Plugin installation

[seebee]

I am looking for any troubleshooting tips on why a plugin would not operate. I am trialling Topaz BW effects with PSPx4. It will work on an older computer with PSPx4.
The plugin that came with x4 works (Nik color effex). File locations is set correctly. I have uninstalled PSPx4 as per the recommended procedure (doing this any more may jeopardise the licensing limitation, which I believe is about 5 installs).
Is there more than simply file location that can affect the plugin from working?

[OldRadioGuy]

I am looking for any troubleshooting tips on why a plugin would not operate. I am trialling Topaz BW effects with PSPx4. It will work on an older computer with PSPx4.
The plugin that came with x4 works (Nik color effex). File locations is set correctly. I have uninstalled PSPx4 as per the recommended procedure (doing this any more may jeopardise the licensing limitation, which I believe is about 5 installs).
Is there more than simply file location that can affect the plugin from working?

seebee, Topaz B&W Effects is about the only Topaz Labs plugin I don't have installed, and all the others work for me in PSPX4.

Here are some things to consider:

1. The Nik Color Efx 3 plugin is installed in the PSPX4 plugin folder, as I recall. That would not be the default location of the Topaz Labs filters.
2. Verify again that you've pointed to the Topaz installation folder in PSPX4. The default install is a different location:

File ->Preferences -> File Locations -> Plug-ins -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Topaz Labs (and check Subfolders) (You could actually drill down to the B&W directory and add it, but checking the subfolder box takes care of that and eiminates the need to add another path to plugins should you install a second Topaz Labs filter.)

If that path is not shown in the PSPX4 plugin locations, then that's the problem.

If that does not solve the problem, do you have another third-party filter installed to run on PSPX4? Does it work?

Have you followed the filter installation procedures listed at the Topaz Labs website? http://www.topazlabs.com/setup/ ? There is a specific link to PaintShop Pro there.

I hope that helps.

Bob

[seebee]

Hmm, thanks Bob. I've got to say that I can check with everything that you mention. It seems to me that plugins are pretty basic, in that they either switch on or off. I am guessing that their installation doesn't involve much in the way of Registry settings. As I say, I have actually got it (BW effects)working on a spare computer. Yes, I do have the Nik plugin working on PSPx4. Topazlabs don't seem to be able to assist. Do you think that there could be any settings in PSPx4 that I should be looking at? I'm stumped. I saw on a plugin discussion board that a similar problem was fixed with a missing msvcrt10.dll file in windows system. No luck there either.

[OldRadioGuy]

Hmm, thanks Bob. I've got to say that I can check with everything that you mention. It seems to me that plugins are pretty basic, in that they either switch on or off. I am guessing that their installation doesn't involve much in the way of Registry settings. As I say, I have actually got it (BW effects)working on a spare computer. Yes, I do have the Nik plugin working on PSPx4. Topazlabs don't seem to be able to assist. Do you think that there could be any settings in PSPx4 that I should be looking at? I'm stumped. I saw on a plugin discussion board that a similar problem was fixed with a missing msvcrt10.dll file in windows system. No luck there either.

So, you're saying you have verified the path to the Topaz plugin is correct in PSPX4 preferences? Yes?

Testing with the Nik plugin is not what I meant by another third-party plugin because it is installed when you install PSPX4 Ultimate. If you have another third-party plugin installed, and it's running properly, that would suggest to look at something about the Topaz installation. If you don't have one installed, a good, free plugin for photographic images is Virtual Photographer at http://www.optikvervelabs.com/. It's old but will run in the 32-bit PSPX4. Install it and determine if it runs correctly.

Some of the earlier 8bf plugins were very basic and consisted of only the 8bf file. Some of those required the msvcrt10.dll file to run. The Topaz Labs plugins are among a newer group of "automated" plugins that allow you to save settings within the plugin and then recall those later on another image file or in an action in a batch file. They don't require the msvcrt10.dll file.

You didn't mention the operating system on the older computer. Is is Windows 7 or XP?

Bob

[seebee]

Hi Bob,
I downloaded the optikvervelabs plugin, which worked. Downloading another Topzlabs plugin also didn't work, so I'll aim my questions back at the helpful guy from Topaz. THe spare computer is also Windows 7 64 bit

[teknisyan]

Ok, I was able to install the trial version of Topaz BW effects and was able to use it on my Windows 7 home premium (64-bit). So here what I did and I did not even need to input the trial key.

I followed the installation process indicated here http://www.topazlabs.com/setup/
After installing the plugin, I then followed the steps provided by OldRadioGuy

File ->Preferences -> File Locations -> Plug-ins -> C:\Program Files (x86)\Topaz Labs (and check Subfolders) (You could actually drill down to the B&W directory and add it, but checking the subfolder box takes care of that and eiminates the need to add another path to plugins should you install a second Topaz Labs filter.)

I not sure if the problem still persists then the most logical reason why the plugin is not installing on your computer is that there is a software conflicting with the plugin on your newer computer.

[pdxrjt]

Well, as an aside, I have all of the Topaz filters working just fine in PSPX4. They are all in the default install location. I am not sure what might be messing up your use of them. As an aside, it is good to know the the NIK filter that came with some versions of X4 is NOT the filter sold by the NIK. It is a filter specifically developed for Corel. Both NIK and Corel have let me know there is no support for the purchased NIK filters in PSP. Now, some people say they work fine on their system and about half of the NIK filters work on mine. Just so you know. If you are having trouble with the Topaz plugs, can you open it using their free "fusion express" plug in? I don't need that to open them in X4, but that may help.

[patara]

I have all the Topaz filters installed on my Win7 64 bit and they all work in all my PSP versions. I leave the install path as the default in the Programs Folder and direct PSP to look in there for the files.

[seebee]

THank you kindly for your thoughts everyone. I have contacted Topazlabs (who have been very helpful). I believe there to be an issue with the computer, as I do have the plugins working on another computer.I will update this post should there be any success.

[pdxrjt]

Good luck. It is very frustrating when programs don't play nice.