Backing up actions in PS CS5?

[bjrichus]

I have written a few actions in PhotoShop CS5 (PC version), and am curious to know where they are stored, so I can back them up.

I am sure I could spend 3 hours or so finding them and copying the directory somewhere else (or are they in the Windows registry - yuk), but Adobe like to put things all over the directory structure in different places. A pointer to which directory it puts them would be helpful....

Thanks.

[Rson]

c:[user]/[app data]/[Roaming]/[adobe]/[photoshop]/[presets]/[actions]

This is where they are.

You can highlight all the actions and right-click>Select "send to Compressed file" and email yourself the resulting file.

[Dobick]

Rich has given you for one particular operating system, but for winXP they are in a bit of a different location...

Although if you find the presets directory, you will find the actions and the brushes, etc.

[Rson]

Actually for 1.5 Os's....Vista only counts as a half because everyone knows that Win7 is "Vista Fixed" :)

[Dobick]

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Presets

for XP you will want to back up this entire folder

(actually only have CS4 installed, but I think it is the same for CS5 and XP)

[bjrichus]

Originally Posted by Rson

c:[user]/[app data]/[Roaming]/[adobe]/[photoshop]/[presets]/[actions]

This is where they are.

You can highlight all the actions and right-click>Select "send to Compressed file" and email yourself the resulting file.

Not in Windowz 7 'pro' with CS5.

c:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Potoshop CS5\Presets\Actions is empty!

Wonder where they are?

[Patti Edens]

Do a search for *.atn files and you will find them.

[bjrichus]

Originally Posted by Dobick

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS4\Presets

for XP you will want to back up this entire folder

(actually only have CS4 installed, but I think it is the same for CS5 and XP)

I can find the default .atn files that came with CS5 in the various program file paths (I have 64 bit so there are two directory trees), but none of the actions *I* have written...

[bjrichus]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

Do a search for *.atn files and you will find them.

Only the default ones found... Suppose I had better do a re-index of the disk. I thought it did that in the background anyway?

[Rson]

Originally Posted by bjrichus

Not in Windowz 7 'pro' with CS5.

c:\Users\[user]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Adobe Potoshop CS5\Presets\Actions is empty!

Wonder where they are?

that is the default location for win7 all versions.

[Patti Edens]

Ah, I think this is the problem... You haven't really saved them.

Found this:
By default your Actions are saved in the Action palette. Which means they're not permanently saved on your HD. If you accidentally delecte them then they are gone permanently. Therefor it's always best to save your Actions. This way it's also possible to share your Actions with other people. To save an Action you need to select the Action Set (folder icon), go to the Menu Options and select Save Actions.... When you want to use this Action again you go the Menu Options again and choose Load Actions... browse to the Actions file and click OK. Now the Action Set appears in the palette and you are good to go.

[bjrichus]

Originally Posted by Patti Edens

Ah, I think this is the problem... You haven't really saved them.

Yup .. that was it!

Nice catch Gal!

[Patti Edens]

Good deal! Thanks for posting this. I learned something myself and went to save all the actions I've written.