Photoshop CS3
Adobe Photoshop CS3 Scripting Guide Scripting Photoshop CS3 23
JS
In JavaScript, you can use the add() method only with the collection name. The add() method is not valid
with objects other than collection objects.
Similar to VBScript, the JavaScript statement to create a document is:
documents.add()
and not:
document.add()
Note: You can include an Application object reference if you wish. The following statement is equivalent
to the previous sample:
app.documents.add()
To add an ArtLayer object, you must reference the Document object that contains the layer, and use the
add() method for the ArtLayers collection, using the artLayers property of Document.
documents[0].artLayers.add()
As with VBScript, the add() method is associated with the JavaScript Documents object but not with the
Document object. Similarly, the ArtLayer object does not have an add() method; the ArtLayers object
does.
Note: The
Layers collection object does not include an add() method. For more information, look up the
Layers object in the Adobe Photoshop CS3 JavaScript Scripting Reference.
Setting the Active Object
To work on a an object in the Photoshop CS3 application, you must make the object the front-most, or
active object. For example, to work in a layer, you must first bring the layer to the front.
In scripting, the same rule applies. If your script creates two or more documents, the commands and
methods in your script are executed on the active document. Therefore, to ensure that your commands are
acting on the correct document, it is good programming practice to designate the active document
before executing any commands or methods in the script.
To set an active object, do the following:
● In AppleScript, you use the current property of the parent object.
● In VBScript, you use the ActiveObject property of the parent object (such as ActiveDocument or
ActiveLayer).
● In JavaScript, you use the activeObject property of the parent object (such as activeDocument or
activeLayer).
Note: The parent object is the object that contains the specified object. For example, the application is the
parent of the document; a document is the parent of a layer, selection, or channel.
For example, if you look at the
Application object in the Adobe Photoshop CS3 JavaScript Scripting
Reference, or in the ExtendScript Object Model Viewer, you find one of its properties is
activeDocument; if you look at the Document object, you will find activeLayer and
activeHistoryState as properties. Similarly, if you look at application in the Adobe Photoshop
CS3 AppleScript Scripting Reference, or in thePhotoshop CS3 AppleScript Dictionary, you find it has
the property of
current, and so on.
For sample scripts that set active objects, see the following sections.
● ‘Setting the Active Document’ on page 24
● ‘Setting the Active Layer’ on page 25
● ‘Setting the Active Channels’ on page 25
