Photoshop interval function in scripting

[Francois Kruger]

I am trying to script something in Photoshop that has to run every X seconds. In JavaScript it would look like this:

function run() {

    alert('Ran!')

}

setInterval(run, 1000)

But in Photoshop's JavaScript, "setInterval is not a function". Any idea how else I would get any form of interval working?

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Scripts run in Photoshop "lock up" the UI then finish and release the UI.

I believe that you would need to use BridgeTalk and run the script in Adobe Bridge, which would then do something in Photoshop.

The code is too advanced for me, but I can post an example.

Perhaps an extension panel could do this.

[Francois Kruger]

If you could maybe post something where it does alert('hi') every 30s or so, that would be seriously helpful!

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

Done! A new unthreaded reply added...

[c.pfaffenbichler]

May one ask what you are trying to achieve with this? 

[Francois Kruger]

I'd like to write a script that will export a jpg every 30s or so. To later turn into a timelapse. I got all the exporting code, now I just need to loop it every 30s or whatever. That is where I am stuck at now.

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

This is exactly the sort of thing that the Bridge script that I referred to does! I'll dig up the link for you...

[Jef Bracke]

Yes, you won't get it to work directly (photoshop does not have setInterval) 

But these are some options you could consider:

• BridgeTalk (targetting Adobe Bridge)
• Photoshop's Script Events Manager
• a Photoshop Plugin (CEP or UXP)
• or Windows 10's task scheduler (thanks Kukurykus)

[Kukurykus]

Loll, since I can't remember I shared such hint ever can you link a post where I helped you with that 😄

[Stephen_A_Marsh · Accepted solution]

The original post from @SuperMerlin (thank you) can be found here:

Reminder to save?

Using this script, I was able to create a sort of "Rube Goldberg Machine" or "Heath Robinson Contraption" to auto-save files, with or without a notification. Others may be able to create a more elegant solution:

automate save as or export with sequential file names

Some other links that may be useful can be found below, some links are to old forum posts that are now broken, but you can copy the name of the topic thread from and paste it into the forum search to overcome the link being broken:

Need help making a script for saving as jpg with interval

Automatic Save Function? (NOT for autorecovery)

EDIT: Just in case the link to SuperMerlin's script is broken in future forum software changes:

/* 
Reminder to save?
https://forums.adobe.com/message/11013186#11013186
https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop/reminder-to-save/m-p/10466042?page=1
*/

#target bridge;  

if( BridgeTalk.appName == "bridge" ) {    
var psRem= new MenuElement( "command", "PS Reminder", "at the end of Tools");  
}  
psRem.onSelect = function () {   
var mins =  60000 * 3; // Three minutes  
psReminder = function(){  
    var bt = new BridgeTalk();  
    bt.target = "photoshop";  
    bt.body = "if(documents.length) alert('Save Reminder!');";   
    bt.send(4)  
    }  
id = app.scheduleTask( "psReminder()", mins, true );   
var win = new Window("palette","Photoshop Reminder");  
win.bu1 = win.add("button",undefined,"Stop Reminder");  
win.bu1.onClick = function(){  
    win.close(0);  
    app.cancelTask (id);  
    }  
win.show();  
};

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

@Francois Kruger 

Where did you end up on this?

[Stephen_A_Marsh]

@Francois Kruger 

Please add likes and or correct answers to the various posts so that when others are searching for a resolution to their issue it will be obvious that a solution was found.