adobe-illustrator-scripting

Application (app)
├── activeDocument / documents[]
│   ├── layers[]
│   │   ├── pageItems[] (all artwork)
│   │   ├── pathItems[]
│   │   ├── compoundPathItems[]
│   │   ├── textFrames[]
│   │   ├── placedItems[]
│   │   ├── rasterItems[]
│   │   ├── meshItems[]
│   │   ├── pluginItems[]
│   │   ├── graphItems[]
│   │   ├── symbolItems[]
│   │   ├── nonNativeItems[]
│   │   ├── legacyTextItems[]
│   │   └── groupItems[]
│   ├── artboards[]
│   ├── views[]
│   ├── selection (array of selected items)
│   ├── swatches[], spots[], gradients[], patterns[]
│   ├── graphicStyles[], brushes[], symbols[]
│   ├── textFonts[] (via app.textFonts)
│   ├── stories[], characterStyles[], paragraphStyles[]
│   ├── variables[], datasets[]
│   └── inkList[], printOptions
├── preferences
├── printerList[]
└── textFonts[]

// Create a new document
var doc = app.documents.add();
 
// Create with a preset
var preset = new DocumentPreset();
preset.width = 612;  // 8.5 inches
preset.height = 792; // 11 inches
preset.colorMode = DocumentColorSpace.CMYK;
var doc = app.documents.addDocument("Print", preset);
 
// Open an existing file
var fileRef = new File("/path/to/file.ai");
var doc = app.open(fileRef);

// Save as Illustrator format
var saveOpts = new IllustratorSaveOptions();
saveOpts.compatibility = Compatibility.ILLUSTRATOR17; // CC
doc.saveAs(new File("/path/to/output.ai"), saveOpts);
 
// Export as PDF
var pdfOpts = new PDFSaveOptions();
pdfOpts.compatibility = PDFCompatibility.ACROBAT7;
pdfOpts.preserveEditability = false;
doc.saveAs(new File("/path/to/output.pdf"), pdfOpts);
 
// Export as PNG
var pngOpts = new ExportOptionsPNG24();
pngOpts.horizontalScale = 300;
pngOpts.verticalScale = 300;
pngOpts.transparency = true;
doc.exportFile(new File("/path/to/output.png"), ExportType.PNG24, pngOpts);
 
// Export as SVG
var svgOpts = new ExportOptionsSVG();
svgOpts.fontType = SVGFontType.OUTLINEFONT;
doc.exportFile(new File("/path/to/output.svg"), ExportType.SVG, svgOpts);

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var layer = doc.activeLayer;
 
// Rectangle: rectangle(top, left, width, height)
var rect = layer.pathItems.rectangle(500, 100, 200, 150);
 
// Rounded rectangle: roundedRectangle(top, left, width, height, hRadius, vRadius)
var rrect = layer.pathItems.roundedRectangle(500, 100, 200, 150, 20, 20);
 
// Ellipse: ellipse(top, left, width, height)
var oval = layer.pathItems.ellipse(400, 200, 100, 100);
 
// Polygon: polygon(centerX, centerY, radius, sides)
var hex = layer.pathItems.polygon(300, 300, 50, 6);
 
// Star: star(centerX, centerY, radius, innerRadius, points)
var star = layer.pathItems.star(300, 300, 50, 25, 5);

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var path = doc.pathItems.add();
path.setEntirePath([[100, 100], [200, 200], [300, 100]]);
path.closed = false;
path.stroked = true;
path.strokeWidth = 2;

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var path = doc.pathItems.add();
 
var point1 = path.pathPoints.add();
point1.anchor = [100, 100];
point1.leftDirection = [100, 100];
point1.rightDirection = [150, 150];
point1.pointType = PointType.SMOOTH;
 
var point2 = path.pathPoints.add();
point2.anchor = [300, 100];
point2.leftDirection = [250, 150];
point2.rightDirection = [300, 100];
point2.pointType = PointType.SMOOTH;
 
path.closed = false;

var item = doc.pathItems[0];
item.filled = true;
item.stroked = true;
item.strokeWidth = 1.5;
item.strokeCap = StrokeCap.ROUNDENDCAP;
item.strokeJoin = StrokeJoin.ROUNDENDJOIN;
item.opacity = 80;
item.closed = true;

