Select by Count

Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Functionality

The Select by Count script for Adobe Illustrator enables users to select objects within their Illustrator documents using a numerical pattern. This pattern alternates between selecting a defined number of objects and skipping another set, creating an efficient way to process objects in bulk. The script offers extensive flexibility through its customizable selection preferences and sorting options.

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Key Features:

• Pattern-Based Selection:
  Choose how many objects to select and how many to skip.
• Scope Customization:
  Apply the pattern across the entire document, current selection, active layer, or active artboard.
• Sorting Options:
  Select objects based on spatial order or stacking order (top-down or bottom-up).
• Interactive Interface:
  User-friendly dialog box for defining preferences.

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Install and Run the Script

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

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Once the dialog appears

When you run the script, an interactive dialog window will appear:

 

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➊ Configure Selection Pattern

The Selection Pattern menu is a key feature of the Select by Count script’s dialog interface. It allows users to define a repeatable pattern for selecting and skipping objects within their Adobe Illustrator document.

1.1 Set the Selection Count:

• Purpose: the number of objects to select consecutively.
• Slider: A horizontal slider to visually adjust the number of objects to select.
• Input: A text field to manually enter the desired selection count (e.g., 1).
• Use the ↑↓ Arrow Keys to increment or decrement the value by 1.
• Use the Shift Key with the arrow keys for larger increments or decrements.

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1.2 Set the Skip Count:

• Purpose: Specifies how many objects to skip after selecting the defined number of objects.
• Slider: A horizontal slider to set the number of objects to skip.
• Input: A text field for direct input of the skip count (e.g., 2).

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➋ Define the Scope

The 'Select in:' dropdown menu in the Select by Count script dialog allows users to define the scope or region within their Adobe Illustrator document where the selection pattern should be applied. This feature provides flexibility by letting users target specific areas or contexts within the document.

Options in the 'Select in:' Dropdown:

1. Active Document:

• Applies the selection pattern across all unlocked and visible objects in the entire Illustrator document.
• Best for large-scale operations where the selection pattern needs to consider all objects, regardless of their layer or artboard placement.

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2. Active Selection:

• Limits the selection pattern to only the objects that are currently selected.
• Ideal for fine-tuning existing selections or working with specific subsets of objects.

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3. Active Layer:

• Restricts the selection pattern to objects on the currently active layer. Only visible and unlocked objects are included.
• Useful for targeting objects organized within a single layer, avoiding interference with other parts of the document.

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4. Active Artboard:

• Applies the selection pattern to all visible and unlocked objects located on the currently active artboard.
• Convenient for designs spread across multiple artboards where you need to focus on one specific artboard

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➌ Choose Sorting Method

The 'Sorting:' dropdown menu in the Select by Count script dialog determines the order in which objects are considered for the selection pattern. This feature provides control over how the script processes objects, allowing users to achieve specific results based on object arrangement or stacking.

Options in the 'Sorting:' Dropdown:

1. Spatial Order →:

• Objects are sorted based on their spatial positions on the artboard. The order follows a row-wise arrangement:
  Left to Right: Within each row.
  Top to Bottom: Across rows.
• Use Case: Ideal for selecting objects based on their physical layout, such as in grid-like or organized arrangements.

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2. Stacking Order ↓:

• Objects are processed in a top-to-bottom order based on their stacking position in the layers panel (higher objects first).
• Use Case: Best for workflows where the visual layering order is crucial, such as when objects overlap or are hierarchically arranged.

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3. Stacking Order ↑:

• Objects are processed in a bottom-to-top order, reversing the standard stacking order (lower objects first).
• Use Case: Best for workflows where the visual layering order is crucial, such as when objects overlap or are hierarchically arranged.

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How Sorting Impacts the Selection Pattern:

The script applies the user-defined Select and Skip pattern based on the chosen sorting order.

• In Spatial Order →, objects are selected in their geometric positions, respecting their x- and y-coordinates.
• In Stacking Order ↓ or ↑, the same pattern will traverse objects in the layer hierarchy.

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➍ Apply Selection

The OK and Cancel buttons in the Select by Count script dialog are essential for finalizing or aborting the user input process. They allow users to either confirm their settings and apply the script’s functionality or exit the dialog without making any changes.

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OK Button

• Confirms the user’s input and preferences for the selection pattern, scope, and sorting method.
• The script processes objects according to the user’s settings, selecting them in the defined pattern and scope with the specified sorting method.
• A progress bar may appear for long operations, followed by an alert summarizing the results (e.g., the number of objects selected).

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Cancel Button

• Aborts the operation and exits the dialog without applying any changes.
• Use Cancel if you need to reconfigure your Illustrator document (e.g., make a new selection or adjust layers) before re-running the script.

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Additional Notes

Locked or hidden items are automatically excluded from the selection process, ensuring the script only affects visible and unlocked objects.

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☻ Wrap-Up

The Select by Count script is a powerful and flexible tool for Adobe Illustrator, enabling users to create highly customized selection patterns efficiently. From its intuitive interface to its ability to target specific areas and orders within your document, this script is designed to streamline workflows and save time.

Whether you’re working on large-scale layouts, intricate patterns, or simply need a smarter way to handle selections, this script provides the functionality and control to get the job done efficiently.

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