Is there a script to re-stack objects in illustrator by distance from top left?

Question

This is ideal for the creation of isometric graphics. You can replicate an isometric tile symbol with a graphic in it, like a house or a tree, multiple times, then run the script to re-stack all selected objects (symbols). This is necessary so their overlaps are correct, matching the faux perspective of an isometric game.

I'm sure I used one years ago to create an isometric forest but I can no longer find the script in my files, nor online.

I'm considering writing it myself but if anyone can remember where the script is that would be a lot easier! 🙂

Thank you.

ps- I guess I'd have to use Math.abs to write such a script as the Y-axis in Illustrator is inverted. No idea yet how to get an objects z-index reordered though.

Answer 1

Here is a naive implementation that sorts by each object in selection. It ignores groups and layers. It actually sorts by the furthest point along angle

#target Illustrator

{
    var sel = app.selection;    
    generateComparasion(sel);
    sel.sort(sortByComp);
    stack(sel);
}

//====== Support funcs ==========

function sortByComp(a,b){
     return (a.comp > b.comp) ? -1 : 1    
}

// Rotate object to ange to find its furthest point along axis. then rotate it back
function generateComparasion(sel){
    var angle= 30.0;
    var rotation = app.getRotationMatrix(angle);
    var counter = app.getRotationMatrix(-angle);

    
     var len = sel.length;
    for (var i=0;i<len;i++){
        var item = sel[i];
        item.transform(rotation, true, false, false, false, 1.0, Transformation.DOCUMENTORIGIN );
        item.comp=item.position[1]+ item.height;
        item.transform(counter, true, false, false, false, 1.0, Transformation.DOCUMENTORIGIN );
   }
}

function stack(sel){
     var layer = app.activeDocument.layers[0];
    var len = sel.length;
    for (var i=0;i<len;i++){
        var item = sel[i];
        item.move(layer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING  )
    }   
 }

Answer 2

var docRef = app.activeDocument;
var sel = docRef.selection;
function sortByScore(a,b){
   var scoreA = Math.round(Math.abs(a.top));
   var scoreB = Math.round(Math.abs(b.top));
   return (scoreA-scoreB); }
sel.sort(sortByScore);
function stack(sel){
     var layer = app.activeDocument.layers[0];
     var len = sel.length;
     for (var i=0;i<len;i++){
         var item = sel[i];
         item.move(layer, ElementPlacement.PLACEATBEGINNING);     
     }
 }
 stack(sel);