How do I start Adobe Bridge in Photoshop?

[Fallen_Nyx]

I'm doing my tutorials in the photoshop textbook (2021), in the lession it says to start photoshop, choose File>Browse in Bridge. That option doesn't appear in my File tab. Do you know how to fix this?

[Kukurykus]

outputFolder.path.toSource()

[Polycontrast]

Ok thanks, this is where it gets confusing to me. I was not able to figure out exactly what to replace. The following snippet is not working correctly. Does this path code line sense?

bt.body = 'with(app.document) thumbnail = decodeURI(File(presentationPath).path) + "/" + '+ outputFolder.path.toSource(),bt.send()

[Kukurykus]

You completely don't think what you do 😕 What's the point of using presentation path here?

[Polycontrast]

I have tried with and without the presentation path and am still unable to get Bridge to display the outputFolder after the Photoshop script executes.  The following lines do not work.

bt.body = 'with(app.document) thumbnail = decodeURI() + "/" + '+ outputFolder.path.toSource(),bt.send()

 bt.body = 'with(app.document) thumbnail = '+ outputFolder.path.toSource(),bt.send()

[Kukurykus]

'with(app.document) thumbnail = presentationPath + "/" + ' + theFolder.toSource()

[Polycontrast]

Thanks for your help. I was able to make it work with outputFolder.name. This only works with folders that are on the same levels as the source folder. 

callBridge()

function callBridge() {
  BridgeTalk.bringToFront('bridge');
  (bt = new BridgeTalk()).target = 'bridge'

  //select folder 
  var theFolder = outputFolder.name;
  bt.body = 'with(app.document) thumbnail = decodeURI(File(presentationPath).path) + "/" + '+ theFolder.toSource(),bt.send()
}

[Kukurykus]

Your code does not work. Use this inside your code instead of unworking part:

bt.body = 'with(app.document) thumbnail = presentationPath + "/" + ' + decodeURI(Folder.selectDialog().name).toSource()

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

I should have thought of this before, however, what if one wanted to select/make active the open file in Bridge?

[Kukurykus]

That was answer to Polycontrast

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

My question is separate, feature creep, I just thought that it may also be nice to have the document selected in Bridge after it has been browsed by the script.

[Kukurykus]

Change path to fullName

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Thank you again... Wow, I can't believe that is all it took! I'm just blundering around in the dark 🙂

[Lumigraphics]

Are you trying to send a folder path or document path?

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

In the first instance, it was just the folder, then in hindsight, I thought that it also might be a good idea to send the file as well so that the file could be selected to better show what was open in Photoshop when the script was run.

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

@Kukurykus – Thanks again, I just tried the script and it works great, so much more useful than the native "Browse in Bridge..." feature that just opens Bridge, it makes much more sense to have Bridge show the active document directory (if previously saved) than just any old folder!

[jane-e]

@Fallen_Nyx 

Did you try what Melissa said? Just open the Bridge application? Once there, browse to your class files, then open the image.

• Open the Creative Cloud app, then launch Bridge
• Open the Applications folder and launch Bridge
• Use Spotlight and type "Bridge"
• Put an alias for Bridge in your Dock or Sidebar or Desktop and launch it from there.

Jane

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Here is a v2 of the previous script, special thanks to @Kukurykus for helping to extend the original code.

/*
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/how-do-i-start-adobe-bridge-in-photoshop/m-p/12818569
Stephen Marsh, v2.0 - 21st March 2022
*/

/*
// Add a new item in the File > Automate menu to separate the script from the normal scripts folder
<javascriptresource>
<name>$$$/JavaScripts/BrowseInBridge/Menu=Browse in Bridge...</name>
<category>BrowseInBridge</category>
<menu>automate</menu>
</javascriptresource>
*/

#target photoshop

// Saved doc
try {
    app.activeDocument.path;
    var bt = new BridgeTalk();
    // Call Bridge
    bt.target = 'bridge'; // Version agnostic
    //bt.target = 'bridge-11', // Bridge 2021
    //bt.target = 'bridge-12', // Bridge 2022
    // Make Bridge the active app
    BridgeTalk.bringToFront('bridge');
    // Display the Photoshop doc's parent folder in Bridge
    //bt.body = 'app.document.thumbnail = ' + activeDocument.path.toSource(); // Folder
    bt.body = 'app.document.thumbnail = ' + activeDocument.fullName.toSource(); // Select File
    bt.send();

// Unsaved doc
} catch (err) {
    BridgeTalk.launch('bridge');
    BridgeTalk.bringToFront('bridge');
}

[Jeff Arola · Accepted solution]

As of the photoshop 2022 (23.3 update) File>Browse in Bridge is present on M1 Processor Macs

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Thanks for the update Jeff!

I still prefer the script, as my expectation is that the Browse in Bridge command would take one to the folder/file open in Photoshop, which it doesn't do, all it does is opens Bridge.