// RGB Color (values 0-255)
var red = new RGBColor();
red.red = 255;
red.green = 0;
red.blue = 0;
 
// CMYK Color (values 0-100)
var cyan = new CMYKColor();
cyan.cyan = 100;
cyan.magenta = 0;
cyan.yellow = 0;
cyan.black = 0;
 
// Grayscale (0-100, 0 = black)
var gray = new GrayColor();
gray.gray = 50;
 
// Lab Color
var lab = new LabColor();
lab.l = 50;
lab.a = 20;
lab.b = -30;
 
// No color (transparent)
var none = new NoColor();

var item = doc.pathItems[0];
item.fillColor = red;
item.strokeColor = cyan;
 
// Gradient fill
var gradient = doc.gradients.add();
gradient.type = GradientType.LINEAR;
gradient.gradientStops[0].color = red;
gradient.gradientStops[1].color = cyan;
 
var gradColor = new GradientColor();
gradColor.gradient = gradient;
item.fillColor = gradColor;

// Create a spot color
var spot = doc.spots.add();
spot.name = "My Spot Color";
spot.color = red; // Base color definition
 
var spotColor = new SpotColor();
spotColor.spot = spot;
spotColor.tint = 100;
 
item.fillColor = spotColor;
 
// Access a swatch by name
var swatch = doc.swatches.getByName("PANTONE 185 C");
item.fillColor = swatch.color;

var doc = app.activeDocument;
 
// Point text
var pointText = doc.textFrames.add();
pointText.contents = "Hello World!";
pointText.position = [100, 500];
 
// Area text (text inside a path)
var rectPath = doc.pathItems.rectangle(500, 100, 200, 100);
var areaText = doc.textFrames.areaText(rectPath);
areaText.contents = "Text inside a rectangle shape.";
 
// Path text (text along a path)
var curvePath = doc.pathItems.add();
curvePath.setEntirePath([[50, 300], [150, 400], [250, 300]]);
var pathText = doc.textFrames.pathText(curvePath);
pathText.contents = "Text on a path";

var tf = doc.textFrames[0];
var textRange = tf.textRange;
 
// Character attributes
var charAttr = textRange.characterAttributes;
charAttr.size = 24;           // Font size in points
charAttr.textFont = app.textFonts.getByName("ArialMT");
charAttr.fillColor = red;
charAttr.tracking = 50;       // Em units
charAttr.horizontalScale = 100;
charAttr.verticalScale = 100;
charAttr.baselineShift = 0;
 
// Paragraph attributes
var paraAttr = textRange.paragraphAttributes;
paraAttr.justification = Justification.CENTER;
paraAttr.firstLineIndent = 0;
paraAttr.leftIndent = 0;
paraAttr.spaceBefore = 0;
paraAttr.spaceAfter = 0;

var tf = doc.textFrames[0];
 
// Access sub-ranges
var firstChar = tf.characters[0];
var firstWord = tf.words[0];
var firstPara = tf.paragraphs[0];
var firstLine = tf.lines[0];
 
// Modify specific ranges
tf.words[0].characterAttributes.size = 36;
tf.paragraphs[0].paragraphAttributes.justification = Justification.LEFT;

var frame1 = doc.textFrames.areaText(path1);
var frame2 = doc.textFrames.areaText(path2);
 
// Link frames so text flows from frame1 to frame2
frame1.nextFrame = frame2;
 
// Stories represent the full text across threaded frames
var storyCount = doc.stories.length;
var fullText = doc.stories[0].textRange.contents;

var doc = app.activeDocument;
 
// Create a layer
var newLayer = doc.layers.add();
newLayer.name = "Background";
newLayer.visible = true;
newLayer.locked = false;
newLayer.opacity = 100;
 
// Access existing layers
var topLayer = doc.layers[0];
var layerByName = doc.layers.getByName("Background");
 
// Move items between layers
var item = doc.pathItems[0];
item.move(newLayer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);
 
// Reorder layers
newLayer.zOrder(ZOrderMethod.SENDTOBACK);

// Get current selection
var sel = app.activeDocument.selection;
 
// Iterate selected items
for (var i = 0; i < sel.length; i++) {
    var item = sel[i];
    // Check type using typename
    if (item.typename === "PathItem") {
        item.fillColor = red;
    } else if (item.typename === "TextFrame") {
        item.contents = "Modified";
    }
}
 
