Action edits not saving to .atn file

[Rachel528]

Hi everyone! We created a Photoshop action a while ago and have been using it since then. I recently wanted to edit some of the steps of the action which I was able to do, but it doesn't seem to be editing the .atn file located in Photoshop > Presets > Actions (where the file was loaded from). Do you know why? Does it save somewhere else? I tried clicking the edited action and selecting "Save Actions" but I get this error:

"Could not save the actions because the file is locked, you do not have necessary access permissions, or another program is using the file. Use the ‘Get Info’ command in the Finder to ensure the file is unlocked and you have permission to access the file. If the problem persists, save the document to a different file or duplicate it in the Finder."

I did go into Get Info and the file isn't locked. I tried duplicating the action and naming it something very specific and then searching for that name on my laptop, but it's nowhere to be found.

Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance 🙂 

(I'm on a Mac)

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

@Rachel528 

Actions need to be in an Action set (folder). They can't exist on their own. The folder (the .atn file) can actually be stored anywhere, but by default it goes in Presets.

It's impossible to know your situation without knowing (or seeing) more, but try this:

• In the Actions panel, create a new folder (Action Set) and name it.
• Move or Copy the action into the new set (drag or option+drag)
• Select the set (folder), not the action, and choose Save from the panel menu
• If you can't save to the Actions folder in Presets, choose another folder, such as desktop
  (for now —you can move it if it works)

Did you create the action or did you buy it? 

Did you check Permissions for the Presets folder?

These are the first things to try. Let us know.

Jane

[Rachel528]

@jane-e - The action was already in its own Action Set folder, but the permissions of the Presets/Actions folders worked! I thought it was just the permissions of the action itself that needed to be fixed...didn't realize the outer folders also needed the same permissions. Thank you so much!

[jane-e]

@Rachel528  

You're welcome, and I'm glad that worked, Rachel! Without seeing screenshots, I threw out a bunch of possibilities in the hopes that one would work for your particular situation.

Cheers,

Jane

[Stephen Marsh]

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@Rachel528 wrote:

I recently wanted to edit some of the steps of the action which I was able to do, but it doesn't seem to be editing the .atn file located in Photoshop > Presets > Actions (where the file was loaded from). Do you know why?

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Loaded/edited or newly created actions live in a "temporary state" and are written to a preset file. They have to be manually saved to .atn file using the action panel upper right menu:

Also, recently discussed here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/nothing-in-actions-folder/m-p/1318076...

More here:

https://prepression.blogspot.com/2017/01/photoshop-custom-action-file-backup.html