Elements 2018 won't work with PS6 to automatically add files when saved

Report · Nov 02, 2017

I want my "Edit Pics" folder to be the "Watch Folder" in Elements 2018, but I can't get a picture to be "automatically added" to Elements 2018 Organizer when it is saved by PS6. I guess the problem seems to be that PS6 saves only in this route: "This PC>Pictures>Edit Pics", while Elements 2018 will not recognize this route in Watch Folders, it will use only "C:\Users\User1\Pictures\Edit Pics". How can I get them to coordinate? (Using Windows 10)

Report · Nov 02, 2017

PeteMatt wrote
I want my "Edit Pics" folder to be the "Watch Folder" in Elements 2018, but I can't get a picture to be "automatically added" to Elements 2018 Organizer when it is saved by PS6. I guess the problem seems to be that PS6 saves only in this route: "This PC>Pictures>Edit Pics", while Elements 2018 will not recognize this route in Watch Folders, it will use only "C:\Users\User1\Pictures\Edit Pics". How can I get them to coordinate?

This PC>Pictures>Edit Pics is just a Windows shortcut for the C:\Users\User1\Pictures\Edit Pics: both are the same folder. That can't be the reason.

I imagine that users wanting to use the organizer and edit in PS6 just set PS6 as the external editor. When they select images to edit into PS6, version sets are automatically created and added to the catalog. No need for watched folders. When the files are saved in PS6, they are already in the organizer.

So, your workflow must be different.

Report · Nov 02, 2017

Thanks Michel, but that doesn't seem to work for me. I normally highlight a thumbnail in Elements Organizer, then under Edit I click on "Edit with Photoshop..." and the pic opens in PS6. Now when, in Organizer, I go under Preferences to Editing and click on "Use a Supplementary Editing Application" and enter the PS6 program using the Browse button, this message pops up: "you do not have to choose Photoshop or Photoshop Elements as the other editor. Elements Organizer already supports using these editors for the Edit menu and task bar options." Only an "OK" button is offered; when I click on it, I get this message: Invalid Path for Editor. The path you provided for the external editing application is invalid; the application does not exist. Please correct the path or make another external editor choice." I don't know what to try next.

Report · Nov 02, 2017

PeteMatt wrote
Thanks Michel, but that doesn't seem to work for me. I normally highlight a thumbnail in Elements Organizer, then under Edit I click on "Edit with Photoshop..." and the pic opens in PS6. Now when, in Organizer, I go under Preferences to Editing and click on "Use a Supplementary Editing Application" and enter the PS6 program using the Browse button, this message pops up: "you do not have to choose Photoshop or Photoshop Elements as the other editor. Elements Organizer already supports using these editors for the Edit menu and task bar options." Only an "OK" button is offered; when I click on it, I get this message: Invalid Path for Editor. The path you provided for the external editing application is invalid; the application does not exist. Please correct the path or make another external editor choice." I don't know what to try next.

You are right, Photoshop should not be set as an external editor. Elements should find Photoshop. Forget what I said...

So, you can open Photoshop. In my case, the organizer sends a copy with a -1 suffix in a version set (added in the organizer). If you use 'save' with Photoshop edits, the edited version is available in the organizer, it does not need any action from 'watch folders'. If you use 'save as' from Photoshop, yes, the 'watch folders' service would be needed and should work.

I can't help you directly for the fact that the 'Watch folders' does not work... It does not work for me either, and I don't need it. If I create a new version from Photoshop, I simply 'import' from the selected folder. All files already present in the catalog are ignored, the new ones are added. I don't depend on a background task and I can import exactly when I want. Of course, if the watch folder has many subfolders a lot of files, that takes a little time, but I start the import when I want.

What puzzles me is that the 'watch folders' service was implemented in Windows from 'Adobe Active file monitor Vxx' services in all previous versions, and that up to PSE14. No such service for version 15 and 2018 . Mystery.