Actions etc.

[123456789]

A couple of questions here.
I recently tried to figure out how 'Actions' work. I never really needed to learn this before since I don't repeatedly treat multiple images in the same manner, but I thought it might be good to have a few sequences that I do use once in a while.
Anyhow, I noticed that there are some things that 'Actions' wouldn't do and I was wondering if there was a way to get them done. 'Move' was one of them. Are there other things 'Actions' won't do, and can they be forced?
I had to 'Move' because the images I was testing this on were Index's and so I couldn't work straight off the background layer. I had to first open a new document of exactly the same size, then 'Select All', then drag my selection to the new document. It was obviously not perfectly placed within the boundries of the new document which is why I had to 'Move' it. Would there have been a better way?

ps- If there is a step in the middle of an 'Action' sequence which the program cannot do, can you pause the 'Action', do it manually and restart from where you left off, or do you need to do the rest manually?

[swillox]

hi 1-9, Personnaly I very often use actions for simple things like: rotate 90°, crop, save as .eps, mask, convert to cmyk,... due to the lot of images I have to treat for folders print, they all need the same transformation. As far as this it saves me from clicking in the menues and select what I want to do. Further, I couple those actions with the "automate" option (file menu) and apply the script I want to all the open images with a folder destination. It's really faster.

As for the pause, yes it is possible if you disable button mode you'll see all your action steps detailed in the window and you can enable dialog box. Then your action will pause at each step. You can also chose only one step you want to do or redo...

I'm not sure 'bout the move thing

Hope it helps.

[123456789]

Yes, somewhat. Thanks. :)
Automate sounds cool. I need to play with this I think.

[Oddcharacter]

I have a couple actions id love to move towards the top of the chain, i guess theres no way to do this?

oc.............

[burndog]

1-9 in the flyout menu in actions there is a command called "menu insert" it has been a while since I have used actions, but I recall this is what allows the action to stop and wait for a response from you...but I can not remember for sure.

Oc, if you would like to change the order of the automated sequence simply grab and drag like you would a layer to change the order.

[123456789]

Well that helps a lot, thanks bd.
Now, since bd said something about flyouts, I checked them all and in the history flyout there is a line that says 'allow non-linear history'. Does that mean I can undo a step without undoing everything that follows?

[Jaygre]

1-9 - Yes, you will be able to go into your history palette and delete that single item, but I have found that it will not take effect until you close that file and reboot Photoshop. I think you might try and save/close your file then open it again, while PS is still open, but if memory serves, you must close the program and open it again. I know it will not work if you are working on a file, change the linear history option, and continue working. One or both must be started again.

[123456789]

Super, thanks. :)

[swillox]

don't forget to save the action itself or it will be lost when you close...