Actions tab has options grayed out

[teachertrev]

Been using photoshop for a long time now. Want to record some actions for every day set ups. I noticed it wouldn't record button clicks... or anything. Then I noticed boxes aren't checked, so I tried to check them and it wouldn't let me. Long story short, it's grayed out and I'm unsure why. Help please. Thank you. 

Have attempted multiple files. closed and reopened. updated and restarted computer. Photoshop 2020.

[jazz-y]

First you must record (or add in action set) at least one action with least 1 command with dialog mode to use this feature. 

[teachertrev]

Thanks. I did attempt to record an action. Such as button click, changing tools, etc. I tried a variety of things with record button lit up red to record actions. It recorded nothing, which is what my quesiton is about. Sorry if I was unclear. Thank you. 

[Bojan Živković]

First of all, you do not have any acton in your action set and that is reason why modal control does not respond.

Second, what are you trying to achieve by enabling modal control at action set level? It is not very vise idea. It is usually done on action step, not even at action level.

[teachertrev]

Right. The reason why there are no recorded actions, is because when I hit the record button, it will not record any actions. I tried creating a new folder or group within the actions tab, to see if that would change anything and it did not. So after record button is hit, it does not record anything I do. Thank you. 

Unsure what you mean by modal control. Thank you. 

[Bojan Živković · Accepted solution]

You must create action in the first place then to record steps. Click on page icon at the bottom of Actions panel to create action then do something recordable to record step. It seems you have already found lots of non-recordable actions in Photoshop. Not everything that you can do in Photoshop can be recorded.

[teachertrev]

Been in photoshop 15 years. Have made actions several times before. I had already tried that action and it wasn't working... but I tried it again and it's working now. Perhaps I missed something. Thank you very much. It's all good. 

Yes, thank you. I'm attempting something new, recording steps using the arrange menu options in the window menu for digital painting but looks like recording won't register for those particular moves. Ah well. Thanks. 

[Bojan Živković]

Are you trying to record Window > Arrange > Option? It can be recorded but not using regular click on menu item in recording mode. To record that step in action do the following:

• Start recording, it actually works without recording mode but you must select proper action and action step after which you want to record Insert Menu Item step which works exactly the same as to click on item in recording mode.
• From Actions panel menu choose Insert Menu Item.
• With Insert Menu Item dilogue on screen go to Window > Arrange > choose item.
• Chosen Command should appear in Insert Menu Item dialogue next to Menu Item:, click OK to confirm and step should be recorded.

[teachertrev]

Getting closer lol. The actions I'm trying to run and record is:

Window>>Arrange>>New Window for (current file name)

Window>>Arrange>>2 Up Vertical

Even with trying your suggestion, it still doesn't seem to want to record that action. 

[Bojan Živković · Accepted solution]

Please download this action and play it New window plus tile.ATN

Is that what you want to record?

[teachertrev]

I see my mistake now. Thank you! When I clicked on "Insert Menu Item" from the actions menu, when the pop up window said "menu item not selected" I closed that menu instead of keeping it open, select menu itemTHEN click ok. 

So for those also confused about the steps out there. 

-Insert menu item in Actions Tab

-(Pop up menu) says to record menu item, select a menu item. Keep this window open. 

-Select menu item. 

-Then click ok on the pop up window. 

Thank you so much for your guidance and patience. I appreciate it a lot.