Quick question about actions...

[momtutu]

I found some free actions and downloaded one of them. It's a chipboard action (which I don't really know what a chipboard is but I liked what it looks like). It downloaded two files, a PSD file and another file which I think is the action itself. Is the psd file just a picture of the action or what?

[MelindaH]

Don't know the answer since I can't install actions in my old program ... but I'm sure someone can explain it. I think the action file goes in one place and the PSD file somewhere else ... but that may be completely wrong. HUGS!

[NettieB]

Yes, it is my understanding that this file is the preview for the action file (.atn file)

Kelli - what software are you using to scrap with? and what operating system? Mac or PC?

If PSE, you will need to save the PSD file as a PNG with the same name as the action file (the one that has .atn in the file name). I can PM you load instructions if you'd like.

[Sarah8914]

there should be instructions included with it... well, depending on where it came from. and it depends on what version of PSE you're using too (or PS).

[momtutu]

I think I got it. I'm using PSE3 and it looks like the PSD is the little icon that shows up in my Styles menu. I got it loaded up and it seems to work - yee haw!

But....the instructions told me to go under the cache thing and delete 3 files which I did because it supposedly forces the program to create new ones so the action will work...and it did. Do I go in and delete these three things every time I add a new action? It won't delete something important that it's already made for another action - or does it just remake it every time for all the actions? Hope I'm making sense.

[Sarah8914]

Yes, they need to be deleted every time you add a new action! You can add them all at once and just delete the files once if you have them.. but as you find more, you'll just have to delete them each time!

It does remake it every time, so it's nothing to worry about!

[NettieB]

Everytime I load actions/styles, I delete one or both of these files:

MediaDatabase.db3
ThumbDatabase.db3

Big knock on wood, no problems yet. Some instructions tell you to rename them to "MediaDatabaseOld.db3". Never saw the point of that, the file is still there, clunking up your hard drive, and potentially confusing the program.

[NettieB]

Oh - and because it takes PSE so long to rebuild, I'd encourage you to add several styles/actions at the same time, then delete the .db3 file, then open PSE.

Enjoy!

[momtutu]

Ahhh...got it - thanks! I have only uploaded the one action just to see if I could get it right and it took a few times but I finally got it. I'll do several at a time next time.