Browse = "No Files Found" ..? (Steam Folder)

[Troy at TheGTAMblog]

I love using PaintShop Pro but I've mainly been right-clicking on Images from Windows Explorer and Opening With (PSPro) for a long time - I haven't utilized BROWSE in a loooong time... At one time though, it worked well.

Recently, I went to use Browse and it wouldn't show any Images that are in the Folders. I tried Adding the Folder (in the Folder Tree in PSPro), I tried navigating to the folders in the Computer section (of the Folder Tree) but nothing seems to bring up the images in the folder.

Is there a limit in PaintShop Pro, to how many images can be in a folder and be recognized? [The folder I am trying to open has over 1000+ images!]

- I have waited up to 15 minutes, in case it was a caching/loading issue
- I tried relaunching PSPro as Administrator, in case it was an access permissions issue
- I tried restarting the PC, in case I was doing too much previously to opening the folder

The images are seen in Windows Explorer and if I right-click on the Folder Tree in PsPRo and "Open location on computer", it opens Explorer and shows all the images in there - so they are there, heh.

I'm sure it worked at one time so... I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas what might cause this, or what I can try to get it working again?
Thanks!

Paint Shop Pro 2019 Ultimate (64-bit)
Version 21.1.0.22

[Attaching screenshot of folder with no images showing in PSPro, behind the branding ident is the phrase "No Files Found"]

Edit:
I am adding the name "Steam Folder" to the title, as it appears this problem only exists with folders that the game client software "Steam" uses to take/hold screenshot images from games.
It is a popular gaming client, handling games, selling and running them since 2003; and it saves screenshots taken within the games in subfolders of the client (part of Program FIles x86).
I am not sure if this will help someone think/know what the issue may be, but
This Issue Only Occurs with Steam Folders and Screenshots Taken by the Steam software Client

Thanks for any ideas, still!

[JoeB]

In what format does that program save the screenshots?

[Troy at TheGTAMblog]

In what format does that program save the screenshots?

Hello Joe,

It just saves it in JPG (JPEG) format. Looking at the images in PSPro it says RGB 8bits/channel [sorry I don't know enough about graphics to know what that means, heh]

I can open the screenshots one-at-a-time in PsPRo too - it's just the Browse that won't look into the Folder...

Thanks

[hartpaul]

Can you try making a new open folded "Test " on your desktop and then use windows explorer to open your steam folder and copy files into that Test folder .
Then use PSP to navigate to that Test folder on your desktop and see if they show there. You might also put a few other non steam jpgs into that test folder as well.

[Troy at TheGTAMblog]

Can you try making a new open folded "Test " on your desktop and then use windows explorer to open your steam folder and copy files into that Test folder .
Then use PSP to navigate to that Test folder on your desktop and see if they show there. You might also put a few other non steam jpgs into that test folder as well.

Great idea!

I created a folder on the Desktop and PsPro was able to show both the Steam-created Screenshots and some other JPGs!

Is there an Account or ID that I can assign some Permissions to PsPro (for the Security/Permissions of the Steam Folders in Windows)?
I tried running PSPro as Administrator but that didn't seem to help...

Edit:
I also tried to open just a random "game screenshots" Folder I had in another location/directory (eg. F:/Games/Screenshots) and PsPro could Browse that one just fine - it had about 900 Images.
I might try another, larger folder once I find one (with 10k+ images, to see if that has anything to do with it).
It does seem to be only those Steam-created folders, however.

Thanks for the asisstance!

[hartpaul]

Just some fun detective work to eliminate what may be causing the problems.
1. Now can you Make another folder on the desktop with the same name as as steam folder that is causing problems and copy some bad folder steam items to the desktop steam named folder and see if PSP can see them there.
then if that works OK
2. Delete the desktop folder witnh the steam name. Copy the whole steam folder to the desktop and see if PSP can find the images.
and if that works
3. Again delete the desktop steam folder copy and then Move the Steam folder to the desktop and see if PSP can see images in that new location. Be careful now as that folder is the only copy you may have - would be better if you can make a couple of copies in separate locations - external drive, USB stick , different folder.
4. Name a new folder in the original location with the same name as the steam folder and copy some images from the original steam folder (now moved to the desktop). See if PSP can see the images in a copy of the folder in its original location . This would help to determine if it is that folder or something above it in the folder tree. Also check if new captures can go into that folder or won't the capture process use the same or a past folder and creates a new folder with each session.

[Troy at TheGTAMblog]

Just some fun detective work to eliminate what may be causing the problems.
1. Now can you Make another folder on the desktop with the same name as as steam folder that is causing problems and copy some bad folder steam items to the desktop steam named folder and see if PSP can see them there.
then if that works OK
2. Delete the desktop folder witnh the steam name. Copy the whole steam folder to the desktop and see if PSP can find the images.
and if that works
3. Again delete the desktop steam folder copy and then Move the Steam folder to the desktop and see if PSP can see images in that new location. Be careful now as that folder is the only copy you may have - would be better if you can make a couple of copies in separate locations - external drive, USB stick , different folder.
4. Name a new folder in the original location with the same name as the steam folder and copy some images from the original steam folder (now moved to the desktop). See if PSP can see the images in a copy of the folder in its original location . This would help to determine if it is that folder or something above it in the folder tree. Also check if new captures can go into that folder or won't the capture process use the same or a past folder and creates a new folder with each session.

Thank you very much for all these directions to try

However, I believe I have found what the issue is and why Paintshop Pro is not able to BROWSE the Steam Screenshot Folders...

