Need action to open save dialog box and STOP there. Help!!

[Guest]

So here is the background info, in case it helps to know why I am looking for this option - I am pulling photos off an internal company database. I can not access these photos as regular files - I have to go to our website, input an employee number, and right click, copy. Therefore, any options related to batch editing, if they'd even help otherwise, are out for this first step

In the meantime, I have created an action that opens a new doc, pastes the photo in, and resizes it. Assigned f5 as the shortcut. Then, to save my dexterity (:P) I also reassigned the "open save for web & devices" shortcut to f6.

However, this is such a massive project, and coming to a time-crunch, that I'd really like to take the action I created even further to cut out that second step (open save w/ f6).

I've googled and apparently am not phrasing the question right, no matter how hard I try.

HOW in the world, if possible, can I add a step to my action that simply OPENS the save for web & devices dialog box? I know how to make it open and save, but no more than that. I need to open and just STOP there, so that I can simply hit enter and input the desired file name.

Is this possible?! I'll love you forever if you can tell me that it is and how to accomplish it! Btw, I am on Photoshop CS4.

[Ghoulfool · Accepted solution]

For your F6 save files action, record it saving a file (it doesn't matter what or where for the moment)

Now, in the actions palette, click the right hand box where your save action is. A dialogue box will pop up saying "This will toggle the state of all dialogs in this action..." Click ok beacause we want to hand over control of the save back to the user. Now, when you run your save action the dialogue will appear and you can save the file where and as you want.

Hope this helps.

[Guest]

Thank you, I will try this today when I get started up on this project again and let you know. Sounds like it'll be exactly what I need, so thank you!

[c.pfaffenbichler]

Just to make sure: »Copy« is the only option, there is no »Save as«, »Save to desktop« etc.?

Because as you make no mention of the format you save to I wonder if you might be aggravating compression damage on the images with your current procedure.

[Guest]

Yes, copy is what makes the most sense for this project. These images are just small employee id photos that are inserted in recognition newsletters and such at a small size and will never be used in print. Save or save as is available, but would add more steps to the work flow that wouldn't be worth it in the end.