PSP X5 batch process driving me nuts

[jsabol]

I need help!!!!!!!! First off let me say I am coming from a long history of using Photoshop so maybe I am expecting that things with the same name in both programs should do relatively the same things. That being said here's my issue.

I have several RAW files that I am editing - crop, resize, one step photo fix- no problems. It comes time to save the edited files as new renamed jpegs. I want to use the batch process for this - after all that's what I was using in Photoshop.

Issues: 1. only one or sometimes none of the open images show in the "Files to process" box.

2. when I do get the files in the box and choose my options - New Type, JPEG, rename, and file folder- then run every thing looks like it goes smoothly, no errors. He come the 'BUT'...But back in the edit window the files have not changed and when I go to the folder I saved to the files are there, renamed, reformatted to JPEG, but none of the edits I made are there.

I have been trying to find an answer. Read help files, looked up in the only book I could find for x5, watched tutorials....nada, nothing I found was helpful. Am I asking to much of the batch process and need to use save as for every file???? or am I missing something.

Please Help!!!!

[LeviFiction]

Batch process does not work on currently opened images. In fact it bypasses the main workspace. So when you perform the rename it's working on the original files only. So unless you've saved those files, yes those edits will not be there.

[hartpaul]

When you have finished your edits and want to preserve them with minimal loss you could save them as Tif s then use the batch rename on that folder of images to rename, convert to jpgs.

[jsabol]

Thanks LeviFiction and hartpaul for the info. At least I know now that I am not loosing my mind. Although, I wish the issue was some form of human error because it sounds like edit many images will take forever - edit, save, repeat, resave all when done. I just found an item for PSP x6 wishlist.

[LeviFiction]

Well, this is where scripting might come in handy. It's possible to create a smart script that once you've made all of your edits inside of PSP can go through all open documents and do a force SaveAs using the same filename and whatever extension you want.

If all of your images required the exact same editing, which obviously there are variations in cropping and such, it would be very easy to create a script that would do all of the edits in a batch process since batch processing does allow for the use of scripts to be applied to images.

But for just saving all currently opened images with minimal input from you. That's very do-able. All depends on what you're hoping to do with it. I mean setting the JPG settings obviously. But do you use patterns for the new names or do you only change the format extension?

[jsabol]

Most of the time I just change file type or create a simple file name such as 'birthday_(sequence#).jpeg. I would like to learn more about script creation. I process is pretty routine: color correct, crop, resize for printing and save. I usually work on several files at once so if I could come up with a script to handle the save routine that would be great. Any suggestions for gaining this knowledge?

[LeviFiction]

I'll see if I can't whip up a quick save script to help. There probably already is one, wouldn't doubt it, I just don't know where it would be.

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Most people when they get started in scripting they just use PSP's built in recorder. It records steps and lets you play back those steps quickly on a single image. Or, if you use the Batch Process command, over all of the images in a batch.

To do this start by revealing the Script Toolbar. View -> Toolbars -> Script.

You'll see a drop down box with all of the scripts that come pre-installed with PSP. If you select one and hit the Blue Play button it'll run the script for you.

If you hit the Red Record button it'll record all of your actions. Then when you click on the "Save" button it'll let you give the script a name. And you can select it from the drop-down.

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Now for more intelligent scripts, such as those that will read all of the documents currently open inside PSP and perform actions on them. That's where manually programming will come into play. And we have complete sources for all of the commands, and how they work.

So to start out

PSP scripting is all based on the Python 2.6 language. So I would start there to help you get the basics. Python has great documentation all on its own over at Python.org

CodeAcademy.com has some interactive Python programming tutorials.

Once you have the basics down you can download the "Scripting for Script Authors" PDF.(right-click to save) This includes information on How PSP scripts are organized, as well as topics such as selecting layers, selecting documents, how to call commands, and so on.

Josephlin from Corel recently posted the following link that lists all of the available commands inside of PSP. PSPX5 Scripting API

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SuzShook, a user here on the forums, and an excellent programmer, has a website called Suz's Place with lots of excellent scripts for download. And reference to help learn more.

Suz's Place

[jsabol]

Thanks levi!!!!!!!! You have been very helpful.

[LeviFiction]

Okay, this quickly got ridiculous. XD

This script is very simple. Unzip it and place the PSPScript file into your Scripts-Trusted folder. This is traditionally found in C:\Users\YourUserName\Documents\Corel PaintShop Pro\15.0\Scripts-trusted.

If it's not there you can find out where it is by opening PSP and going to File -> Preferences -> File Locations.

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When you run this script it'll ask you for a filename pattern. If you only want to use the exact same filename that the file came with just enter "{name}" and the script will do the rest.

You have two options. {name} - Original File Name and {seq} which will add a sequence number to the filename. You can place these anywhere in the name that you would like. For example

birthday_{seq} - Will produce filenames like birthday_0.jpg, birthday_1.jpg, birthday_2.jpg etc.

Keep in mind if you do {seq}_birthday_{seq} it'll produce 0_birthday_0.jpg, 1_birthday_1.jpg, 2_birthday_2.jpg, etc.

So you can put any text that you want to in this box.

If a file by that name already exists it'll ask you if you want to overwrite it. Be careful with this, make sure to say no when you're not sure. It'll finish the rest of the images leaving th one you said "no" on alone.

And that's it. It's not the best but I tried my best to account for as many variations as I could.

[jsabol]

Levi, the script sounds great I can't wait to try it out. I will be sure to let you know. Thanks again for hooking me up!!!!

[jsabol]

Levi, Finally got a chance to try your script and I LOVE IT. Thanks so much, it has helped me huge. I have two questions.
1. I did not know where the files were saved to at first and then I found them saved to desktop, but they don't show on the desktop. Reason?
2. Is there a way to change the save to folder?
Please don't misunderstand I am not looking a gift horse in the mouth with these questions, I am very happy with the script.

[LeviFiction]

The files should save to the same location as the original image, unless you're working on a new image or duplicate. Then it saves to the last save location.

It is a bit wonky, I agree. I have some code around here somewhere for defining a folder. I'll see if I can't find it.