alernatives to runing scripts from file

[hilukasz]

I have scripts, and I need an installed to install them, problem is, each computer is different. I would like so that an action would run the scripts or something less annoying than going to file > scripts everytime you want to run it.

setup I have now: I use configurator to run an action that calls a script. problem with this is the directory will be different for every computer (at least on a mac). I was thinking flex, but I would like it to be compatible to at least CS1.

My guess is plugin of some sortmaybe. any suggestions?

[xbytor2]

One solution is to have an installation script of some sort to take care of problems like this. I have installation scripts that let the user select where to put the scripts. The installer then creates an action set with calls to each of the scripts in their new user-specified locations. All calls to the scripts are via the new actions. Check out the Install.jsx script in the xtools library.

-X

[hilukasz]

how would you call the script though? If you call it via an action you have to account for harddrive name. or does xtools handle that as well?

[Paul Riggott]

From within Photoshop you would use File - Scripts - Browse and select the install script.

X's scripts are fabulous and complex installs are now possible thanks to him.

[hilukasz]

I'm a bit confused then. This seems to install xtools. I need to make a custom installer for my own scripts. I looked through his page, I dont see any of his tools that create installers, I could be overlooking something. unless you mean look at his code? I rather not just gank it though, since this will eventually be sold (the scripts I'm programing, not the installer).

[Paul Riggott]

The way I use X's scripts is to make an action set that calls my scripts, then use ActionFileToXML.jsx to make a XML file. I edit the xml replacing the paths with a string that I can replace at the time of install.

This xml is shipped with the install, as when the install script is run from Photoshop you can get the app.path, you can then replace your string with the correct path for that machine. once this has been done you can use ActionFileFromXML.jsx to create an actionset that can then be auto loaded into Photoshop.

All the tools are in xtools.

[Michael_L_Hale]

I can't speak for X, but his script are licensed so that if you use his code you must also distribute the complete source code. You may want to find another way if you want to sell your script.

[xbytor2]

The license is a little simpler than that. If you use any of my scripts, you just have to provide a notice in your app somewhere (like a README or LICENESING file) stating that parts of the application are covered by this:

   // Copyright: (c)2009, xbytor
   // License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/LGPL/2.1
   // Contact: xbytor@gmail.com

Then provide either the source for xtools or a URL where they can find it. You do not have to provide source code for anything that you write or any part of my scripts that you may need to modify.

As a matter of fact, you can sell xtools yourself if you want without paying me a dime. You just have to provide the copyright and license notice. And you can't claim that you wrote it yourself 🙂

Checkout the README and COPYRIGHT files in the package for more detail.

-X

[hilukasz]

wow I must stay that is very humbling and giving of you. thank you for this great resource, it truely is a great gift to everyone espicially considering all the work you put into it. I really appreciate it. I'll make sure it well known you contributed to it. do you code anything else? I'd like to reference that maybe if you're looking for freelance work. I can mention that as well, I anticipate this project getting a lot of exposure.