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1. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Gyno-jiz Jun 12, 2009 5:02 PM (in response to Al Ferrari)Intel iMac (10.4.11) and 13" Macbook (10.5.7) CS3 behaving as expected. Maybe it's a PPC thing. You've reset your prefs?
Are you importing PDF/EPS? I've had this problem with these two file types, but not processing TIF/JPG/PSD images.
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2. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jun 12, 2009 6:07 PM (in response to Gyno-jiz)Yes this was for both pdf and eps files from Quark 6.5. I didn't think it might be format specific, which seems odd by itself. I'll try some tiffs, as well as resetting preferences. I'll be back over the weekend.
Thanks for the response.
Al
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3. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Gyno-jiz Jun 12, 2009 6:26 PM (in response to Al Ferrari)Steve G (I think) at Adobe said he'd look into it but never reported back. I haven't found a workaround. I can imagine this being a big pain in the butt...
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4. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jun 14, 2009 7:50 PM (in response to Al Ferrari)I have spent quite a bit of time the last two days working on this on a different G4 than originally used, so I did not deal with the preferences. I worked with actions that had only the opening step because I was convinced that was the source of the problem. Without going into detail, I felt I had made progress understanding the problem, so then I tried moving on to actions with a flattening and a saving step, and found that now I can't get the actions to proceed to flattening and saving after opening.
So I may need to replace the preferences after all. How do I do that on Mac with Tiger? I realize this is the Windows forum, but as I stated earlier, the topic is not getting any responses still on the Mac side. Of course I first want to save them to another location, and I want to preserve the Actions.
Any help apreciated.
Al
EDIT: I figured it out despite Help's vague directions. that did not help. It still only moves beyond opening when the Override is checked, but then it saves them all with the name used to record the action.
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5. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Maglez Jun 17, 2009 4:12 AM (in response to Al Ferrari)Hello Al Ferrari,
I am having the exact same problem with Photoshop CS2 on Windows. It would be great if you drop me an email once you find a solution.
In the meantime, this is my workaround...
- I go back to an old version of Photoshop (6.0) and create an action only for the open command.
- Then a save that action as a atn file.
- Then I import that action into my CS2 actions, and drag and drop that 6.0 open command into the actions set I want to fix, then delete the open command that was giving me problems.
- The open command created by Photoshop 6 doesn't keep the file's name, it is a much simple open command, and so it opens the file with the own file's name.
This works for me but if you find a better solution I will really appreciate you post it here.
Thank you.
Regards,
Miguel Gonzalez.
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6. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jun 17, 2009 9:40 AM (in response to Maglez)Hello Miguel,
I was going to come back to post some of my findings, one of which relates to your staement:
"- The open command created by Photoshop 6 doesn't keep the file's name, it is a much simple open command, and so it opens the file with the own file's name."
In my case I found that my CS version of the "same" action worked, while the CS3 version failed, precisely because the earlier one records less detail for the open step.
My need is to convert dozens of Quark pdf files to GIF and JPEG files for the web. What I found after several days of testing is that it is best to record the opening step in CS3 NOT using a pdf file, so that the "Open As Generic Pdf with 'Name____' " would not be coded into the opening step. Instead I recorded the whole action using a PSD file. Then I can proceed to run it in Batch mode choosing a folder of Quark pdf files as the source location with "Override 'Open' Action Commands" checked, and the "Suppress File Open Options Dialogs" checked, and it opens all the pdf files just fine in some background process, not getting stuck in the details of the file name, and proceeds to cary out the flattening, saving, and closing steps to my chosen target location and uses the finder file name of each pdf files in the source folder to save a filename.ext in the Target folder.
Contrary to what I stated in my original post, "Override 'Open' Action Commands" checked/not checked does indeed make a difference. If it is not checked, the files do open in batch mode, but the other steps are not performed. There is much more about this that I would like to know, and this may not be a general solution for all types of files that a user may wish to process in batch mode, but it works for my case. The main trick is to use as simple an opening step as possible when recording the action, and then letting Photoshop use whatever background process it requires to open a particular file type. I tested this by manually saving a pdf file to each of the twenty some odd formats available in the save as dialog to a Source folder, and then proceeded to batch process that folder with the action described above, and it worked for all except one.
So while there may not be a bug involved in this problem, there certainly is a lack of documentation about how the "improvements" in the opening step in newer versions of Photoshop affect using Actions in Batch mode.
Please comment if you can further explain any of the reported results. In particular, what is the situation in CS4?
