Unable to load action while an action is running?

Question

I've got a script that loads an action into the actions palette:

app.load(new File('/path/to/action.atn'))

Works fine when I run it through ExtendScript Toolkit and target Photoshop CC. However, if I actually run the script through an action (so, record an action of myself opening the script and then running that action) , it does nothing. Why is that? The script works fine if I just open it by going to File -> Scripts -> Browse. I have the 2015.0.0 version of Photoshop.

Edit: I've tested it on a computer with the 2015.5.0 version of Photoshop and it works when opening through an action. Is there a reason it doesn't work on the older version?

xbytor2 · Accepted Answer

The only way I have been able to load an action file from a script and use it in the same script is by using BridgeTalk.

function btExec(code, btapp) {
if (!btapp) { btapp = BridgeTalk.appSpecifier; }

BridgeTalk.bringToFront(btapp);

var bt = new BridgeTalk();
bt.target = btapp;
bt.body = code;
bt.send();
};

function loadActionFile(file) {

btExec('app.load(new File("' + file.absoluteURI + '"));');

};

The reason that this works is because it fires up a new PS/JS interpreter in a separate app thread to hand the BridgeTalk message. If I needed to call the action immediately, I'd have to do a $.sleep() call to handle the race condition.

You might be able to add an ActionStep to call script that uses this technique. I don't recall if I've ever tried it, but it may be you're only solution if Mikaeru's doesn't work.

Anonymous · Answer

The following function made of AM code used to be equivalent to app.load:

function loadFile (file)
{
	var descriptor = new ActionDescriptor ();
	descriptor.putPath (app.stringIDToTypeID ("target"), file);
	app.executeAction (app.stringIDToTypeID ("open"), descriptor);
}

so you may want to try it instead, but it may not work either:

loadFile (new File ('/path/to/action.atn'))

HTH,

--Mikaeru

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