Behavior of Save As command

[Purebeads]

When I do a Save As, it doesn't change the name in the current window to the new name. How can I make PE do that? Also, every time I try to do a Save it asks me to give the file a name. How can I get it to simply save the file with the name I have already given it?

Caleb Murdock

[MikeH]

Caleb,

Sorry, I'm not sure what your problem is - you said "it doesn't change the name in the current window to the new name" but also "How can I get it to simply save the file with the name I have already given it?

When you open File > Save As PE3 brings up a window with the existing name of the file highlighted and the cursor positioned at the end of this file name for you to amend if required. Is this what you get?

Mike

[Purebeads]

I photograph beads for my site. So when I open a photo taken in my camera, it has a name like Img_5327.jpg. So I retrieve Img_5327.jpg into Elements and I do a Save As to rename it (let's say to "8mm-malachite"); but once I have done the Save As, in the title bar at the top of the program it still says Img_5327.jpg. And later, after working on the photo, I click the Save button and it doesn't just save the current version of 8mm-malachite over the previous version. Rather, it gives me a Save As dialogue box with Img_5327.jpg as the name (not 8mm-malachite), so that I have to type in the new name again.

This is not normal behavior for Windows programs. In most programs, when you do a Save As, the file loaded into the program is renamed to the new file name.

Caleb

[MikeH]

Caleb,

Thank you for clarifying this. I understand what you are saying now.

This doesn't happen with me. If I open a picture called (say) Photo 1 and then do Save As and call it Photo 2 the name in the title bar changes to Photo 2. If I then work on Photo 2 and select Save it just overwrites Photo 2 without prompting...

What operating system are you running?

Wendy - would deleting the preferences correct this?

Mike

[Purebeads]

I have Windows 2000 on a new computer.

This strange behavior is really a problem for me. I am finding LOTS of things about this program that don't work well. The only reason I'm considering buying it is that the filters work better than the comparable filters in Paint Shop Pro. For example, the noise-removal tool works better than PSP's Texture-Preserving Smooth tool. But the interface is full of bugs.

Caleb

[MikeH]

Sorry, I can't replicate this under any circumstances in order to help you futher :( Are you opening the file from Editor or Organizer?

Of all the features in PE3, the Organizer has took the most getting used to :x , but I find that if you flow a prescribed workflow then it's ok 8) .

Mike

[Purebeads]

I don't know what the Organizer is. I'm just opening files into Photoshop Elements itself (File > Open).

Caleb

[Wendy]

Caleb,

Are you using a Mac?


Wendy

[Purebeads]

If I'm using Windows 2000, I'm not using a Mac.

[MikeH]

But the interface is full of bugs.Caleb

Caleb,

When you first open PE3 does it go to the Interface? You can set PE3 to open in the Editor if that's all use are using at present. btw this has nothing to do with the save problem. Just trying to make things a bit easier. :)

Mike

[MikeH]

Caleb,

OK I may have solved it!!!

This happens when you check the "As A Copy" box under the Save options.

Make sure this box not checked and Save should work how you want it to.

Mike

[Purebeads]

It is giving me a screen with options -- I have to click the option I want.

[MikeH]

Caleb

If you tick the "As A Copy" box it does exactly that. It saves the new file to a copy and leaves the original file on the screen. When you first edit the copy, PE3 will ask whether you want to save it as a different file.

If you want PE3 to work how you described you would prefer (which is how it does for me) then make sure the "As A Copy" box in the Save options under the file name isn't checked. If you want to rename the file (rather than create a copy of it) then this is the solution to the problem you described.

Mike

[Purebeads]

Okay, I see what you are talking about. I did uncheck that box at one point, but only after I had saved the current picture as a copy. After unchecking that box, the picture that was already loaded still couldn't be saved in the way I wanted. However, I just pulled a new picture into the program and saved it without that box checked, and now the program is behaving the way I would expect.

Thanks, all!

Caleb

[MikeH]

Caleb,

Ok - great that it works for you now.

Mike :)

[Purebeads]

My problem isn't solved.

If I do a Save As as a Photoshop file, then the name of the current file is changed to the new name. But if I select the JPG format, it gives me the prompt "File must be saved as a copy with this selection".

WHY????

[Purebeads]

Okay, for those who are interested, I figured it out. I was adding text to my pictures, and before they could be saved as JPGs, I had to merge the layers. One would think the program would have told me that! PSP does.

Caleb

[MikeH]

Caleb,

Glad you (FINALLY!!) sorted it.

Mike