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Cheryl Graham
Cheryl Graham
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When batching Save for Web, Illustrator also saves copy of .ai file

Oct 25, 2010 1:32 PM

This question was asked and abonadoned here, so I'm posting because it's also happening to me.

 

CS4 & CS5 (I tried both), Mac OS 10.6

 

1. I select the "Save for Web PNG" action, which is part of the default set, and select "Batch."

2. I choose a source folder and choose a destination folder, and check "Override Action 'Save' Commands."

3. Illustrator then performs the Save for Web action, but puts the .png files in the original destination specified in the action. It also puts copies of the .ai files in the destination folder I created and specified in the Batch dialog box.

 

I want the .png files in my folder, and I don't want copies of the .ai files.

 

Pulling my hair out on this one, going to lunch. Thanks in advance for any help

2269 Views   10 Replies   Latest reply: rcraighead, Dec 19, 2012 11:39 AM
 
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  • Teri_P
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    1. Teri_P,
    Oct 28, 2010 2:24 AM   in reply to Cheryl Graham
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    Cheryl,

     

    A priori, I would expect the Action to behave as you want it to, and not as it is happening.

     

    I don't have an authoritative answer for you (I've never worked on the Action interpreter) as to why it isn't working as desired, but as a pure guess, perhaps "Save for Web" does not count as a "Save" command in the sense that the batch Action machinery interprets that word?

     

    Did it work as you expected in CS3, or have you only tried it in the newer versions?

     

    I will try to find out who is currently responsible for the code that executes Actions, and point them to this thread, so that you can get a more informed response.

     
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  • Cheryl Graham
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    2. Cheryl Graham,
    Oct 28, 2010 12:34 PM   in reply to Teri_P
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    perhaps "Save for Web" does not count as a "Save" command in the sense that the batch Action machinery interprets that word?

    Ah, I think that might be it. I tried it with a simple "Save As SVG" action and it worked as expected, news files where I wanted them and no extra .ai copies. On CS3, CS4 and CS5 (the only other version I have on my machine is v.10, which I'm apparently holding onto for sentimental reasons:))

     

     

    This is a shame, because I would think that a batch Save for Web would be really useful. Thanks for your reply and for looking into it.

     
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  • Mike Gondek
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    3. Mike Gondek,
    Oct 28, 2010 12:56 PM   in reply to Teri_P
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    Seems to be coming from the batch command, as the action runs fine as an action on one  file. I made a new action using export to PNG, and the only resulting files were .ai files and no pngs (an even worse result).

     

    Illustrator actions have always been not as stable or advanced as Photoshop, but this is truly disappointing.

     

    Sorry I cannot provide a solution, but noone was answering this post so wanted to chime in with what I found.

     
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  • Kurt Gold
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    4. Kurt Gold,
    Oct 28, 2010 1:14 PM   in reply to Cheryl Graham
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    Cheryl,

     

    can you perhaps post a screenshot that shows the detailed settings in your Batch Process dialog?

     
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  • Cheryl Graham
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    5. Cheryl Graham,
    Oct 28, 2010 1:25 PM   in reply to Kurt Gold
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    Sure, Kurt. But as I said, it works fine with a regular "Save As…" but not with "Save for Web & Devices." The only thing different I'm doing is using another action. The Batch dialog remains the same otherwise.

    batch.png

     
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  • Kurt Gold
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    6. Kurt Gold,
    Oct 28, 2010 1:52 PM   in reply to Cheryl Graham
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    See screenshot below. Should do what you want.

     

    Batch_PNG.jpg

     
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  • Cheryl Graham
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    7. Cheryl Graham,
    Oct 28, 2010 2:23 PM   in reply to Kurt Gold
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    Ah, ok. That worked, for the most part. When I used "Folder" as the destination, my jpegs were saved to that folder, but I also got the .ai copies again. Argh. It was only when I chose "Save and Close" as the destination that I got just the jpegs.

     

    So "Save for Web" is actually a type of export, rather than a save. It's confusing, since the action is called "Save for Web…"  Plus, the batch works — in the original way I set it up — with a regular Save command.

     

    btw, the top section only goes gray when "Save & Close" is selcted (see screen shot). Thanks for your help.

     

    batch2.png

     
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  • rcraighead
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    8. rcraighead,
    Dec 19, 2012 10:49 AM   in reply to Cheryl Graham
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    This thread was helpful. I have related question:

    How do I force the batch action to run without intervention? Right now I have to click "Save" in the "Save for Web" screen, then hit save again, to accept the default name. Kind of defeats the purpose of a "batch action".

     

    Thanks

     
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  • Cheryl Graham
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    9. Cheryl Graham,
    Dec 19, 2012 11:34 AM   in reply to rcraighead
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    In the Actions panel, just to the left of the Action name, there's a little square icon with three dots in it. That means there's a dialog present in the action. If you click to turn those off, it won't stop for those dialogs.

     
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  • rcraighead
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    10. rcraighead,
    Dec 19, 2012 11:39 AM   in reply to Cheryl Graham
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    Thanks so much, Cheryl!

     
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