where are actions stored in windows

[cyberwasp]

Ok., this has been driving me nuts since cc came out. I would love to sit with a programmer from adobe and have him figure it out.

According to all I've read in these forums and other resources. Any time you load/save a brushes, actions, style etc the PS stores the under the appropriate directory in presets. I just loaded 20 actions in PS C 2015 and my actions directory is empty, even though I close and reopen PS, the action shows in the list and works but is nowhere on my hard drive. Any ideas? Please, as I'd like to copy the directory to and external place for safe keeping.

C:\Users\Steven\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2015\Presets\Actions

[Terri Stevens]

I think you will find that your actions are stored in a hidden folder. Simply in the search box on the start menu type folder options and under Hidden Files and Folders click the radio button Show hidden files, folders and drives. Then uncheck the box labeled Hide Protected Operating System Files(Recommended). Your actions should then show up at C:\Users\Steven\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CC 2015\Presets\Actions. You'll probably want to hide the files again when your finished. Hope that works.

Terri

[Chuck Uebele]

Yes, the appData folder is hidden by default. I always have show hidden files, as I'm always going into that folder for something.

[cyberwasp]

Well, I always have my hidden files visible and I know where the directory is, but it's empty as you can see. And my actions panel has about 5 additional actions listed. I hate those pesky gremlins.

[Chuck Uebele]

I've noticed that they don't always default to the proper place. Sometimes when I try to save a preset the save default location is the last place I save a image file. You might need to do a search for the file types like atn for actions on your whole system.

[cyberwasp]

I'm way ahead of you. I opened explorer and pointed to c:\ and did the search and of course, came up empty.This is why I think "sync setting" doesn't work as PS is playing hide & seek with them. CS6 was so much easier.

[Chuck Uebele · Accepted solution]

I know you know your way around PS, but just to confirm, there are presets that you saved and had a dialog box come up for you to not only name the preset but also indicate the preset location?  Like saving an action set through the flyout menu in the actions pallet or through the preset manager? Have you tried saving a new one and seeing where it was saved as you saved it, then look for it afterwards?

[cyberwasp]

Ok, problem solved. Am learning by trial and error that adobe programmers are quite different logically than most. Usually when you load a n action you downloaded, close the program only to open it later and find the action is still loaded. One would think the program saved it somewhere. Apparently not adobes way. After loading it you must save it to, even though PS still loads it even if you don't save it. Hmm, very strange logic

[Chuck Uebele]

Unless you actually save things, actions and other items like brushes are just stored in a general preference file in the appData for windows.