Script does not finish - Freezes

[RickInAustralia]

Hi wondering if anyone else has encountered this and has a fix. I have a very simple script that calls a Topaz plugin and a preset in Topaz. Applies the preset to each file selected in the batch and saves the file. It seems to work but at the last file it does not close the Batch dialog box, see image below. I have to kill PSP and re-start it.
PSP Batch Freeze by Rick 191, on Flickr

[JoeB]

The script guru in this forum is LeviFiction, so you'll probably have to wait until he has had a chance to see your post. He will likely need more details and maybe your script to troubleshoot the specific issue.

EDIT: Edited by removing my comment about setting presets in plugins while I do more testing with some plugins.

[JoeB]

Given what you said about having a script that doesn't just call Topaz but also selects a Topaz preset, I have a question. As you'll see from this link to another post here: http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?f=104&t=62662 it has seemed from previous efforts that the only way to get a script to run a plugin in batch mode - or even on an individual basis - with the ability to have it apply a chosen preset is if the plugin always defaults - when opened - to the last used preset as Eye Candy does. Topaz doesn't do that but opens with no preset selected.

However, after reading your post I did some more experiments with Topaz Adjust. I was able to figure out how to record a script while selecting a preset in Topaz and then use that script to apply the effect on other images I opened. I won't go into detail immediately with all the different attempts because it's involved but in the end I could only make the script apply the effect on the same and various other images if I kept PSP open after recording the script AND if I did not open Topaz manually at any time between recording the script and applying it to other images. It was like Topaz and/or PSP retained the previous settings I had made UNTIL I opened Topaz again manually or shut down PSP.

I will say this about my tests: If I record the script and use the Apply button in Topaz and then the OK button then while the effect is immediately applied to the open image the script itself, when subsequently run, will NOT apply any preset. But if I select and adjust the preset and only hit the OK button it both applies the changes to the image and, under the conditions described above, the script will apply the effect to other images also. Also, if I don't first edit the script and remove the Topaz preset settings info from underneath the part of the script that invokes Topaz, trying to run it will often - mostly - crash PSP. So it isn't the settings for the preset that causes Topaz to apply my previous preset which, as I mentioned in the link above, is to be expected because PSP can't properly use that info anyway.

So I am curious as to exactly how your script works to invoke Topaz and then use a specific preset with whatever adjustments you might have made to the preset before applying it to the image. Would you be willing to share the info/script?

[RickInAustralia]

Hi I did some further testing and your right. Even though a dialogue box opens saying Topaz is processing the image it does not actually do anything That's a bummer! Was hoping to speed up post processing but looks like it's a no go. Playing around I did solve the issue of PSP freezing on completion of the batch. I was saving the files back into their original location and name. It seems that PSP does not like this. When I changed this to another Folder the batch completed OK.
It would be great if Corel could fix this as it would be very useful.
I notice in your reply that there is a work around. But it is very limiting, as it's essentially a one off, and would only be useful if you had a large number of images that you wanted to apply the same process to.

Thanks for your help.
Hope some genius can figure out how to do this.

[RickInAustralia]

Did a few more experiments and it seems that the files are saved in a new location but nothing is processed. The file size is marginally different, maybe just due to re-saving.
Don't know Python so I think I'll give this away and resign to having to do this manually.