learning scripting with javascript create file

[maya293983654m0v]

I'm learning scripting in photoshop and using the scripting guide from 2020. The new File javascript doesn't create the file, and the script fails. Could it be that this is no longer supported? Is there other way to create a file?
I will try to test on a windows machine o see if there is any difference.

var originalRulerUnits = app.preferences.rulerUnits;
app.preferences.rulerUnits = Units.PIXELS;


filePath = "/Users/$USERNAME/Desktop/myfile1.pdf"
var fileRef = new File(filePath);


var pdfOpenOptions =  new PDFOpenOptions
pdfOpenOptions.antiAlias = true
pdfOpenOptions.mode = OpenDocumentMode.RGB
pdfOpenOptions.resolution = 72
pdfOpenOptions.page = 3

app.open( fileRef, pdfOpenOptions )
app.preferences.rulerUnits = originalRulerUnits​

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

Try changing this:

filePath = "/Users/$USERNAME/Desktop/myfile1.pdf"
var fileRef = new File(filePath);

To this:

filePath = "~/Desktop/myfile1.pdf";
var fileRef = new File(filePath);
alert(fileRef.exists);

What is the result of the alert?

https://theiviaxx.github.io/photoshop-docs/Core/File.html

[maya293983654m0v]

I tried to run it and getting False.  I also checked the path of Desktop and the file wasn't created.

I tried search extend script on Mac and there seem to be some limitations. I used VS code to run extend scipt with small tool someone developed. I can't run the official extend script debugger because it only suppport Intel chips. My machine it too weak to run Rosetta with VSCODE which would probably solved this problem.. 

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

I think that there's a misunderstanding in your expectations. That's the correct and expected result of the test. False is the result if there is no file at the path of the file object. The new File() is a programming object used to work with a literal file, not a method to create a literal file. To create a literal file, you would need to create a new document and save it using the appropriate file format save options.

[maya293983654m0v]

OK, thanks, I understand. But this excercise still not working.  It fails on app.open( filleRef, pdfOpenOptions ) yelling it does expect an existing file: 

Error 1233: Expected a reference to an existing File/Folder

[Stephen Marsh]

If the file has the correct case-sensitive spelling at the path and exists = true, then the code works.

[maya293983654m0v]

yeah, I kinda mixed up with open, where it use in code sometimes "creating a file". But here it means open an already created file. Thanks for the help.

[Lumigraphics]

Use app.documents.add() to create a new Photoshop document, then you can save or export to a pdf.

[Stephen Marsh]

As @maya293983654m0v was attempting to open page 3 of a PDF, if the PDF doesn't exist and needs to be created and saved, it will take more work than a standard image:

https://theiviaxx.github.io/photoshop-docs/Photoshop/PresentationOptions/presentation.html

[Lumigraphics]

A newly created file would be blank and have no page 3 😄

[Stephen Marsh]

A newly created file would be blank and have no page 3 😄

By Lumigraphics

That's why I was saying that it would take more work to create a multipage PDF.

[Lumigraphics]

Can Photoshop even create a multipage PDF?

[Stephen Marsh]

Can Photoshop even create a multipage PDF?

By Lumigraphics

Yes, it can, that's why I linked to the PDF PresentationOptions() DOM code reference earlier in the topic.

Here's a topic where I merge file pairs to create multiple 2-page front/back PDF files. 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/tiff-to-pdf-converter/td-p/12540527