Thanks,
Al
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7. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Gyno-jiz Jun 17, 2009 9:47 AM (in response to Al Ferrari)What I found after several days of testing is that it is best to record the opening step in CS3 NOT using a pdf file, so that the "Open As Generic Pdf with 'Name____' " would not be coded into the opening step. Instead I recorded the whole action using a PSD file. Then I can proceed to run it in Batch mode choosing a folder of Quark pdf files as the source location with "Override 'Open' Action Commands" checked, and the "Suppress File Open Options Dialogs" checked, and it opens all the pdf files just fine in some background process,
But doesn't this open the file as 72 ppi previews, without anti-aliasing? Probably fine for web thumbnails, but not much else.
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8. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jun 17, 2009 10:09 AM (in response to Gyno-jiz)Good question J,
I just tested that this way: I manually opened one of the Quark pdf files as a generic pdf at 300 dpi, rgb, then flattened, converted to cmyk, and saved as psd. Then created a new test action as described earlier with an open step that used the test psd file. Then using the test action in batch mode, proceeded to open a folder of four Quark pdf. They all checked as 300 dpi cmyk.
What do your test show?
Thanks,
Al
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9. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Gyno-jiz Jun 17, 2009 10:42 AM (in response to Al Ferrari)In CS3 I get a 72 ppi file with no anti-aliasing, the same as if you didn't record an open step at all. In CS4, it doesn't work at all (with your open step recorded. I'll re-read your posts and report back when I have more time.
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10. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jun 17, 2009 12:06 PM (in response to Gyno-jiz)J,
Note that I made sure that my recording step was using a hi res psd.
EDIT: Are you using a "simple" open step when you record your action? This is critical, see my response to Miguel.
Al
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11. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jun 18, 2009 12:13 AM (in response to Al Ferrari)As a follow up, I did a similar test action, but this time I first manually opened another of the Quark pdfs as a generic pdf, at 72 dpi (instead of 300) RGB, and flattened it and converted it to CMYK and saved it as a psd (note it is low res). As a separate step I manually opened another of the Quark pdfs as a generic pdf, at 72 dpi in CMYK, and closed without saving (see why below).
Then I recorded a new Test Action 2 with a simple open step using the new low res psd. I then used this new Test Action 2 in batch mode to process the same folder containing the 4 Quark pdf files as before with the "Override 'Open' Action Commands" checked, and these opened without issue to produce four 72 dpi CMYK files.
It seems fair to say that the resolution of the file used in recording the action, becomes a background parameter in some fashion, and is used when the action is played back in batch mode. But this is not true for the color mode, which is why I performed the separate manual step of opening another of the Quark pdfs as a generic pdf, at 72 dpi in CMYK mode. I initially tried the batch mode for Test Action 2 before performing this separate "mode setting step", and obtained low res RGB files.
In summary, the resolution used by the open step when used in batch mode seems determined by the file used to record the action initially, and the color mode used, in the case of pdf files, is the one used the last time the generic pdf opening dialog was used.
Al
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12. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
DavidCardillo Jul 9, 2009 6:00 PM (in response to Al Ferrari)I followed what was suggested here, where the solution was creating an action in the CS (or older) version, and it seems that's the answer. (albeit not for anyone without an older version)
Like everyone, I was perplexed that Photoshop applied the same file name (the one when the action was created) to all the saved JPEGs, no matter if "override action save dialog" was checked or not. (I was using CS2.) The earlier version doesn't record the file name as part of the Open command.
Better, part of my action was cropping the PDF to the trim marks, and it appears that the CS version does this "intuitively" (i.e. wrong).
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13. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jul 9, 2009 9:52 PM (in response to DavidCardillo)David,
If you carefully read my posts in this thread you will see that I did succeed in using PSCS3 to batch process a folder full of files that were automatically saved to the destination folder with their original individual finder file names. The trick was to record the action using an opening step for a file type that does not involve the file name of the source file. I used open as psd in recording the action. Later when using the action in batch mode, I targeted a folder of pdf files. Try that with your jpg files and see if it works in your case without having to resort to an earlier version.
Al
EDIT: Note that although this is posted in the Windows forum, my work was conducted on a mac with 10.4.11. That may or may not affect whether it works for you.
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14. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
DavidCardillo Jul 10, 2009 7:57 AM (in response to Al Ferrari)Thanks, Al. that was the first thing I tried. I don't know if it's because
I'm using CS2 or I did something else wrong (recorded the action with a psd
file, but then got "invalid file type" or something when I ran it on pdf's)
but it didn't work for me. Maybe because it needs a size, resolution and
color space to render the pdf. Recording it in CS did.
