Is there a way to EXPAND a group in Photoshop?

Question

In the Layers panel, Photoshop has a dropdown option to 'Collapse All Groups'. Is there a reverse option to expand one or all groups or a way to do it in Javascript?

Haha, yes it's unfortunate that people don't read the question before acting on it, while javascript based solution might work here but I've never done that level of scripting , you may try [this](https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/5552/is-it-possible-to-collapse-expand-all-groups-in-photoshop-layers-panel) instead — Vinay, Aug 12 '20 at 17:21
@Viney Thanks for the link and solidarity. Unfortunately that answer won't work in an action as 'Collapse All Groups will. — Jack, Aug 12 '20 at 18:00

Vinay · Accepted Answer · 2020-08-14T17:19:37.703

Here you go, answer is derived from

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/expand-collapse-a-group-via-javascript/td-p/7286289/page/2?page=1%3F

var groupname = app.activeDocument.activeLayer.name // name of active layer 
var idungroupLayersEvent = stringIDToTypeID( "ungroupLayersEvent" ); // ungroup layer event 

var desc14 = new ActionDescriptor();

var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );

var ref13 = new ActionReference();

var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " );
var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
ref13.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
desc14.putReference( idnull, ref13 );

executeAction( idungroupLayersEvent, desc14, DialogModes.NO );

var idMk = charIDToTypeID( "Mk  " ); // make action , note the space
var desc15 = new ActionDescriptor();
var idnull = charIDToTypeID( "null" );

var ref14 = new ActionReference();

var idlayerSection = stringIDToTypeID( "layerSection" );
ref14.putClass( idlayerSection );
desc15.putReference( idnull, ref14 );
var idFrom = charIDToTypeID( "From" );

var ref15 = new ActionReference();

var idLyr = charIDToTypeID( "Lyr " ); // <-- note the space
var idOrdn = charIDToTypeID( "Ordn" );
var idTrgt = charIDToTypeID( "Trgt" );
ref15.putEnumerated( idLyr, idOrdn, idTrgt );
desc15.putReference( idFrom, ref15 );

executeAction( idMk, desc15, DialogModes.NO );
app.activeDocument.activeLayer.name = groupname // recall group name

score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Aug 18 '20 at 00:38

Any hoops, to collapse all groups just use Scriptlistner code:

function collapse_all_groups()
{
  // =======================================================
  var idcollapseAllGroupsEvent = stringIDToTypeID( "collapseAllGroupsEvent" );
  var desc46 = new ActionDescriptor();
  executeAction( idcollapseAllGroupsEvent, desc46, DialogModes.NO );
}

And there doesn't appear to be a "expandAllGroupsEvent"

However, I eventually found the answer here

function openAllLayerSets(parent)
{
    for (var setIndex = 0; setIndex < parent.layerSets.length; setIndex++) 
    {
        try
        {
          app.activeDocument.activeLayer = parent.layerSets[setIndex].layers[0];
        }
        catch(e)
        {
          alert(e + app.activeDocument.activeLayer);
        }
        openAllLayerSets(parent.layerSets[setIndex]);
    }
}

openAllLayerSets(app.activeDocument);

Thanks but it doesn't work unfortunately. I get a 'Error 1302: No such element' for line 5. — Jack, Aug 13 '20 at 17:50
Weird. Have you tried creating a small psd with a couple of layers and put those layers in a group? Then re-try the script. I've added a try /catch so you might be able to find the layer that's causing the problem — Ghoul Fool, Aug 14 '20 at 07:35

jimmont · Answer 3 · 2022-09-07T00:22:01.767

this works in UXP JavaScript land in Ps 23.5.0 showing both getting the expanded state and switching/or toggling it; to expand all currently I'd simply walk the layers properties of group layers (layers where layer.kind === 'group') from the desired starting point (or photoshop.app.activeDocument.layers) as I don't know if there are more options applicable to this approach

function toggleGroupLayer(_id=-1){
    const photoshop = require('photoshop');
    photoshop.action.batchPlay([

        { _obj: "multiGet", _target: {_ref: "layer", _id}, extendedReference: [[
           "layerSectionExpanded"
        ]] }
    ], {}).then(([{layerSectionExpanded}])=>{

    console.log(`before toggling:`,{_id, layerSectionExpanded});
    layerSectionExpanded = !layerSectionExpanded;
    return photoshop.core.executeAsModal(function _executeAsModal(context, descriptor){
        return photoshop.action.batchPlay([{
            _obj: "set",
            _target: [{ _ref: "property", _property: "layerSectionExpanded" }, { _ref: "layer", _id }],
            to: layerSectionExpanded
        }], {}).then(res=>{
            return descriptor;
        }).catch(console.error);
    },
    { commandName: 'toggle group layer expanded', descriptor: {layerSectionExpanded, _id} }
    );

    }).then(console.log).catch(console.error);

}

Thanks! I'm not sure what you mean by 'walk the layers properties of group layers...' — Jack, Sep 08 '22 at 11:55
group layers have child layers, as in `layer.layers = [childLayer,...]` and those can also be group layers, so walking/recursing through them to collapse/expand all isn't accounted for here in the example; if this answer works please accept/upvote it as you see fit — jimmont, Sep 08 '22 at 16:59

Is there a way to EXPAND a group in Photoshop?

3 Answers3

Linked