how to organize photoshop action(group)s

[Michael_tB]

I'm having a hard time organzing many, many photoshop actions. There seems to be something called "set" but nowhere can I find how to see the difference between an Action and an Action Set. I often download/buy actions, they too could be one or the other. When I creat a new action set from the menu, and then try to drag such actions (groups?) into the set, they simply change places/order, but no "nesting"occurs.

For example: I have several actions to help me create vectorized/line art/drawings from photographs. The actions names vary enourmously, so I just want one "container" within the actions panel for all of them.

I hope I've made myself clear, as googling this subject has left me almost empty handed.

[jane-e · Accepted solution]

Hi

The set is the folder, or container, that you put the actions in. 

• A folder (set) does not have to have any actions, but an action must be in a folder (set).
• The set must be saved when you add,  delete, or edit an action or you risk losing those changes (use the panel menu).
• Actions can be moved to another set by dragging or copied with Option+Drag (Alt+Drag on Windows)
• As you note, sets cannot be nested. You can’t put a set into another set.
• Each set can hold multiple actions. Save the set.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/creating-actions.html#creating_actions

Jane

[Michael_tB]

Thank you Jane, for this answer.

You say an action always has to be in a folder i.e. "action set", but how does it get there, e.q. when one records an action? I have done that, and was never asked to create a folder for it .....

Secondly, if I receive an action I bought, does this mean it automatically comes in its own folder/set? And if so, how to tell where and individual action begins and ends?

[jane-e]

Hi Michael,

You're welcome.

"how does it get there, e.q. when one records an action?"

When you click the New button for an action, you should get this dialog box. Name the Action and select a set from the set text box next to "Set: ".  If you need to create a new set (folder, container) first, then click the folder icon at the bottom of the Actions panel. If you are not chosing a location, then it is being chosen for you.

What does this dialog box look like for you if you are not choosing a set when creating a new action?

"how to tell where and individual action begins and ends?"

When you expand a set, you will see each action listed in the set. Expand an action to see each step in the action.

'if I receive an action I bought, does this mean it automatically comes in its own folder/set?"'

I have never bought an action — I've only used actions I've written because I need to perform the same steps on multiple files. I don't think an action can exist outside of a set. When the set is saved, it has a .atn extension.

Please ask again if this is not clear.

~ Jane

[Walter_H]

Hello Jane,

I have the same or a similar problem. I am trying to group 20 separate actions into a set. I can drag the actions to a different position in the list, but I can NOT drop an action onto the Set folder. I do not get the blue rectangle that outlines the target set folder. I have read through the online help for Organize action sets, but the section that describes how to move an action into a set does not work for me. I've attached a screen clip of my Actions panel showing the set folder and the actions I want to move.

I am running PS 26.8 in Windows 11 (23H2). I have tried the same thing in PS 26.9 (Beta), and it also will not let me drop an action onto a set folder.

Is this possibly a bug in PS, or am I doing something wrong?

• 

EDIT:

I just tried grouping some brushes and patterns into sets, and it works fine. I could select the items and then drag and drop them onto the set folder without a problem.

[jane-e]

@Walter_H 

Look at my screenshot earlier in this thread. Action sets have a folder icon, whereas actions do not. It appears that all of yours have folders, meaning that they are sets. You cannot drag a set into another set.

Jane

[jane-e]

@Walter_H 

Try this: open one of your many Sets (folders) to reveal the Action(s) inside. Then drag the action to the new folder to move it or Option (Alt) drag to copy.

Important: when you have moved all of your actions into the new set, be sure to save the set from the actions panel menu or you risk losing them.

Jane

[Walter_H]

@Walter_H 

Try this: open one of your many Sets (folders) to reveal the Action(s) inside. Then drag the action to the new folder to move it or Option (Alt) drag to copy.

Important: when you have moved all of your actions into the new set, be sure to save the set from the actions panel menu or you risk losing them.

Jane

By @jane-e

I've tried this and it does not work for most, but it does work for a few. 😞

[jane-e]

I've tried this and it does not work for most, but it does work for a few. 😞

By @Walter_H

Every set should have at least one action in it. Can you please expand one of the sets that is not working so that we can see the action inside? We might be able to spot what is going on. The action is what can be moved or copied to another set, not the set itself.

Jane

[Trevor.Dennis]

@Walter_H 

Important: when you have moved all of your actions into the new set, be sure to save the set from the actions panel menu or you risk losing them.

Jane

By @jane-e

That's is so important of all sorts of presets etc.  If you don't export them to an .atn, .abr, .tpl etc. file, then you stand to lose them.

[Walter_H]

@jane-e 

Thank you for that clarification! It looks as if most of the actions I got are created as sets, so I will not be able to group them. 😞

[Stephen Marsh]

An action set is really a file (.atn), despite it's folder icon! As such, one can't drag a folder into a folder, as this is really dragging a file into a file, not a folder. Clear as mud?