Skip to main content
March 23, 2010
Answered

How to disable script debug? Alt key brings debugger window.

  • March 23, 2010
  • 3 replies
  • 4633 views

Here is detailed problem description:

http://forums.adobe.com/message/2678671

In short.

When batch is being processed in background (photoshop window is inactive) pressing the Alt key brings the debugger window (ExtendScript Toolkit - Fit Image.jsx).

Steps to repro:

1. Create some action (must include Fit Image script from File->Automate)

2. Apply this action to a folder.

3. Switch to another window (not photoshop)

4. Hold the Alt key for a little why.

Current workaround:

1. Do not do anything while processing batch. Just sit and look at the screen several hours.

or

2. Process batches under separate user (use WinKey+L to switch).

Another (related) problem. When batch is being processed (in background) the Esc key doesn't work at all! Just switch to some application where you can use the Esc key, hit Esc - and it won't work!

OS: Windows XP

Photoshop CS4, CS3

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer arnak007

I found a way to bypass this. All you have to do is to move your "ExtendScript Toolkit CS4" folder out of your "AdobeUtilities" folder.

3 replies

Tom Ruark
Inspiring
April 25, 2010

Ha, we fixed this for CS5 and guess what. I've got complaints about the Alt key *not* working.

It was a handy feature for us script writers that wanted a quick way to debug. As we add more and more features as scripts it just gets in the way.

April 25, 2010

It was a handy feature for us script writers that wanted a quick way to debug.

But why do you need the Alt key when PS window is not active?

Alt key is ok when you work in Photoshop trying to debug your scripts. But when you keep PS working in background, it is extremely inconvenient when suddenly at the mid of the work debugger window pops up so you have to interrupt your work, goto photoshop and restart the batch processing.

Who possibly could need this??

Inspiring
April 25, 2010
But why do you need the Alt key when PS window is not active?

Nobody did, as far as I know. You only needed it when a script is launched from in PS and then only when PS had focus. I have no clue why they were looking at the Alt key when PS didn't have focus. Instead of fixing what I would consider a bug, the removed a very useful feature.

The only case I could see it being useful is if you were running a script in Bridge and that calls a script in PS and you wanted the debugger to fire up when the PS script was launched. That's a rare enough situation that inserting a debugger; call in the PS script would be a reasonable alternative and is the one I use. Unfortunately, it doesn't always work.

arnak007Correct answer
Participant
March 26, 2010

I found a way to bypass this. All you have to do is to move your "ExtendScript Toolkit CS4" folder out of your "AdobeUtilities" folder.

March 26, 2010

Nice, thanks, Alt-problem resolved!

But Esc still doesn't work

Can someone repro this?

c.pfaffenbichler
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 24, 2010

I tested it and produced the same result.

What astounds me though is that the continuous-alt-key also triggers debugging when happening in non-Adobe-applications, so I wonder what role the System plays in this?

March 24, 2010

Well, the debugger I'm having deal with is an Adobe product (Adobe Extendscript Toolkit).

The only case when I see it is background batch processing in photoshop.

For all other cases I'm free to use both Alt and Esc keys.