Open all files in folder with JPG extension while scripting Photoshop

Question

Does anyone know how one might open in Photoshop all files with a particular file extension rather than individual file names using VBScript? Alternatively, could I use a JS function to do this?

Answer 1

If I understand correctly, VBScript can be used to externally automate Photoshop, via the Windows Script Host.

Targeting and Referencing the Application object

Because you run your AppleScript and VBScript scripts from outside the Photoshop application, the first thing your script should do is indicate that the commands be executed in Photoshop

Link to PDF, p. 22

VBScript can access the FileSystemObject type, which is a part of the Microsoft Scripting Runtime library. FileSystemObject allows you to iterate over each file in a folder and check the extension.

Option Explicit

Dim app
Set app = CreateObject("Photoshop.Application")

Dim fso
Set fso = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")

Dim fle
For Each fle In fso.GetFolder("c:\path\to\folder").Files
    If fso.GetExtensionName(fle.Path) = ".jpeg" Then

        'Issue the command to open the file in the default format
        'This uses the Open method from the Photoshop object model
        app.Open fle.Path

    End If
Next

References:

• Microsoft Scripting Runtime library, FileSystemObject, Folder object
• Photoshop CC Scripting Guide 2015

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Note that the same code could be written in an externally controlling Javascript file:

var app = new ActiveXObject('Photoshop.Application');
var fso = new ActiveXObject('Scripting.FileSystemObject');

var enumerator = new Enumerator(fso.GetFolder('c:\\path\\to\\folder').Files);
while (!enumerator.atEnd()) {
    var filepath = enumerator.item().Path;
    if (fso.GetExtensionName(filepath) == '.jpeg') {

        app.Open(filepath);

    }
    enumerator.moveNext();
}

but the examples in the Scripting Guide are using internally executing Javascript files; they must be saved in a specific folder, and can only be run once the application is open, and within the context of the application.