Script for Adobe Illustrator

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Description

Unlock Assistant is a powerful and comprehensive tool designed to streamline your workflow when dealing with locked elements in Adobe Illustrator. Whether you are working with complex documents containing multiple locked layers or individual locked objects, this script provides an intuitive interface to quickly identify, search, and unlock them.

The script features a dual-tab interface that separates locked layers from locked objects, making it easy to manage each type independently. With built-in search functionality, multi-select capabilities, and smart zoom features, you can efficiently handle even the most complex documents.

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Features

A powerful Adobe Illustrator script that helps you manage and unlock locked layers and objects in your documents with ease.

• Dual-Tab Interface: Separate views for locked layers and locked objects.
• Search Functionality: Quickly filter locked items by name, path, or layer.
• Multi-Select Support: Unlock multiple items at once with Cmd/Ctrl-click.
• Smart Zoom: Double-click on locked objects to zoom and center them in view.
• Batch Operations: Unlock all layers, all objects, or everything at once.
• Invert Lock States: Toggle lock states for all layers or objects.
• Auto-Selection: Automatically selects unlocked items for immediate editing.
• Hierarchical Display: Shows nested layer structures with clear paths.

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Installation

1. Download the Unlock Assistant.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 > Unlock Assistant.

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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Getting Started

Launch Adobe Illustrator and open a document with locked layers or objects. If no document is open, the script will prompt you to open one.

Run the script by going to File > Scripts > Unlock Assistant or use File > Scripts > Other Script... and browse to the script location. The Unlock Assistant dialog will appear if locked items are found.

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➊ Managing Locked Layers

The Locked Layers tab displays all locked layers in your document, including nested sublayers.

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To unlock specific layers:

1. Switch to the Locked Layers tab.
2. Use the search field to filter layers by name or path.
3. Select one or more layers from the list. Single-click to select one layer, or Cmd/Ctrl-click to select multiple layers.
4. Click Unlock Selected.
5. The script will unlock the layers, select all objects within them, and zoom to fit.

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To unlock all layers:

1. Click the Unlock All Layers button.
2. All locked layers will be unlocked and their contents selected.

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To invert layer lock states:

1. Click the Invert Locked Layers button.
2. All currently locked layers become unlocked, and all unlocked layers become locked.

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➋ Managing Locked Objects

The Locked Objects tab shows all locked objects in your document with their type and parent layer.

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To unlock specific objects:

1. Switch to the Locked Objects tab.
2. Use the search field to filter objects by name or layer.
3. Select one or more objects from the list. Single-click to select one object, or Cmd/Ctrl-click to select multiple objects. Double-click to zoom to a specific object's location.
4. Click Unlock Selected.
5. The selected objects will be unlocked, selected, and zoomed to fit.

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To unlock all objects:

1. Click the Unlock All Objects button.
2. All locked objects will be unlocked and selected.

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To invert object lock states:

1. Click the Invert Locked Objects button.
2. All currently locked top-level objects become unlocked, and all unlocked objects become locked.

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Additional Features

Type in the search field to instantly filter the list. The search works on layer names, paths, and object names. Click the cross button to clear the search.

Double-click any locked object in the list to zoom and center it in your view. The object remains locked but is temporarily selected for viewing.

Click the Unlock All button at the bottom to unlock all layers and objects at once. All unlocked objects will be automatically selected.

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Tips and Tricks

Enhance your workflow with these helpful tips:

• Use Cmd/Ctrl-click for multi-selection in the lists.
• Assign a keyboard shortcut to the script via Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts > Other Scripts for quick access.
• The script shows the full path for nested layers for easy navigation.
• Locked objects are labeled by type for easy identification.
• Locked text frames show a preview of their content.

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☻ Wrap-Up

Unlock Assistant is a must-have tool for any Illustrator user dealing with complex documents and locked elements. By streamlining the process of finding and managing locked layers and objects, it saves you valuable time and improves your overall design workflow. Give it a try and experience a more organized and efficient way to work in Adobe Illustrator!

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