Unable to load action while an action is running?

[Whatevermajorloser]

I've got a script that loads an action into the actions palette:

app.load(new File('/path/to/action.atn'))

Works fine when I run it through ExtendScript Toolkit and target Photoshop CC. However, if I actually run the script through an action (so, record an action of myself opening the script and then running that action) , it does nothing. Why is that? The script works fine if I just open it by going to File -> Scripts -> Browse. I have the 2015.0.0 version of Photoshop.

Edit: I've tested it on a computer with the 2015.5.0 version of Photoshop and it works when opening through an action. Is there a reason it doesn't work on the older version?

[JJMack]

In CC 2015.5 I was not able to record Load action in an  action. It was grayed out. Even when I tried to use insert menu item,  item load action was grayed out.  Also the Scriptlistener did not record anything when I used the Action Palette's fly-out menu Load Action when I loaded an Action set.

[Guest]

The following function made of AM code used to be equivalent to app.load:

function loadFile (file)
{
	var descriptor = new ActionDescriptor ();
	descriptor.putPath (app.stringIDToTypeID ("target"), file);
	app.executeAction (app.stringIDToTypeID ("open"), descriptor);
}

so you may want to try it instead, but it may not work either:

loadFile (new File ('/path/to/action.atn'))

HTH,

--Mikaeru

[xbytor2 · Accepted solution]

The only way I have been able to load an action file from a script and use it in the same script is by using BridgeTalk.

function btExec(code, btapp) {
  if (!btapp) { btapp = BridgeTalk.appSpecifier; }

  BridgeTalk.bringToFront(btapp);

  var bt = new BridgeTalk();
  bt.target = btapp;
  bt.body = code;
  bt.send();
};

function loadActionFile(file) {

  btExec('app.load(new File("' + file.absoluteURI + '"));');

};

The reason that this works is because it fires up a new PS/JS interpreter in a separate app thread to hand the BridgeTalk message. If I needed to call the action immediately, I'd have to do a $.sleep() call to handle the race condition.

You might be able to add an ActionStep to call script that uses this technique. I don't recall if I've ever tried it, but it may be you're only solution if Mikaeru's doesn't work.

[Whatevermajorloser]

xbytor, you beautiful fountain of knowledge. That's done the trick! Thank you!!