Select by Attribute

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Functionality

Select by Attribute is a powerful utility script for Adobe Illustrator that helps you filter and select objects based on their properties. The script streamlines your workflow by making it easy to find and select specific types of elements within your document, eliminating the tedious process of manually searching for them.

With intuitive categories and search functionality, you can quickly locate paths with specific attributes, objects with certain color types, text frames, and much more. This script is perfect for cleaning up complex documents, preparing files for production, or implementing consistent styling across your artwork.

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Install and Run the Script

Place the script file in your Adobe Illustrator Scripts folder:
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⮑ MacOS: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
⮑ Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
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Restart Adobe Illustrator to load the script into the File > Scripts menu.
Open your document and go to File > Scripts > Select by Attribute to launch the script.

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Use the Script Dialog

When you run the script, an interactive dialog window will appear. Browse through the alphabetically sorted list of categories:

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➊ Choose Selection Categories

Browse through the alphabetically sorted list of categories.
Click on a category to select it (such as "Paths: With Fill" or "Text: Empty Text Frames").
Hold Ctrl/Cmd while clicking to select multiple categories.
Use the search bar at the top of the dialog to quickly find specific categories.

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➋ Define Search Scope

Use the "Search in:" dropdown menu to specify where to look for objects:

Active Document: Search through the entire document.
Active Selection: Limits the search to the currently selected objects.
Active Layer: Searches only within the active layer.
Active Artboard: Searches objects on the currently active artboard.

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➌ Run the Selection

Click "OK" to select all objects matching your criteria.
The script will display the number of items found.
Selected objects will be highlighted in your document.
The view will automatically zoom to fit your selection.

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Tips:

Double-click on any category in the list to instantly select all matching objects using the current scope.
Press the ⏼ icon to open the User Guide for detailed instructions on using the script.

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Additional Notes:

The script ignores locked or hidden items and layers.
Large documents with many items may slow down during selection.
It is highly recommended to save your document, especially complex or large files, before running the script. This ensures that all changes are securely backed up and minimizes the risk of data loss in case of unexpected issues.

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➍ Selection Categories Overview

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Here’s a list of object attributes/categories you can select:

Path Categories

Paths: Any: All vector paths that aren't guides or clipping masks.
Paths: Closed/Open: Shapes with connected/unconnected endpoints.
Paths: With Fill/Stroke: Objects with color fills or outlines.
Paths: Without Fill/Stroke: Objects no fills or outlines.
Paths: With Dashed/Non-Dashed Stroke: Paths with specific stroke styles.
Paths: With Butt/Round/Projecting Caps: Paths with specific end cap styles.
Paths: With Miter/Round/Bevel Joins: Paths with specific corner styles.

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Text Categories

Text: Any Text Frames: All text objects regardless of type.
Text: Area Type Objects: Text contained within a defined area.
Text: Point Type Objects: Text that flows from a single point.
Text: Type On Path: Text that follows the path of a curve.
Text: Empty Text Frames: Text frames with no content

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Color Categories

Color: CMYK/RGB/Grayscale: Objects using specific color models.
Color: Global/Spot Color Objects: Objects using spot or global colors.
Color: Gradient/Pattern Objects: Objects with gradient or pattern fills.

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Special Objects

Compound Paths: Multiple paths combined into a single object.
Clipping Masks: Paths used to hide portions of other objects.
Embedded/Linked Rasters: Placed images (embedded or linked).
Objects Inside/Outside Artboards: Items based on artboard position.
Opacity: Partially/Fully Transparent: Objects with transparency settings.
Opacity: Objects With Blending Modes: Objects using non-normal blending.

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☻ Wrapping Up

Select by Attribute streamlines your Illustrator workflow by eliminating the tedious task of manually hunting for specific elements in complex documents. With its comprehensive selection categories and intuitive interface, you can instantly locate and select objects based on their attributes, whether you're cleaning up files, preparing artwork for production, or implementing consistent styling.

By saving you countless hours of manual selection work, this script allows you to focus on what truly matters - your creative process.