- dc
Save a tree - do you need to print this out?
From: Al Ferrari <forums@adobe.com>
Reply-To: <clearspace-1775846237-463700-2-2097826@mail.forums.adobe.com>
Date: Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:41:59 -0600
To: David Cardillo <>
Subject: Photoshop Windows Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
David,
If you carefully read my posts in this thread you will see that I did succeed
in using PSCS3 to batch process a folder full of files that were automatically
saved to the destination folder with their original individual finder file
names. The trick was to record the action using an opening step for a file
type that does not involve the file name of the source file. I used open as
psd in recording the action. Later when using the action in batch mode, I
targeted a folder of pdf files. Try that with your jpg files and see if it
works in your case without having to resort to an earlier version.
Al
>
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15. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Al Ferrari Jul 10, 2009 8:05 AM (in response to DavidCardillo)David,
I think the reason you are getting that error message may be that you have not used the CS2 version before to simply open a pdf file in manual mode.
In any case, try first opening just one of your pdfs in PSCS2 in manual mode with the settings you would use if you were going to work with just this one file. Then close it without saving; it's purpose was just to populate the input fields in that Open As PDF command.
Now record your Action with an Open step for opening a psd file (use some other psd file you have) and add the processing and closing steps you need. Finally, try the new action in batch mode on a folder of 4 pdf files. Does that work?
Al
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16. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
bobzilla63 Jan 27, 2010 6:55 AM (in response to Al Ferrari)I just spent hours trying to get a Batch Action to work that also invloves PDFs. Wonder if it's PDF files that are causing the problem?
The Action works fine, but Batching it causes all sorts of problems. I'm also on a Mac 10.5.8 Intel iMac. PSCS4.
Some of my "results" trying to configuring the Batch Action:
one way kept leaving all the files opened and didn't run through the entire Action
one would keep doing the same file over and over (at least that's what it looked like) where the destination folder only had one image done though it looked like it went through the whole folder
I would get a "no source file available" or something like that
I tried ever possible combination of on/off with the open and save options in the batch. I tried not recording an open or a save, or one of the other.
This HAS to be some kind of bug that needs to be fixed. I find every time I try to use PS Actions and Batching to save time it takes MORE time.
Well, that's my rant. I will try the last method suggested and see what happens.
Bob
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17. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Gyno-jiz Jan 27, 2010 7:15 AM (in response to bobzilla63)Bob:
I never got Al's method to work, but a fine workaround is to run two batches: one to open at one time all the PDF/EPS in the correct colorspace and resolution, and another batch run on those open images to save and close them as the correct file format.
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18. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
bobzilla63 Jan 27, 2010 7:35 AM (in response to Gyno-jiz)How did you set up two batches, or did you just do one and then set it up again and do the next?
We would have to do this on an entire book, which would leave more files open in PS than my machine could handle. I guess I'd have to do it in sections if I couldn't get the Batches to run in succession.
This is maddening! I wonder what the problem is? Has to be a bug in the Batch process or something.
Thanks for the tip!
Bob
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19. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Gyno-jiz Jan 27, 2010 8:10 AM (in response to bobzilla63)I think it has to do with how the PDFs are interpreted in CS4, which has been mention by PS engineers here. I'm not sure if it's a bug, or just an inadvertent / unavoidable consequence.
Yes, open all the images to PS with one batch. Then save them out as another. Your machine will slow down as more images open, so you might have to do it in batches of batches. You might try PMing Al Ferrari and get better pointers. If what he posts is true, it would definitely save you time on a slow machine.
I just don't do a lot of rasterizing of files, so my workaround was more of a curiosity thing. I first stumbled upon trying to create a droplet and have given up that dream.
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20. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
bobzilla63 Jan 27, 2010 8:20 AM (in response to Gyno-jiz)Thanks. I got it to work with the "two batch" method, but yes, I'll have to do it in small groups.
I DO have CS, I guess I can try that, but those on newer machines won't have it, so I doubt that's going to be a final solution.
Also go it to rename when saving which was alos another problem I was having.
If this "automation" is so hard I can imagine what scripting is like!
Thanks again...
Bob
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21. Re: Photoshop CS3 Actions Batch mode bug?
Paul Riggott Jan 27, 2010 10:22 AM (in response to bobzilla63)If you are having problems with batch processing PDF's you might like to try my PDF Processor..
http://ps-scripts.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=1882
The last one will work with CS2 or better.