I will return in a moment to post my solution - hopefully it can help others use PSPro with Steam, too

[Troy at TheGTAMblog]

After playing around with both Steam and PaintShop Pro, I believe I have found what the issue was, where PaintShop Pro was not able to see the Screenshots when trying to Browse within PsPro... I will include a large collage/screenshot showing what I found and how to change it:

[It looks a little busy/crazy - and had to be shrunk down to comply with Upload Restrictions - so I will explain, heh]

In PaintShop Pro, there are some Exclusions that were already in the program (built-in, on install) that, while helpful, interfered with where Steam keeps game Screenshots.
These are located in:
File > Preferences > General Program Preferences
In the Manage category, Excluded Items section, there is a button for Uncataloged Folders.
[These folders are not utilized by PsPro, and while I'm not sure why, I assume it is because they are large System Folders and may result in duplicates or 'garbage' images being read, taking up time and space for Thumbnails]

In these Uncataloged Folders, I found
C:\Program Files
and Steam is installed (by Default) to
C:\Program Files (x86)

It appears that PsPro thinks that "Program Files (x86)" is part of, or is, "Program Files" - so it excludes that from use; thus, it is not possible to BROWSE those folders with PsPro.

Removing the "C:\Program FIles" from the Uncataloged Folders, I tried to open a game's Screenshots Folder (where Steam normally keeps them still) with BROWSE in PsPro...
It worked!

That was it then, it appears removing that Folder from that category is all that needs to be done and Paintshop Pro can then Browse and Catalogue (Thumbnail) those Folders. In the Screen Capture I am attaching, there is an open Steam Screenshots Folder in the background, showing that it indeed now works with PsPro. Perhaps this can be removed from future versions of PsPro..? [Perhaps it is too important (to exclude this system folder) I am not sure of why it is being excluded from use..]

Hopefully this can help others that want to use Paintshop Pro with Steam to share their Screenshots, too

[Thanks anyway for all the assistance, everyone!]

[jayson1945]

good detective work. Not all of us have the persistence and determination to find solution to problems and just give up (I'm talking about me! )

[hartpaul]

Just a thought , Is it possible to adjust a setting in Steam so that the jpgs are saved in thge Documents folder or anywhere outside the Program Files folders. That way PSP will be able to access the images.
I suggest that because there are a lot of different type files that are stored in program files when programs are installed. We have already seen cases where certain types of pdf files that were included in a folder with jpgs caused PSP to crash. So it may be that somewhere in the future some od file included with a program could cause a crash of PSP.

[patara]

I use Steam and I changed my Screenshot folder so it was out of the C Drive system files.

The steps:
Open Steam Software and click on “View” and then “Settings”
In the Dialog window that opens click on “In-Game”
On the right, is an option “Screenshot Folder”. It is below the screenshot shortcut key option.
Click on “Screenshot Folder” and select or create a new folder where you want to save then click on “Select” and then click on “Ok”.
I made a new folder called Steam Screenshots in My Pictures folder.

[Troy at TheGTAMblog]

good detective work. Not all of us have the persistence and determination to find solution to problems and just give up (I'm talking about me! )

Heh, thanks - partly I wanted to find out because I like using Paint Shop Pro and it worked before without issues, so the other part was curiosity wouldn't let me stop until I found out what it was...

Just a thought , Is it possible to adjust a setting in Steam so that the jpgs are saved in thge Documents folder or anywhere outside the Program Files folders. That way PSP will be able to access the images.
I suggest that because there are a lot of different type files that are stored in program files when programs are installed. We have already seen cases where certain types of pdf files that were included in a folder with jpgs caused PSP to crash. So it may be that somewhere in the future some od file included with a program could cause a crash of PSP.

This is a great idea; that way, people wouldn't have to mess around in PSPro's Preferences. I'm sure many people change their Default Screenshot folder...

I use Steam and I changed my Screenshot folder so it was out of the C Drive system files.

The steps:
Open Steam Software and click on “View” and then “Settings”
In the Dialog window that opens click on “In-Game”
On the right, is an option “Screenshot Folder”. It is below the screenshot shortcut key option.
Click on “Screenshot Folder” and select or create a new folder where you want to save then click on “Select” and then click on “Ok”.
I made a new folder called Steam Screenshots in My Pictures folder.

Nice, thanks for sharing the Steps - did it work and PaintShop Pro can open them without issue? [I haven't had a chance to try that yet]

[patara]

Yes it works.
If I use the Organizer when in the Edit Tab of PSP I can see and open the images.

One important thing I did forget, sorry.

In the Steam settings you must select Save an uncompressed copy. The option is underneath where you set the Screenshot folder.
If that is not selected, it will only save to the default ProgramFiles (x86) folder.
Even with adding ones own screenshot folder, Steam will also save a copy in the default folder, i.e. it saves in both places.
In the ProgramFiles (x86) folder it saves the thumbnail and the jpg file and in the user screenshot folder it saves a png file.

The only way I know of getting around that would be to set up a symbolic junction link for the Screenshot folder.
That tricks the program into thinking the folder in your own User files is actually the default screenshot folder.

I just tested that and it worked.
I set up the junction link with a Command Prompt.
I took a Steam screenshot. It saved the thumbnail and full sized jpg and png image into the linked folder on E Drive. No images were saved in Program Files (x86) folder. PSP was still able to access the images when I selected the Screenshot folder on my E Drive.