'Fit to Screen' script shuffling file sequence

[hagenh32128020]

Only replies from Mac users/experts please:

I use a Macbook Pro 14" running the latest OS 13.1 and have an issue with a Photoshop script I created to automatically make large batches of images 'Fit to Screen' (command + 0) when opening. The script does what it's supposed to and upon opening large batches of photos from the RAW window into Photoshop, it flies through them all and resizes them to fit the window, but it shuffles them out of sequence which really messes with my workflow. I need them to open sequentially by filename as they normally would. Any ideas how I can fix the issue?

[hagenh32128020]

Actually one thing to note - I never used to have to use a script until a typical Photoshop update somehow messed with my usual workflow process and started opening images over the top of my action/history/layers windows etc. on the right hand side of my screen which means I couldn't see/use those menus until all the photos were removed from obscuring them. Super annoying. Is there any other way (aside from the script mentioned above) of making sure large batches of files stay inside the the bounds of the blank space when opening?

[hagenh32128020]

I also use individual floating windows for each photo and want to keep working that way as opposed to using tabs/tiles for each image - just to avoid anyone suggesting that as a solution. Thanks

[Stephen Marsh]

Are you using  the Script Events Manager to automatically run the script?

It might help if you posted the script code.

[hagenh32128020]

Thanks, are you able to tell me where I can find the script code please?

[Stephen Marsh]

No idea, it's your script? Is it found in the File > Scripts menu? If so, it is in the Presets/Scripts folder in the Photoshop application folder.

Do you really mean (Java)Script, or perhaps you actually mean an Action?

How is the automation performed?

[hagenh32128020]

Sorry if I've used the wrong terminology, I'm no expert when it comes to using the Script Events Manager. Here is a link to exactly what I did - https://asktimgrey.com/2018/05/25/always-fit-on-screen/

[Lumigraphics]

So I'm not sure I understand the issue here. Are you saying that the script reorganizes your windows while resizing them? You'll have to deal with that in the script itself, you can get all open documents, parse the filenames, and arrange them in sequence.

I have a script that maximizes a document window and it doesn't have this issue on either Mac or Windows so I'm not sure what you are doing. As requested, please post your script so we can look at it.

[hagenh32128020]

As I mentioned above, the only reason I'm having to go through this process is as follows: I never used to have to use a 'Fit to Screen' script/action until a typical Photoshop update somehow messed with my usual workflow process and started opening images over the top of my action/history/layers windows etc. on the right hand side of my screen which means I couldn't see/use those menus until all the photos were removed from obscuring them. Super annoying. Is there any other way (aside from using a script/action) of making sure large batches of files stay inside the the bounds of the blank space when opening?

The issue you've outlined in your response is correct - as the script/action is applied to the images to fix the issue I just outlined, it shuffles the images out of sequence, so when I start editing them they are all out of chronological order. Before this problem started, if I was to open 100 images as a batch in Photoshop without the scrip/action, they would all stay in chronological order.

Sorry if I've used the wrong terminology, I'm no expert when it comes to using the Script Events Manager. Here is a link to exactly what I did - https://asktimgrey.com/2018/05/25/always-fit-on-screen/

[Lumigraphics]

Hev you tried resetting your workspace? I was having an odd issue with resizing windows that was fixed that way.

[hagenh32128020]

Resetting the workspace doesn't make any difference I'm afraid.

The attached screenshot shows the core issue I'm having - when I open a large batch of images, they end up covering up all of my panels on the right hand of the screen which means I can't use my actions, layers, history etc. until I move each of the images back inside the bounds of the blank workspace. It's incredibly frustrating and never used to happen. I just want all of my images to open inside the bounds of the blank workspace in chronological order like they used to.

The only fix I've been able to find to easily get all of my photos to open inside the bounds of the blank workspace is the 'Fit to Screen' action which I run automatically in Script Events Manager. But that's causing the issue with shuffling my images out of order. Can't win.

I have no idea why Photoshop would ever open images over the top of your editing tools/panels, it makes absolutely no sense to me. The whole point of Photoshop is to edit photos and then they find a way to obcure half of the tools used for editing with the photos themselves. 

[Lumigraphics]

I see this happen with a large number of document windows and a smallish screen area. Photoshop runs out of room to tile photos. You might be able to fix this with use of the Arrange submenu, or may try the tab key to hide and show palettes.

[hagenh32128020]

Yes, that's quite obvious but Photoshop should just stack the images on top of each other like it does for most of them anyway - what's the point of having some of them overflow on top of the palettes??? Photoshop never used to do this, it would only open images inside the bounds of usable blank workspace which made perfect sense.

The tab key to hide and show palettes doesn't work and I've already tried all the options I can think of in the arrange menu, none of which solve the problem.

