Editted file name to layer

I have a PSD file called "WEB-MUG-12345" - I am able to use a script to put that name into that same PSD file and use actions to change font, size, placement.

I need to insert asterisks so in my PSD file it will read "*WEB-MUG-12345*". I am not able to insert asterisks like I usually edit text in Photoshop. I cannot have a jpeg layer of asterisks because I need to change the font to a barcode font, and this barcode must be scanned so the asterisks must be as proper text with the "WEB-MUG-12345".

When I used actions to manually insert asterisks, it saved the "12345" whereas I will need to do an automated batch sequence so this number will change with each new file.

This is the script I am currently using.

Many thanks in advance!

// this script is a variation of the script addTimeStamp.js that is installed with PH7

 

if ( documents.length > 0 )

{

    var originalDialogMode = app.displayDialogs;

    app.displayDialogs = DialogModes.ERROR;

    var originalRulerUnits = preferences.rulerUnits;

    preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;

   

    try

    {

        var docRef = activeDocument;

 

        // Now create a text layer at the front

        var myLayerRef = docRef.artLayers.add();

        myLayerRef.kind = LayerKind.TEXT;

        myLayerRef.name = "Filename";

       

        var myTextRef = myLayerRef.textItem;

       

        // strip the extension off

        var fileNameNoExtension = docRef.name;

        fileNameNoExtension = fileNameNoExtension.split( "." );

        if ( fileNameNoExtension.length > 1 ) {

            fileNameNoExtension.length--;

        }

        fileNameNoExtension = fileNameNoExtension.join(".");

           

        myTextRef.contents = fileNameNoExtension;

       

        // Set the position of the text  percentages from left first, then from top

        myTextRef.position = new Array( docRef.width / 2.5, docRef.height / 3.5 );

        myTextRef.size = 15.76;

    }

    catch( e )

    {

        // An error occurred. Restore ruler units, then propagate the error back

        // to the user

        preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;

        app.displayDialogs = originalDialogMode;

        throw e;

    }

 

    // Everything went Ok. Restore ruler units

    preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits;

    app.displayDialogs = originalDialogMode;

}

else

{

    alert( "You must have a document open to add the filename!" );

}

 

Courtesy of Add File Name as Text Layer « Julieanne Kost's Blog