Help with opening a Photoshop file using Javascript

[thejoed1]

Hello and thanks for your time beforehand,

I'm new to Javascript and scripting for Photoshop. I'm trying to understand how to open a psd file using Javascript and cannot figure it out.

The code I'm working with is below:

=============================

//OPEN A FILE ON A MAC

//Not clear on the correct syntax structure to target a file

var fileRef = File(app.path + "/file.psd")

//Open the file at the path specified above

if (fileRef.exists){

    var docRef = app.open(fileRef);

}

//If the file above does not exsist show this

else{alert("File does not exsist.");}

=============================

The "/file.psd" part is my snag, I think.

What is the correct way to target the file?

Is it best to use a relative or absolute path?

Is a relative path based on the location of the script?

I know that with html one can target using"../../directory/file.jpg" and is that how Javascript works? I can't find any documentation that addresses this.

Any help is appreciated,

~ Joe D

[Chuck Uebele]

app.path will refer to Photoshop, and not the scripting folder. is that where your file is? Not really a good place for an image file. if the image file is needed for your script, you can make a folder for it in presets, maybe call it "Images." I prefer directly naming a path.

[thejoed1]

Hi Chuck, thanks for getting responding.

The file could be anywhere on my local hard drive. I had it in the script directory because I was thinking it would be easier for testing to  keep in in the same directory. For an example, what would be the correct syntax used to get to a file in documents/working/jobs/client/file.psd ? I haven't had any luck finding the correct way to target this.

Thanks, ~ Joe D

[Chuck Uebele]

I believe, using a "~" will refer to the users Library folder on a mac.

[thejoed1]

Hi Chuck,

The tilde "~" won't help me if it starts my path down the user Library. I need it to start at Document level at least. I have included the path to my file below.

var fileRef = File(app.path + "/Users/joe/Documents/Practice/file.psd")

How would one target this file correctly? I currently get an error that the file does not exist.

Thanks, ~ Joe D

[Chuck Uebele]

It should be:

'~/documents/working/jobs/client/file.psd'

[thejoed1]

So odd. I pasted your path into the string and I still get an error. There must be something else that I am missing.?

[Chuck Uebele · Accepted solution]

var fileRef = new File('~/Documents/working/jobs/client/file.psd');

Try the above. I'm not sure if capitalization matters.

[thejoed1]

Your suggestion works:

var fileRef = new File('~/Documents/Working/jobs/client/file.psd')

However, it is different than the original code that I had been using, which is:

var fileRef = File(app.path + '~/Documents/Working/jobs/client/file.psd')

Capitals or not has no effect.

I have been using File(app.path +'~/Documents...

Any thoughts on why that isn't working?

[Chuck Uebele]

app.path refers to the Photoshop program folder. The ~ refers to the users folder. Two completely separate things.

[thejoed1]

I see.

Chuck thanks for your time. I figured it was something simple like that I just need a bit of guidance in order to see it.

Thanks you!

~ Joe D

[JJMack]

Joe

check this out

var selectedPSD =  File.openDialog("Select a PSD file to open" , "Select:*.psd");

if (selectedPSD!=undefined) app.open(selectedPSD);

[thejoed1]

Hi JJMack, this works great. Thanks for sending it along.

~ Joe D

[ramendras26329175]

Can i give Path address ?

[Kukurykus]

(fle = File('~/desktop/someFile.psd')).exists && open(fle)

[Chuck Uebele]

Umm, capitalization doesn't matter, nor does the new.