// Select an item programmatically
doc.pathItems[0].selected = true;
 
// Deselect all
doc.selection = null;

// Place a symbol instance
var sym = doc.symbols.getByName("MySymbol");
var instance = doc.symbolItems.add(sym);
instance.position = [200, 400];
 
// Access symbol definition
var symDef = instance.symbol;
 
// Break link to symbol (expand to regular art)
instance.breakLink();

var item = doc.pathItems[0];
 
// Rotate 45 degrees around center
item.rotate(45);
 
// Scale to 50% width, 75% height
item.resize(50, 75);
 
// Translate (move) by 100 points right and 50 points up
item.translate(100, 50);
 
// Using a transformation matrix
var matrix = app.getIdentityMatrix();
matrix = app.concatenateRotationMatrix(matrix, 30);
matrix = app.concatenateScaleMatrix(matrix, 150, 150);
item.transform(matrix);

var doc = app.activeDocument;
 
// Access artboards
var ab = doc.artboards[0];
var rect = ab.artboardRect; // [left, top, right, bottom]
 
// Create a new artboard
var newAB = doc.artboards.add([0, 0, 612, 792]); // Letter size
newAB.name = "Page 2";
 
// Set active artboard
doc.artboards.setActiveArtboardIndex(1);

// Variables link document items to data fields
var v = doc.variables.add();
v.kind = VariableKind.TEXTUAL;
v.name = "headline";
 
// Link a text frame to the variable
var tf = doc.textFrames[0];
tf.contentVariable = v;
 
// Create datasets for batch content
var ds = doc.dataSets.add();
ds.name = "Version 1";
// Dataset captures current variable bindings
 
// Switch datasets to swap content
doc.dataSets[0].display();

var doc = app.activeDocument;
var opts = new PrintOptions();
 
opts.printPreset = "Default";
 
// Paper options
var paperOpts = new PrintPaperOptions();
paperOpts.name = "Letter";
opts.paperOptions = paperOpts;
 
// Job options
var jobOpts = new PrintJobOptions();
jobOpts.copies = 1;
jobOpts.designation = PrintArtworkDesignation.VISIBLELAYERS;
opts.jobOptions = jobOpts;
 
doc.print(opts);

// Suppress all dialogs
app.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevel.DONTDISPLAYALERTS;
 
// Perform operations that might prompt dialogs...
doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
 
// Restore dialog display
app.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevel.DISPLAYALERTS;

// rotate(angle, [changePositions], [changeFillPatterns], [changeFillGradients], ...)
item.rotate(30, undefined, undefined, true);

// At top of script
var passed = (typeof arguments !== "undefined") ? arguments : [];
for (var i = 0; i < passed.length; i++) {
    $.writeln("arg[" + i + "] = " + passed[i]);
    // Often prints: arg[0] = [object BridgeTalk]
}

var SIDECAR_PATH = "C:/Users/userName/job.args.txt";
 
function readSidecar(path) {
    var f = new File(path);
    if (!f.exists || !f.open("r")) return null;
    var lines = [];
    while (!f.eof) {
        var ln = f.readln();
        if (ln && !/^\s*$/.test(ln)) lines.push(ln);
    }
    f.close();
    return {
        input:  lines[0],
        output: lines[1],
        mode:   lines[2]
    };
}

input=C:/path/to/input.ai
output=C:/path/to/output.pdf
mode=preview

// Fragile: returns null under some launchers
var here = $.fileName ? File($.fileName).parent : null;
var sidecar = here ? new File(here.fsName + "/job.args.txt") : null;
 
// Robust: hardcode a known absolute path or fall back to a stable location
var sidecar = new File("C:/Users/userName/job.args.txt");
if (!sidecar.exists) sidecar = new File(Folder.temp.fsName + "/job.args.txt");

var LOG_PATH = "C:/Users/userName/logs/job.log";
 
function log(msg) {
    try {
        var f = new File(LOG_PATH);
        try { if (!f.parent.exists) f.parent.create(); } catch (eDir) {}
        if (f.open("a")) {
            f.writeln("[" + new Date() + "] " + msg);
            f.close();
        }
    } catch (e) {}
}

try {
    main();
} catch (err) {
    log("FATAL: " + err + (err && err.line ? " line=" + err.line : ""));
}

app.userInteractionLevel = UserInteractionLevel.DONTDISPLAYALERTS;

