupFree(groupItem){
    if (groupItem.parent.hidden==false && groupItem.parent.editable==true){
        if (groupItem.parent.typename == "Layer"){
            var greatgpa = groupItem.parent;
            isLayerFree(greatgpa);
        }else if (groupItem.parent.typename = "GroupItem"){
            var gpa = groupItem.parent;
            if (isGroupFree(gpa));
            return true
            } else {
            return false
function isLayerFree(layer){
    if (layer.locked == false && layer.visible == true){
        var gpa = layer.parent;
        isLayerFree(gpa);
        return true
        } else {
        return false
// actually changes text
function changeText(textFrame){
    var chars = textFrame.characters;
    for (c=0; c<chars.length; c++) {
        var ltr = chars[c];
        if (ltr.characterAttributes.fillColor.typename == "SpotColor"){
            if (ltr.characterAttributes.fillColor.spot.name == "spot black"){
                var fillk = Math.round(ltr.characterAttributes.fillColor.tint);
                SpotToGrey (ltr, true, false, fillk);
                fcounter++;
        if (ltr.characterAttributes.strokeColor.typename == "SpotColor"){
            if (ltr.characterAttributes.strokeColor.spot.name == "spot black") {
                var strokek = Math.round(ltr.characterAttributes.strokeColor.tint);
                SpotToGrey (ltr, false, true, strokek);
                scounter++;
//actually changes paths
function changePath(PathItem){
    var fillColor = PathItem.fillColor;
    if (fillColor.typename == "SpotColor") {
        if (fillColor.spot.name == "spot black") {
            var fillk = Math.round(fillColor.tint);
            SpotToGrey (PathItem, true, false, fillk);
            fcounter++;
    else if (fillColor.typename == "GradientColor") {
        var stops = PathItem.fillColor.gradient.gradientStops;
        for (s=0; s<stops.length; s++) {
            var iStop = stops[s];
            var stopColor = iStop.color;
            if (stopColor.typename == "SpotColor") {
                if (stopColor.spot.name == "spot black") {
                    var stopk = Math.round(stopColor.tint);
                    iStop.color = GrayColor;
                    iStop.color.gray = stopk;
                    gcounter++;
    var strokeColor = PathItem.strokeColor;
    if (strokeColor.typename == "SpotColor") {
        if (strokeColor.spot.name == "spot black") {
            var strokek = Math.round(strokeColor.tint);
            SpotToGrey (PathItem, false, true, strokek);
            scounter++;
    else if (strokeColor.typename == "GradientColor") {
        var stops = PathItem.strokeColor.gradient.gradientStops;
        for (s=0; s<stops.length; s++) {
            var iStop = stops[s];
            var stopColor = iStop.color;
            if (stopColor.typename == "SpotColor") {
                if (stopColor.spot.name == "spot black") {
                    var stopk = Math.round(stopColor.tint);
                    iStop.color = GrayColor;
                    iStop.color.gray = stopk;
                    gcounter++;
function SpotToGrey (path, fill, stroke, k) {
    if (fill) {
        path.fillColor = GrayColor;
        path.fillColor.gray = k;
    if (stroke) {
        path.strokeColor = GrayColor;
        path.strokeColor.gray = k;
A file that shows what this script does will be hosted here https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BzEoJSYDhH_WekNoYTFzVHVaOXM/edit?usp=sharing until I forget why it's saved there and delete it.

Answer 1

Nice work on all the progress/additions you have made through all these threads, some good stuff, thanks for sharing and thanks as always to CarlosCanto as well.