select all layers won't select Background Layer

[jimm7497115]

Hi, I just noticed that my action which selects all layers and makes a smart object from them is no longer selecting the background layer. I'm pretty sure I'd have noticed if that had always been that way. What's happing. I stepped back a version thinking it was a bug but it's just the same. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[Bojan Živković]

Record the steps to select the bottommost layer, then convert it to a regular layer. Place these steps just before selecting all layers and converting them to a Smart Object.

[Stephen Marsh · Accepted solution]

@jimm7497115 – That's right, it never has. The Background is a special type of layer, although that doesn't excuse the fact that the menu command is named "Select > All Layers". I guess naming the command "All Layers Except the Background" would have been too wordy.

In addition to Bojan's suggestion. If some files have a Background layer and others don't, you'll either need to use conditional actions or possibly relative keyboard shortcuts to avoid errors.

Select/target front (top) visible layer = Option/Alt + .

Select/target next visible layer up = Option/Alt + ]
Select/target next visible layer down = Option/Alt + [
Select/target back (bottom) visible layer = Option/Alt + ,

You can add the Shift key to select all continuous visible layers between the bottom and top, such as:

Option/Alt + ,

Option/Alt + Shift + .

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/select-layer-above-or-beneath-current...

[jimm7497115]

Thanks. I'm surprised I never noticed that before, maybe I've always done it manually and just assumed the shortcut would do the same job. Seems odd that you can do it manually to make a smart object but not by shortcut. I'll have to put in an action to convert the background layer to an regular layer. 
Thanks.

[Stephen Marsh]

I'll have to put in an action to convert the background layer to an regular layer. 

By @jimm7497115

That's one option, however, relative keyboard shortcuts as shown above can select the visible Background layer without converting it to a standard floating layer.

[jimm7497115]

thanks, yeah, I worked it out when I tried all the options. at first I admit I was seeing + and the plus key and the . as a full stop at the end rather than the key.  I have just been doing it all manually but that's a great tip. Thanks. 

[Stephen Marsh]

Yes, it's standard convention to use the + signs, but it can be confusing if you're new to the notation. That's why I coloured them light grey and made the others black.

[jimm7497115]

Yeah, that's what made me rethink my assumption, thanks for the effort it did help in the end. 🙂 

[jimm7497115]

Oh, I just realised what you  meant in your last line. 

Option/Alt + ,

Option/Alt + Shift + .

 does the job I'm looking for without having to convert the background layer. 

Thanks. That's perfect!