[Lumigraphics]

I've seen this behavior numerous times with older versions, no idea what is causing your problem now but I think its by design. I use dual monitors and move palettes so I have open screen real estate, don't really have any other ideas here.

[hagenh32128020]

It's a major design flaw in my opinion, makes absolutely no sense. There surely must be some way of fitting the images back inside the workspace while retaining the order of the images?

[PECourtejoie]

Hello, how many images are we talking about? I never understood wich workflow asks to overload the memory and the screenspace with many images at the same time. Is it to create a stack/an animation? If several need to be loaded, are you using Bridge?

[hagenh32128020]

The images start obscuring the palettes from about 30 files upwards. I'm using a Macbook Pro 14" laptop and I either open the images from the Photoshop RAW window or directly into Photoshop from my desktop. 

They don't overload the memory, the only issue is that they open themselves over the top of my palettes, so I can't use any of the palette functions until I move all of the images back into the normal workspace. Bridge is of no use to me and no, I'm not creating a stack or animation, simply trying to edit individual photos.

This never used to be a problem in the past, it only started after I did a recent update of Photoshop.

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, are you using a script to edit the images? you could setup the image processor to open the images one after the other, with an action that is set to a stop, and then could go through all images in a given folder.

Unless the edits are very convoluted, editing the images in Lightroom or simply camera raw might be a way more efficient workflow, without images and panels fighting for screen real estate...

[hagenh32128020]

Please read the threads above which explains everything.........I'm currently using a 'Fit to Screen' action which I run automatically in Script Events Manager, but that's causing the issue with shuffling my images out of order which in turn ruins my workflow - I need the images to stay in chronological order like they normally would when opening in photoshop.

[PECourtejoie]

Hi, @hagenh32128020 We totally understand what you are trying to acheive...

But opening that many images is meant to have issues; you could try changing the resolution of the Mac to the largest setting, but still, you might get a crash in the GPU pipeline.

You are loading 30 images in memory and GPU at the same time, and therefore, we are proposing a better streamlined, more efficient workflow.

If someone says "I cannot handle 30 nails properly in my hand and hammer them", you should not be surprised to hear a suggestion to use a nailgun...

I know that we might all have our way to work, but, sometimes it does not hurt to hear others and try what works for millions of users.

Remember that the father of Photoshop and one of its main architects respectfully created Camera Raw and Lightroom specifically to handle batches of images, they are modern tools for Digital Photographers, where Photoshop was meant for the user of a scanner editing one image at a time.

[hagenh32128020]

You've totally missed the point. I do not have, and have never had, any issues with crashing or system performance. And no, opening 30 images in Photoshop isn't 'meant to have issues'. 

This is simply about the images obscuring the view of my palettes which means I can't use them to edit the photos I've just opened! Nothing else.

As I've said a bunch of times in these posts, this was never an issue with past versions of Photoshop, only since a recent update changed the way files open right across the screen instead of staying within the blank part of the workspace. It has nothing to do with anything you've mentioned above.

[Lumigraphics]

Beats me. Don't open that many files? Or use a second display? Maybe someone else will have a different idea.

[hagenh32128020]

I open large numbers of files for a specific reason (due to the type of work I do, and my workflow) and I almost exclusively use a Macbook Pro 14" laptop for editing as I'm working out in the field, so a second screen is of no use to me. Thanks for your help anyway.

[Stephen Marsh]

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hagenh32128020 wrote:

As I've said a bunch of times in these posts, this was never an issue with past versions of Photoshop, only since a recent update changed the way files open right across the screen instead of staying within the blank part of the workspace. It has nothing to do with anything you've mentioned above.

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OK, I'd like to push the reset button on this discussion...

Disable the Script Events Manager step that fits the image to the screen when opening.

Now what happens when you open a large batch of images as floating windows?

I'm trying to understand if the behaviour you note is related the the SEM+Action or if this just how things are for your version of Photoshop and the OS. I'm on a 15" MacBook Pro but on OS12, so I don't know if this is a Ventura issue or not.

[hagenh32128020]

Thanks for the response, it's refreshing to have a coherent response from someone who obviously took the time to understand my problem and what I'm trying to acheive.

1/ The initial problem with the floating windows opening over the top of my palettes happens regardless of whether the Script Events Manager step is diabled or not. This never used to happen with my older versions of Photoshop - all of the files used to automatically open only within the bounds of the blank workspace.

2/ The sole reason for me using the Script Events Manager+Action is to fix the issue above, and although it works well to get all the files back inside the blank workspace, it creates the second issue of shuffling all of my files out of order. 

Both issues were happening when I was running OS12 and have persisted since updating to OS13 so it doesn't appear to be a Ventura issue. Hopefully that clarifies everything.