Help loading actions in PSE6 on Mac

[AlicePalice]

Hello everyone :)

I have searched high and low on the internet and nothing I have found has solved my problem, so I'm hoping you guys can :D

I want to load some actions to use in PSE6 (Im using a Mac)

I have made a 'PSE ACTIONS' folder within the 'EFFECTS' folder of PSE6 and in there I have my .atn file and the .png of the thumbnail.

Some things I've found say I need to delete the cache. I can't find a cache anywhere?

Some say I need to make sure that I have the hidden folders showing - I dont know how to do this on a Mac?

Some say I need to find the MediaDatabase. I've tried searching for this but no joy.

I've seen Libraries mentioned, which I located on my Macintosh HD, but none of the file names seem to relate to PSE6.

One place said just open PSE6 and they'll be there - tried that and couldnt see them - where should they be?

Please help - I so wanna play with actions!

I know I've posted in the advanced forum, but Im not that advanced when it comes to Macs, so please tell me in laymans terms :o

Thanks in advance

[AlicePalice]

Sorry for answering my own question but just came across another thread where Wendy explained something similar to another user:

If it is something else then if there is just an .atn file it goes here (if a png file is included then it goes in the same place):

Library\Application Support\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Photo Creations\Photo Effects

if an xml file is also included then it goes here:

Library\Application Support\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Locale\ en-US or your own locale>Photo Creations Metadata>Photo Effects

Next rename the Mediadatabase.db3 to MediadatabaseOLD.db3 (it is located at Library\Application Support\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\6.0\Locale\ en-US) and restart Elements ... the Mediadatabase.db3 will rebuild but you may have to wait a while for it to do so

The bold bit was EXACTLY what I needed to know - thank you so so so much, you dont understand how long Ive been figuring out how to do this!

Will I need to do this every time I install a new action?

Do I need to have a new sub folder within EFFECTS for each new action or can they all go in the same one?

Thank you thank you :D

[AlicePalice]

God, Im so sorry - I realise I am being a complete thicko here and am replying to myself (how embarassing!) but I posted that last post when I saw the media database was rebuilding. I assumed the action would then be easy to find when I opened PSE6, but I cant work out how to find it - HELP?!

[ATR]

After you open Photoshop Elements 6, look over to the Effects Area.

Click on the third icon going toward your right. It is named Photo Effects. Click on that. You may see the name "Grants Tools" in slot to the immediate right of the icons. If not, click on the tiny black arrow to get the drop down list that should include "Grants Tools".

ATR

[ljameso1]

You will need to write an xml file to get to show up on it's own in mac. In meantime just choose show all when in the effects and they will show up. I believe Wendy has further directions for making an xml file further down in the thread you quoted.

[Wendy]

Hi ...

Which actions are you trying to install ??

Basically if you don;t have an xml file then you will find the action in the Effects Palette under "Show All" ... if you want it to appear under its own name then you do need that xml file :)

Wendy

[AlicePalice]

Im using the CoffeeShop 'Barista' ones... no xml file, but they don't show up when I click 'show all'

I will try again with a different action.

Do I need to edit the media database each time?

[Wendy]

Hi ...

I just took a look at the site and apparently there was a problem with this action for Elements ... a png file and an action always need to have the exact same name or the action will not run.

Make sure that yours do have the same name ... if not just edit the name to make them match :)

Wendy

[ljameso1]

P.S. You can edit the name in finder.

[AlicePalice]

I thought I would try with Grants Tools, so found the download and I am SO thankful that he had a video on there! It turns out I had put the actions in the wrong place, but by jove, it's working!! The only thing is I dont have any preview icons in my effects folder for the new actions, but I can live without that! Thank you for all your help :)