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Participating Frequently
July 7, 2012
Answered

Bridge's parent application is not active

  • July 7, 2012
  • 14 replies
  • 156400 views

Hi,

I've suddenly come across a problem with Adobe Bridge where it isn't allowing me to open .CR2 files into Camera Raw. When I right click on an image in Bridge, an error message pops up:

"Bridge's parent application is not active. Bridge requires that a qualifying product has been launched at least once to enable this feature."

Originally, I opened Photoshop CS6, then File > Browse in Bridge. I've have opened ACR hundreds of times on this computer so I don't understand why it wants me to open it to be able to use it. I've opened a RAW file from Windows explorer, but when going back to Bridge, the same error occurs.

Does anyone know what the problem is here and how to fix it?

Running Windows 7, Photoshop CS6 64-bit, ACR 7.1, Bridge CS6 64-bit.

Thank you!

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Nikolay Boyukliev

I found an answer that has worked for a lot of people and, more importantly, worked for me in a flickr post by girl_of_tea - http://www.flickr.com/photos/norkabizi/5159300558/

It says

app.box.com/s/kr8t53nudkf14vdweckm

Download the amtlib.dll file in the link above and paste into C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Bridge CS6 (64 Bit) ( replace the old one )


Pygmaeous wrote:

I found an answer that has worked for a lot of people and, more importantly, worked for me in a flickr post by girl_of_tea - http://www.flickr.com/photos/norkabizi/5159300558/

It says

app.box.com/s/kr8t53nudkf14vdweckm

Download the amtlib.dll file in the link above and paste into C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Bridge CS6 (64 Bit) ( replace the old one )

This solutions works for me! Thanks!

14 replies

December 24, 2012

Don't go fooling around with the Amtlib.dll files. Just go to Photoshop/File....... Open As..... Scroll down to the image you require and choose the box with Open As Camera Raw. This works so you don't have to try and solve a problem that has no solution that I can see, apart from reinstalling. This method is easy and takes very little time.

This problem only came to my system after updating Photoshop.

Participating Frequently
December 24, 2012

Interesting that you would say that. I did the "fix" and have never had any

problems and I don't have to do an "open as" as you suggested. The Amtlib

dll fix has permanently solved the problem even with updates. It just got

corrupted somehow with an earlier update.

Participating Frequently
August 15, 2012

If anyone else is still having this problem, I've found a simple solution. Go to the Bridge folder in Program Files. Rename AMTLib.dll to AMTLib.dlx. COPY (I mean copy, don't move) the atmlib.dll file from the Photoshop folder in Program Files to the Bridge folder. Restart Bridge. Problem should be solved!

New Participant
September 5, 2012

Didn't work at all. I simply cannot start Bridge at all. Is there anyplace I can take my computer to have someone fix this?

September 5, 2012

Tim Repp wrote:

Didn't work at all. I simply cannot start Bridge at all. Is there anyplace I can take my computer to have someone fix this?

What OS?  Several users with Mountain Lion OS have found CS2 and possibly CS3 caused Bridge from opening.

July 12, 2012

Synchronization wrote:

. I've have opened ACR hundreds of times on this computer so I don't understand why it wants me to open it to be able to use it. I've opened a RAW file from Windows explorer, but when going back to Bridge, the same error occurs.

You need to think back to what has changed since it worked in ACR.  Did you add any software, hardware, major update in anti-virus, driver, change file loaction in Adobe, etc.

July 7, 2012

If it worked before I would reset preferences.  Hold down Ctrl key and start bridge.  Should get a reset window.

Participating Frequently
July 7, 2012

Thank you for your reply. I've reset the preferences and purge entire thumbnail cache and the error still occurs.

New Participant
July 12, 2012

Hi

I've got the same problem. I updated to CS6 2 days ago and everything was fine until now.

If I double click a Raw file inside Bridge, it opens within Camera Raw.

It won't open a JPG the same way. I get the same error, "Bridge's parent application is not active. Bridge requires that a qualifying product has been launched at least once to enable this feature."  

The only way I've found to open a JPG' in Camera Raw  which is a pain,

is to go into Photoshop,

File,

Open As,

navigate to the image you want to open in Camera Raw,

expand the lower drop down list,

select Camera Raw,

then Open.

The jpg will now open inside Camera Raw.

If anyone has a quicker way then I'd appreciate it

Graham