PSP X4: workspace auto-loads unwanted image

[fred_dot_u]

I've searched the forums with a variety of terms, mostly ambiguous, which results in far too many to read in one sitting, or perhaps in one lifetime, so I hope this is not an inappropriate post.

I can open PSP X4 and edit and process images as desired. My workspace opens to Edit, as I've located that menu selection. I do not have any saved workspace configurations/files. Based on what I've read in the few hundred messages so far, I'd like to avoid a full reset of the program defaults, but if that's the only option, so it goes.

What is happening is that in as-yet undetermined situations, I get an automatic load of an old image. I've been able to recognize that the image that happens to load is the first one in the tray on the Manage tab. I don't use the Manage tab at all and only ventured over there as part of the preliminary diagnostic process to posting this message. Once I discovered that, I renamed the image in the tray and the sequence repeated with the next image in the tray, which repositioned itself to the first location.

I can "force" an auto-load in the edit window simply by starting with an empty edit window, clicking on the Manage tab and then back to the edit window. The first image in the tray magically appears. This magic also happens when I've closed another image that's been loaded. Of course, now that I'm posting this, I can't make it happen other than in the manner described above.

I'd like to have it so when I close the image in the edit window that I'm left with a blank edit window on a consistent basis. If I can determine how the image auto-loads in a manner different than described above, I'll add it here.

fred

[Forriner]

I don't know if it's standard or a bug, but my X4 also opens an image if it's 'selected' in the Manager when I move to the Editor tab. The selection is either the first image in the active Manage folder, or a thumbnail you click on. It doesn't open an image if I select an empty folder in the Manager before switching back to Edit.
That might be a workaround for you: select an empty folder in the Manager. It doesn't explain the problem or really solve it, but it might reduce the irritation of spontaneous image openings.

[fred_dot_u]

As work-arounds go, that's a great answer. I've just selected Computer in the Manage window and picked a folder containing no images. Nothing appears in the edit window when I switch over and when I restarted the program, all is clean.

Thanks for a good solution.

[MarkZ]

What you experience is how PSP is set up and I also find it annoying. If I happen to go to Manage, which is handy to look at a selection of thumbs, the way I handle it is to click in the "margin" outside of the thumbs to deselect all thumbs. The preview disappears. Now when you select edit no files are brought over for editing.

[fred_dot_u]

I liked the idea of de-selecting the selected image. A control-click also de-selects, but unfortunately, when the program is restarted, the first image in the folder is once again selected. I was hopeful, but it appears that the best answer thus far is to select a folder containing no valid images.