Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Description

Move Objects to Layer sends selected Illustrator artwork to other layers without changing its position on the canvas. You can move the artwork, keep the original and make a copy, or place copies on several layers at once.

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Features

Use one guided dialog to reorganize selected artwork and check the result before you apply it.

• Flexible destinations – Move or copy artwork to one existing layer, a new layer, a new sublayer, or several existing layers.
• Fast layer finding – Search and filter the complete layer hierarchy without losing selected destinations.
• Clear visual feedback – See source, destination, empty, hidden, locked, and layer-color information in one list.
• Direct layer management – Rename, recolor, show, hide, lock, unlock, collapse, expand, or delete eligible layers.
• Live result checking – Preview the operation, hide selection edges, and frame the artwork before applying it.
• Accurate stacking – Keep the selected artwork in the same relative order inside every destination.
• Safe processing – Confirm temporary layer changes and reverse incomplete work when possible.

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Installation

1. Download the Move Objects to Layer.jsx script file.

2. Place the script in your Adobe Illustrator Scripts folder:

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator (Version)/Presets/(Language)/Scripts

⮑ Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator (Version)\Presets(Language)\Scripts

3. Restart Adobe Illustrator if it's already running

4. Access the script via File > Scripts > Move Objects to Layer

5. Alternatively, run it directly via File > Scripts > Other Script... and browse to the file location

Tip: You can also drag and drop the .jsx file directly onto the Illustrator workspace to run the script instantly – no installation needed.

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Using the Script

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Launch the Script

Open the script after you select the artwork that you want to move or copy.

1. Open a document – Open the Illustrator file that contains your artwork.
2. Select the artwork – Select one or more objects before you run the script.
3. File > Scripts > Move Objects to Layer – Choose this command to open the dialog.

The dialog starts with Move selected, All Levels active, Preview ON, and the active Illustrator layer chosen when it is available. The guided tour opens automatically the first time you use the script.

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➊ Choose What Happens to the Artwork

Choose the result at the top of the dialog. Most first-time users can leave the default action unchanged.

• Move – Transfer eligible artwork to one destination and remove it from its current layer.
• Duplicate – Copy eligible artwork to one destination and keep the original.
• Multi-copy – Copy eligible artwork to every checked destination and keep the original; this mode starts with no destinations checked.

Leave Move selected when you only need to place artwork on a different layer.

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➋ Find and Select Destinations

Use the search row and layer list to choose where the artwork goes. The active Illustrator layer is the initial destination when it is valid.

• Search layers – Type part of a layer name into this initially empty field to filter the hierarchy.
• All Levels – Leave this default selected, or click the scope control to cycle through Layers and Sublayers.
• Set as destination – Click an available row in Move or Duplicate, or choose this command from its row menu.
• Add destination – In Multi-copy, click an unchecked row or choose this command; it changes to Remove destination after the row is checked.

 

Use these additional options when the layer list is long or you need several targets.

• Clear search (Esc) – Select the clear control or press Escape to restore the unfiltered list.
• Select every destination layer – Select the empty or partly selected header checkbox to check every available destination; it changes to Deselect every destination layer when all are checked.

Checked Multi-copy rows stay highlighted when you search or collapse a branch. If all selected artwork comes from one layer, that source layer stays visible but is unavailable as a destination.

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➌ Read and Manage the Layer List

Use the row indicators to confirm the layer state before you select or edit it. These indicators do not change the artwork.

• Layer color marker – Shows the Illustrator layer color and opens the color picker when clicked.
• Source layer – A blue bullseye marks a layer that contains original selected artwork.
• Target layer – An enter-arrow marks each current destination.
• State – Shows whether a layer is empty, hidden, or locked.
• Collapse sublayers – Click the disclosure arrow or choose this command to hide nested rows; it changes to Expand sublayers while the branch is closed.

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Right-click a row when you need to change the layer itself.

