"Could not save (file name) because the file is already in use or left open."

[Shlomit Heymann]

Hello,
When I tried save as a file, I get an error msg:
"Could not save (file name) because the file is already in use or left open."

The file is not open anywhere accept Photoshop.

Mac Pro, OSX 10.5.6
Photoshop CS4.

I searched the forum but could not find anything even though i'm sure someone already asked it.

would love to get a solution for that.
thank you,
shlomit

[Guest]

I will try my best to record what I do when the problem comes up. Thank you Chris.

[Guest]

Chris

Been working on a 334.1 meg file for the last 2 hours and have been able to save until now. I didn't change anything. I do have the folder where the file is, open in the background on the desktop but it's been that way since I started.

Being that I need this file for a job, I renamed it and saved it to the same folder.

I have Mail, Itunes, Safari, Address Book, Photoshop, Bridge, Lightroom, Spamsieve, quickkeys, preview open in the background.

Marc

[David Goorevitch]

Yes! It's the finder window!

[Guest]

Chris was my information helpful at all to help you reproduce my problem?

[Chris Cox]

I don't think our QE has had time to look at it yet.

I'll let you know when we have something.

[Guest]

Chris,

I noticed that this problem has been around though several versions of Photoshop and  several versions MacOS. You responded to my last inquiry November 2nd and I was wondering if your QE had time to look at this problem yet?

I only have this problem with Photoshop files and no other applications or programs.

Looking forward to your response!

Thanks

Marc

[Chris Cox]

We have looked into it, and reported the issue to Apple (when it is their problem).

We have also reported the issue to the Bridge team (who fixed their problem), and a few other product teams.

This has never been a bug in Photoshop.

Photoshop actually tells you about the problem instead of failing or screwing up your files.

And some other applications (and OS components) aren't good about cleaning up after themselves...

[Guest]

Chris,

I see that this problem from reading the forum has been going on for many years so I don't think it's ever going to get solved.

(sad face)

My best,

Marc

[Chris Cox]

It's not the same problem going on for many years (well, except for spotlight, that's been a longstanding problem).

It's just the same warning message from Photoshop telling you about different external problems.

What you're saying is like "I see that all cars say they're low on gas sometimes, so there must be a global gas shortage".

[Guest]

what do i know. (smile)

My best,

Marc

marcyankus.com

[Guest]

Chris and all,

The problem still exists. I am running a brand new mac tower with snow leopard and all the updates, Photoshop CS4 and it still

gives that error message. I can do a file save as for a workaround and eliminate the original file, however when saving a jpg the

file is degraded each time you save it out. Hopefully whoever need to fix this bug does so. It is really annoying. Period!

Thanks for your posts. I would love to hear of a solution if one ever comes.

best regards

marc

[1957GoldTop]

I'm having this problem as well.  In addition to that, I'm also getting a "File has changed since last save" errors (don't have the error in front me so don't know the exact message).  Not at the same time of course... I'm just pointing out I'm getting two strange file related errors.  This is all happening since moving to Snow Leopard.

And, to make clear, the file is NOT open anywhere else when getting the "open" error and the file had NOT been changed when getting the "changed" error.

[maplegrovebob]

I agree with jsinger986. I have been getting both the "Could not save" and the "File has been changed" errors with Photoshop CS4 since Snow Leopard. It's real anoying. I wish someone would come up with a fix. I've never had these errors before.

[Chris Cox]

Snow Leopard added some new things that like to read files to create thumbnails and previews.

Apple has been informed about the problems in their code (and that the same code sometimes crashes in odd ways).

[maplegrovebob]

Thanks Chris. It might have been going on for years for some users in some situations, but it started for me with Snow Leopard.

Glad to know that you have at least let Apple know of the problem. In searching Apple's discussions, I was unable to find any threads on the issue.

[Guest]

Yes thanks from me also Chris. I noticed the problem in the forums but like the previous writer the problem only started for me when I upgraded to Snow Leopard.

best

Marc

[bluerosez]

I am having the same problem and all my files are closed and not open in any other program,  all the programs are also closed. I closed all finder windows.  I am working on Snow Leopard/G5 in PS  SC4.

Has any one created a fix for this?

Are we sure this is an Apple issue not a PS issue? If I call apple they will tell me to call Adobe I am SURE of that.

Thank you!

[maplegrovebob]

Hi bluerosez,

Check out Chris Cox's posts above. According to him, it is an Apple SnowLeopard problem, not Adobe, and Adobe has notified Apple of the bug.

We can only hope that an Apple OS update will soon fix the problem.

[bluerosez]

Thanks!

What  is really extra strange is that the behavior is not consistent. The last couple of files I saved worked fine.

I hope that Adobe is following up with apple .

[maplegrovebob]

Chris is an employee of Adobe, so I believe him that Apple has been informed.

The problem isn't consistant with me either, but it keeps coming back.

[bluerosez]

Thanks maplegrovebob!!

Chris, have you heard anything from apple as to how long it might take them to fix it?

[370H55V]

I had this happen yesterday. Lo and behold, I had forgotten to close Preview before I opened the file in PS. Outside of the occasional "brainfart" when I do that, I've never seen this error. I must be just lucky.

I've never run CS4 with anything but Snow Leopard, and I only had Leopard on this MacBook for 24 hours before the upgrade. (I bought it the day Apple released 10.6, but didn't get the disc till the next morning)

[Guest]

I haven't seen this with Photoshop, but it happens to me all the time with Illustrator files. I've found that if I have the file selected in the Finder, I'm viewing in column mode and the preview column is active, that's enough for AI to think the file is in use. If I make sure the preview column is not active (i.e "close" the triangle -- sorry, don't know the proper terminology here) then AI will let me save over the file as expected.

I guess when the preview column is active the Finder is actually using the Preview app to render that...

[Prenderghast]

This problem is new to me with CS4 since Snow Leopard - Sometimes I cannot even Save As - if so

I think the best thing is to flatten then Select All then Copy to a new file

OR if you need layers Copy the Background layer, then drag the other layers to the new file while holding down the shift key.Rename then Save

[maplegrovebob]

Actually, the best work around until it is fixed is to drag the saved file to the trash, then save to the same location.