var opts = new IllustratorSaveOptions();
opts.compatibility = Compatibility.ILLUSTRATOR17;
doc.saveAs(new File(doc.fullName.fsName), opts);

function processAllItems(doc) {
    for (var i = 0; i < doc.pageItems.length; i++) {
        var item = doc.pageItems[i];
        // Process based on type
        switch (item.typename) {
            case "PathItem":
                // handle path
                break;
            case "TextFrame":
                // handle text
                break;
            case "GroupItem":
                // handle group (may contain nested items)
                break;
        }
    }
}

function unlockAll(doc) {
    function visitLayers(layers) {
        for (var i = 0; i < layers.length; i++) {
            var lyr = layers[i];
            try { lyr.locked = false; lyr.visible = true; } catch (e) {}
            visitItems(lyr);
            if (lyr.layers && lyr.layers.length) visitLayers(lyr.layers);
        }
    }
    function visitItems(container) {
        var items = container.pageItems;
        for (var j = 0; j < items.length; j++) {
            var it = items[j];
            try { it.locked = false; it.hidden = false; } catch (e) {}
            if (it.typename === "GroupItem") visitItems(it);
        }
    }
    visitLayers(doc.layers);
}

function relinkOrRebuild(item, newFile) {
    var bounds = item.geometricBounds.slice();
    var parent = item.parent;
    var name   = item.name;
 
    if (item.typename === "PlacedItem") {
        item.file = newFile;
        item.geometricBounds = bounds;
        return item;
    }
 
    // RasterItem path: rebuild as a linked PlacedItem in the same parent.
    var fresh = parent.placedItems.add();
    fresh.file = newFile;
    fresh.geometricBounds = bounds;
    if (name) try { fresh.name = name; } catch (e) {}
    fresh.move(item, ElementPlacement.PLACEBEFORE);
    item.remove();
    return fresh;
}

function placeSVG(targetDoc, svgFile, targetLayer) {
    var donor = app.open(svgFile);
    app.executeMenuCommand("selectall");
    app.executeMenuCommand("copy");
    donor.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
 
    app.activeDocument = targetDoc;
    targetDoc.activeLayer = targetLayer;
    app.executeMenuCommand("pasteFront");
 
    var sel = targetDoc.selection;
    if (!sel || sel.length === 0) return null;
    if (sel.length === 1) return sel[0];
 
    // Multiple pasted items: group them so callers get a single handle.
    var group = targetLayer.groupItems.add();
    for (var i = sel.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
        sel[i].move(group, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);
    }
    return group;
}

function findClipPath(group) {
    var items = group.pageItems;
    for (var i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {
        var it = items[i];
        try {
            if (it.typename === "PathItem" && it.clipping) return it;
            if (it.typename === "CompoundPathItem") {
                for (var j = 0; j < it.pathItems.length; j++) {
                    if (it.pathItems[j].clipping) return it;
                }
            }
        } catch (e) {}
    }
    return null;
}

function fitItemToRect(item, rect, mode, bleed) {
    // rect = [L, T, R, B] (Illustrator: T > B)
    var rw = rect[2] - rect[0];
    var rh = rect[1] - rect[3];
    var ib = item.geometricBounds;
    var iw = ib[2] - ib[0];
    var ih = ib[1] - ib[3];
    if (iw <= 0 || ih <= 0) return;
 
    var sx = rw / iw;
    var sy = rh / ih;
    var s  = (mode === "cover" ? Math.max(sx, sy) : Math.min(sx, sy))
           * (bleed || 1);
    item.resize(s * 100, s * 100);
 
    var cx = (rect[0] + rect[2]) / 2;
    var cy = (rect[1] + rect[3]) / 2;
    var b  = item.geometricBounds;
    var w  = b[2] - b[0];
    var h  = b[1] - b[3];
    item.position = [cx - w / 2, cy + h / 2];
}

var folder = Folder.selectDialog("Select folder of .ai files");
if (folder) {
    var files = folder.getFiles("*.ai");
    for (var i = 0; i < files.length; i++) {
        var doc = app.open(files[i]);
        // Process each document...
        doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);
    }
}

try {
    var doc = app.activeDocument;
    var layer = doc.layers.getByName("NonExistentLayer");
} catch (e) {
    alert("Error: " + e.message);
    // e.message, e.line, e.fileName available
}