Help on Help

[BillandCat]

While trying to learn about camera raw, some how, my pse help went, as they say, by the board. When I go to "help", I get--"could not find the Adobe Help Application. You may need to re-install the application and the help component." Oh well, what the he--, what does that mean? Will some-one take me by the hand and lead me through this procedure? I have no idea what it means. I mean step by step as I am not to swift in following instructions. BillandCat

[Derry]

Bill, I think I would just do a new install,, how it was removed is interesting to hear that is possible,, I tried to remove my help on PSE6 and could not,,

Derry

[athegn]

I believe that the only full version of PSE 6.0 Help is a downloadable pdf file:- http://help.adobe.com/en_US/PhotoshopElements/6.0/pselements_6_help.pdf If you want help specifically on ACR you could try the Adobe ACR forum:- http://www.adobeforums.com/webx?13@@.3bbd164e

[BillandCat]

Derry---how do I do a new install? Do you mean reinstall pse6? ethegn posted and gave me the link to Adobe but it immediately started to down load help for windows and I am on a Mac. so I stopped that. Boy-Adobe is not a very user friendly site when looking for help. Should I delete pse6 and then find and dig out the software and re-install it? I have NO IDEA how to go about this. Is there a way that I can find out if "help" is still there and I did something to keep it from opening? As you can guess, I need "take me by the hand" type of help. Bill

[ljameso1]

Before getting too drastic, try the 3 fingered start up. Quit elements. While holding down the option,control, and shift keys restart elements. Keep holding down those 3 keys until you get a window asking if you want to delete preferences and tell it yes. That may get it back.

[BillandCat]

Linda-- tried the three finger but that did not work. Bill

[BillandCat]

I really need advice on this one problem!!!I am ready to install pse6 again to see if that will bring back "help". If I do, will that include installing all that is on pse6 that I have now? Does any one know how this happened? It was working and then when I went to photo shop help I get that stupid message that tells me nothing that I don't know already- it don.t work!! Please, somebody step in to help. I was on the Adobe site for over an hour but got "site tempo down for maint. or something. Should I go ahead and re-install it? Desperate :mad::mad: BillandCat

[ljameso1]

1st check to see if it's really gone. Follow my red path you used for camera raw and when you get to photoshop elements see if photoshop elements help is listed directly below.

[BillandCat]

Thanks again Linda-Yes, I followed the red path and yes, it is listed right where yo said it should be. It also says "modified on 10-20-08 at 9:20 AM. It also says that pse was modified a minute before at 0:19Am. That was when I was trying to get camera raw so it must be something I did. Whoo-ee! Now what?? Bill

[Jeff Perry]

Bill, excuse me for barging in late in the thread, but are you using PSE6 for Windows or Mac?

I'm using Windows version and my PSE Help function (F1 key) simply launches a Help.html file in my Firefox browser. The file that is loaded is...

file:///C:/Program%20Files/Common%20Files/Adobe/Help/en_US/PhotoshopElements/6.0/help.html

(Note the %20 is the OS's way of dealing with blanks spaces in folder names)

When you navigate to C:/Program Files/Common Files/Adobe/Help/en_US/PhotoshopElements/6.0/ do you find the "help.html" file?

Is your Browser not launching? I'm just trying to figure out exactly what is happening.

Open an Explorer Browser window and paste this into it...and see what happens.

file:///C:/Program%20Files/Common%20Files/Adobe/Help/en_US/PhotoshopElements/6.0/help.html

Jeff

[BillandCat]

Jeff-Thanks for taking an interest in my quandary. I am using a Mac. At this stage and with my limited computer knowledge, I am very reluctant to "Try" something to see what happens. What ever happens and---well you see what I mean, I would probably be just digging the hole I am in now, a lot deeper and would have no way of knowing the escape route. I really do not think I'm dumb, just uneducated in this computer world. Of course, as I have said before---old age has a lot to do with it. Bill

[Jeff Perry]

Bill, given the obvious differences in the Windows and Mac operating system environs, and the differences in the Adobe PSE software for each, there is no telling!

Sorry I can't be of more "help" (no pun intended)

Jeff

[ljameso1]

Boy I wish Wendy was out of hospital! Next would try re-creating the metadata base. Close PSE. Follow my red path to photoshop elements then click 6>Locale>en_US>Metadatabase. Click on metadata base once, pause, and click again. While then be able to add the word old to the end of metadatabase. Restart elements. Note rebuilding takes a long time so don't wait with bated breath. If that doesn't work will send you a zip of my help file.

[BillandCat]

Thanks Linda=Took a screen shot of your instructions and will try it in the AM. It is 7:30 pm and I haven't eaten since noon. I gotta get offa dis compooter!! Bill

[BillandCat]

Lindaj---went down the now familiar red path and added the word old. Then restarted pse and it opened normally, not slow and without any change. I then shut down pse, went down the path again,and when I clicked onen-us- databaseold is now gone with just media-photo creations data bases and photo creations metadata there.Ah me! I hope Wendy's hospitalization is not too serious and wish her a quick recovery. Bill

[ljameso1]

That's what it should do-it rebuilt your media metadata base, although usually it keeps the old one as well. Had you quit elements before adding the word old to the media database? Did this get your help back? Test it and also make sure can edit a pic. If can edit and see help: you are done. If can edit, but no help, install this zipped file(mac will unzip for you)[see PS] in the adobe folder so that it shows up between photoshop elements and plug ins on the red path. Copy/paste like you did with the camera raw update. If you miss just drag it to the right spot. Note: be sure you quit PSE before doing and restart after. If can't edit, need to do re-install. Reinstall would mean re-doing camera raw upgrade, but you've already mastered that!

PS: The zip file exceeds the allowed limit for uploading on this site. If need it PM me with your email and will send that way. It is 4.8MB-would your email handle that? Mine has a max of 15MB.

[BillandCat]

Thanks Linaj and every one. Well, this whole thing was getting too complicating for this old man so not really knowing what would happen, I just inserted the software and re-installed pse6. I had no idea whether I'd have to delete the 1st install or what would happen. As you good people probably well know, nothing drastic happened. I got "help" back and every thing seems normal now. I did lose camera raw but I know what to do about that now, thanks to you.I spent hours on this problem and I must say, it has been a learning experience to say the least. I have seen parts of my computer I never knew existed.So all in all, although I never found out what I did wrong in the first place, IT IS ALL FIXED NOW. So now I will go back to learning more about this great pastime, pse. Thank you. BillandCat

[ljameso1]

Great attitude Bill.:D Truly a learning experience. Did you know forcing your brain to work out learning new things regenerates the old cells? Glad all is well now.