Notes

So, at the top there's an option called "window" and then select "actions". it's going to give you a new window (either directly on top of everything (which you can move) or on the same area on the "history" tab thingy (aka to ur right). in that specific window, there are a couple of buttons. starting from the left: the square, circle, and triangle are to stop, record, and play a batch recording. after those three are a folder, page, and trash can. The folder is to make a category/set (which I suggest you do and name), and then the page is to create a new batch thingy for that category (make sure you have the right category selected). hit the page and itll ask for you to name it and select the category/set. you can assign it to a function key if you want but that doesn't change anything. once you name it hit "record" this is now when you do what you want the batch to do (so you better name it the same thing as what you want it to do). To make a new clipping mask layer for every single one you do as follows: go to "layer"> "new"> "layer", then select "use previous layer to create clipping mask" (you can set an opacity for this layer if you want btw), and hit ok. afterwards, select the square button from before and you have not created a batch for creating layers (you want to delete the layer you just made btw so that the layers don't stack later). to merge them all you start another recording (after you make a new page thingy and name this one appropriately), and then record and do this: right click a layer, "merge visible", and stop recording. now to run the batches: "file"> "automate">"batch", then select the set and action. source should be "opened files", and destination should be "none", then hit ok and let it do its thing.
btw when you run the one to merge all the layers you *can* select "save and close" as your destination so that you dont have to save afterwards, but thats if you finish completely and are confident in what you made cause after that its just saved and you cant edit it again (or at least bring it back to normal)