Using The Automate Commands; External Automation - Adobe PHOTOSHOP 5.0 User Manual

358 CHAPTER 16
Automating Tasks

Using the Automate commands

The Automate commands simplify complex tasks
by combining them into one or more dialog boxes.
Photoshop includes the following commands
(third-party companies may provide additional
commands as well):
Conditional Mode Change changes the color
•
mode of a document to the mode you specify,
based on the original mode of the document.
By recording this command in an action,
you can ensure that any actions that
require an image to be in a specific color mode
do not generate unwanted error messages.
Contact Sheet produces a series of thumbnail
•
previews on a single sheet from the files in the
selected folder.
Note: Make sure that the images are closed before
applying this command.
Fit Image fits the current image to the width
•
and height you specify, without changing its
aspect ratio.
Note: This will resample the image, changing the
amount of data in the image.
Multi-Page PDF to PSD converts each page of
•
the PDF document you select to a separate
Photoshop file.
To use an automated command:
Choose File > Automate, and then choose any of
the commands listed under it.

External automation

Photoshop supports some external automation
using OLE Automation under Windows or
AppleScript on the Macintosh. Using either of
these methods lets you start Adobe Photoshop
and execute actions externally.
Using external automation lets you perform such
tasks as:
Having another scriptable application generate a
•
series of files, and having Photoshop batch-process
them.
Having Photoshop batch-process files and save
•
them to your Web site.
Writing a script that runs an action and then
•
shuts down your computer late at night after
you've gone home.
Additional information on OLE and AppleScript
is available in the Technical Solutions database on
the Adobe Web site. If you have further questions
about OLE, contact Microsoft Corporation. For
questions about AppleScript, see your Macintosh
documentation or contact Apple Computer.