• Rename layer – Edit the layer name directly in the list.
• Change color label – Choose another Illustrator layer label color.
• Hide layer – Hide visible artwork; the command changes to Show layer while the layer is hidden.
• Lock layer – Prevent edits; the command changes to Unlock layer while the layer is locked.
• Delete layer... – Display the affected counts, then use Confirm layer deletion within 10 seconds; source layers and the only top-level layer cannot be deleted.

Name, color, visibility, lock, and deletion changes apply immediately, so the secondary button changes its label after one of these edits.

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➍ Create and Position a New Destination

Use New Layer Destination only when Move or Duplicate needs a layer that does not exist. Leave it disabled when you use an existing destination.

• New Top-Level Layer – Select the main segment to enable or disable creation of a document-level layer at the initial top position.
• New Sublayer – Choose this mode from the split menu, then select the existing layer that will contain it.
• New Layer – Replace this default name in the adjacent field, or leave it unchanged.
• Move new layer up one position – Select the up arrow inside the pending TOP or SUB row.
• Move new layer down one position – Select the down arrow inside the pending TOP or SUB row.

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The remaining buttons provide faster placement and cancellation.

• Move the new layer to the top of the layer stack – Send the pending destination to the first available position.
• Move the new layer to the bottom of the layer stack – Send the pending destination to the last available position.
• Remove the pending layer and return to existing-layer mode – Discard the pending destination without creating a document layer.

You can also drag the pending row to another position. A blank name becomes New Layer or New Sublayer; when the only document layer is the unavailable source, creation mode turns on automatically.

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➎ Preview and Inspect the Result

Use the action bar to check the planned result on the artboard. Preview is enabled by default, and the view tools are initially off.

• Preview ON – Show the temporary result by default; select it to change to Preview OFF and restore the original artwork.
• Hide Selection Edges – Hide selection edges for a cleaner view, then select the same button to show them again.
• Zoom to fit selection – Center and fit the original selection, then select Restore previous view to return to the earlier center and zoom.

Preview waits briefly during rapid destination changes and does not rebuild when the effective destination stays the same.

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➏ Apply or Cancel the Operation

Read the primary button label, then apply the result or leave the planned operation unchanged.

• Move – Apply the selected Move operation to one destination.
• Duplicate – Apply the selected Duplicate operation to one destination.
• Duplicate to Layers – In Multi-copy, apply one copy to every checked layer; the label includes the selected count when destinations are checked.
• Cancel – Restore Preview and close without applying the planned operation.
• Close – Close after an immediate layer edit that cannot be cancelled from this dialog.

The script asks before it temporarily shows or unlocks a destination. It also warns when both a parent layer and its sublayer will receive separate Multi-copy results.

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➐ Use Shortcuts and Help

Use these keyboard controls while the layer list has focus.

• Up and Down – Move between rows, or move a pending destination by one position.
• Page Up and Page Down – Move through the visible layer list one page at a time.
• Home and End – Move to the first or last row, or send a pending destination to that end.
• Left and Right – Collapse or expand the focused layer when it contains sublayers.
• Space – Check or uncheck the focused destination in Multi-copy.
• Command/Ctrl+A – Select all Multi-copy destinations, or clear them when all are selected.
• Enter / Return – Save an inline layer-name edit.
• Escape – Cancel a name edit, close a row menu, clear a search, or close the current dialog as applicable.

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These pointer controls make list navigation and editing faster.

• Shift-click – Apply a checked or unchecked state across a Multi-copy range.
• Command-click / Ctrl-click – Use Command-click on macOS or Ctrl-click on Windows on a disclosure arrow to collapse or expand every nested branch.
• Double-click – Open the clicked layer name for inline editing.
• Right-click / Control-click – Right-click a row, or Control-click it on macOS, to open its action menu.
• Resize handle – Change the dialog size, then release the handle to reflow its controls.

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☻ Summary

You can now move selected artwork to one destination, make one copy, or distribute copies across several layers without changing canvas positions. Use the layer list to choose or create the destination, confirm the result with Preview, and apply the operation with its safeguards intact.

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