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Free Illustrator Script: Paste Multiple Illustrator Documents into One

As designers, we often find ourselves juggling multiple Adobe Illustrator files, especially when working on large projects. Whether it’s different variations of a design or assets spread across several files, consolidating everything into a single document can be a time-consuming and repetitive task. Fortunately, there’s a way to automate this process and save yourself a lot of time and hassle.

In this blog post, I’m excited to share a custom Illustrator script I’ve developed that does just that. This script will automatically group and move all content from several open Illustrator documents into a single file of your choice, without the need for manual intervention.

Why Automate the Consolidation Process?

Manually transferring content from multiple Illustrator files into one can be tedious:

  • You have to open each document.
  • Select all the content.
  • Group it (so it stays organized).
  • Cut it from the original document.
  • Paste it into the target document.
  • Close the original document without saving.

If you have only a few files, this isn’t a big deal. But when you’re dealing with dozens, it becomes a daunting and error-prone task. This script takes care of everything for you, ensuring a smooth, efficient workflow.

What Does the Script Do?

Here’s a breakdown of what this script accomplishes:

  1. Selects All Content: It opens each document (except the one you designate as your main document) and selects all the content on the artboard.
  2. Groups the Content: Before moving the content, it groups all selected items to maintain their arrangement.
  3. Cuts the Grouped Content: The script cuts the grouped content from the document.
  4. Closes the Original Document: It closes the document without saving any changes.
  5. Pastes into the Main Document: Finally, it pastes the content into your designated main document (main.ai by default).

How to Use the Script

Step 1: Preparation

  • Open all the documents you want to consolidate in Adobe Illustrator, along with the target document (which should be named main.ai).

Step 2: Running the Script

  • Copy the script code provided below and save it as a .jsx file (e.g., ConsolidateDocsToMain.jsx).
  • In Illustrator, navigate to File > Scripts > Other Script..., and select the script file you saved.

Step 3: Let the Script Do the Work

  • The script will automatically process each open document, moving the contents to your main document. You don’t have to click anything or worry about errors—the script will handle it all.

Step 4: Review the Results

  • After the script finishes running, check your main.ai file to see all the consolidated content, perfectly grouped and organized.

The Script: A Game-Changer for Your Workflow

// Function to introduce a small delay
function pause(milliseconds) {
    var endTime = new Date().getTime() + milliseconds;
    while (new Date().getTime() < endTime) {}
}

// Get the main document
var mainDoc;
try {
    mainDoc = app.documents.getByName("main.ai");
} catch (e) {
    alert("main.ai is not open.");
    throw e;
}

// Loop through all open documents except the main document
for (var i = app.documents.length - 1; i >= 0; i--) {
    var doc;
    try {
        doc = app.documents[i];

        // Ignore the main document
        if (doc.name !== "main.ai") {
            // Switch to the current document
            app.activeDocument = doc;

            // Select all items in the document
            doc.selection = null; // Clear any previous selection
            app.executeMenuCommand("selectall");

            // Group the selected items
            app.executeMenuCommand("group");

            // Cut the grouped items
            app.executeMenuCommand("cut");

            // Pause to ensure clipboard is ready
            pause(500);

            // Close the current document without saving
            doc.close(SaveOptions.DONOTSAVECHANGES);

            // Switch to the main document
            app.activeDocument = mainDoc;

            // Pause before pasting to ensure the document is active
            pause(500);

            // Paste the cut items into main.ai
            app.executeMenuCommand("pasteFront");

            // Pause to ensure the paste operation completes
            pause(500);
        }
    } catch (e) {
        alert("An error occurred: " + e.message);
    }
}

// Set the main document as active
app.activeDocument = mainDoc;
alert("Script completed successfully.");

Why You Should Consider Using This Script

Automating repetitive tasks isn’t just about saving time—it’s about reducing the risk of errors and freeing your mind to focus on what really matters: creativity. By using this script, you can:

  • Save Hours of Work: Especially useful for large projects with multiple design files.
  • Ensure Consistency: The script groups and organizes content systematically, ensuring everything is transferred neatly.
  • Reduce Stress: No more worrying about missing content or incorrectly saved files.

Final Thoughts

This script has been a game-changer for my workflow, and I hope it will be for yours too. If you’re regularly managing multiple Illustrator files, this tool can help streamline your process, improve accuracy, and give you more time to focus on design.

If you have any questions or need help customizing the script further, feel free to reach out. Happy designing!

Feel free to share this post with anyone who might benefit from a more efficient Illustrator workflow. And if you try out the script, I’d love to hear how it worked for you in the comments!

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