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#Select

Select by Attribute

Version: 1.1.6

Updated: April 9, 2025

Download Select by Attribute

1.0.0 – Initial release.
1.1.0 – Complete UI redesign with a more user-friendly, resizable dialog.
1.1.1 – Added search functionality to quickly filter categories.
1.1.2 – Implemented multi-select support for selecting multiple categories simultaneously.
1.1.3 – Double-click feature to instantly select items of a specific category.
1.1.4 – Added "Objects Outside Artboards" and "Objects Inside Artboards" categories.
1.1.5 – Added path styling categories: Cap styles (Butt, Round, Projecting) and Join styles (Miter, Round, Bevel).
1.1.6 – Added "Objects With Blending Modes" category.
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Tested on MacOS:
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- Adobe Illustrator 2023 (27.0)
- Adobe Illustrator 2024 (28.1)
- Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.0.1)
Supported Versions:
- Compatible with Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later, including Adobe Illustrator CC versions.
Operating Systems:
- Works on both macOS and Windows platforms.
End User License Agreement (EULA)
Last Updated: 21.12.2024
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This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (“User” or “Licensee”) and Samolevsky.com (“Licensor”) regarding the use of the Adobe Illustrator scripts (“Software”). By downloading, installing, or using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
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1. Grant of License
Licensor grants the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Software in accordance with this Agreement.
- Free Software: If the Software is provided for free, you may use it for personal or commercial purposes without payment, subject to the restrictions outlined in this Agreement.
- Paid Software: If the Software is provided for a fee, you may use it only after payment has been made in full.
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2. Usage Rights
You are permitted to:
- Install and use the Software on devices you own or control.
- Use the Software in your personal or commercial projects, subject to compliance with this Agreement.
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3. Restrictions
You may NOT:
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, underlying ideas, or algorithms of the Software.
- Reuse, incorporate, or integrate any portion of the Software into any other software, product, or project, except as expressly permitted by the Licensor in writing.
- Resell, redistribute, or share the Software, whether in its original or modified form, without prior written consent from the Licensor.
- Claim ownership of the Software or its underlying code.
- Use the Software in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations.
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4. Ownership
The Software and all intellectual property rights therein remain the exclusive property of the Licensor. This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Software or any intellectual property rights to the User.
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5. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
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6. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Licensor shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of or related to the use or inability to use the Software.
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7. Termination
This Agreement is effective until terminated. Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately if you breach any term of this Agreement. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Software and destroy any copies in your possession.
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8. Updates and Support
Licensor is not obligated to provide updates, support, or maintenance for the Software. However, updates may be provided at the sole discretion of the Licensor.
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9. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
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10. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Licensor concerning the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter.
By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms.
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For any questions or concerns regarding this Agreement, please contact us at hello@samolevsky.com

Required Software

Adobe Illustrator

Learn more

Adobe Illustrator is a professional vector graphics software developed by Adobe Inc. It is widely used by designers, illustrators, and artists for creating a variety of digital artwork, including logos, icons, illustrations, typography, and complex design layouts. Illustrator is known for its precision and scalability, allowing users to create high-quality graphics that can be resized without losing clarity. Its features include powerful drawing tools, customizable brushes, advanced typography options, and seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Illustrator is a go-to tool for creative professionals working on projects for print, web, and multimedia platforms.

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Select by Attribute.jsx script in Adobe Illustrator, you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:
1. MacOS:
  Open Finder and navigate to:
  Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
2. Windows:
  Open File Explorer and navigate to:
  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Illustrator version (e.g., 2025).
4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).
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🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Select by Attribute.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
3. Restart Adobe Illustrator: To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.
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Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.
1. Open Adobe Illustrator and ensure a document is active.
2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
4. Click the Select by Attribute script to run it.
5. The Select by Attribute script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.
☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Select by Attribute.jsx script in Adobe Illustrator, you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:
1. MacOS:
  Open Finder and navigate to:
  Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
2. Windows:
  Open File Explorer and navigate to:
  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Illustrator version (e.g., 2025).
4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).
ㅤ
🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Select by Attribute.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
3. Restart Adobe Illustrator: To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.
ㅤ
Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and ensure a document is active.
2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
4. Click the Select by Attribute script to run it.
5. The Select by Attribute script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.
☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

Got questions?

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